Another new year, and what’s different in 2012.
Well, to start with, there’s another fare increase. It’s inflation plus 1%, although there are some exceptions (senior citizen fares in West Yorkshire are going up by more than that), and the fare increase has to be not more than inflation plus 1% for fares overall. Individual fares may increase by more or less than that. Only a cynic would suggest that it’s fares on busy routes that will rise by the largest amounts, balanced out by lower fare increases on less busy routes.
The average rise for all rail tickets – including unregulated fares such as advance and business tickets – is 5.9%.
Passenger Focus highlighted routes which have seen higher-than-average rises compared with January 2011, including season tickets between:
- Chester and Crewe, which rose 10.6%
- Llandudno and Bangor in Gwynedd, which jumped the same amount
- Port Talbot Parkway and Swansea, which increased 8.7%
- Northampton and London, which rose 6.9% to £4,756
The consumer group said some off-peak return fares between London and towns including Cardiff, Exeter and Plymouth had risen by more than 9%.
Anytime-return fare increases that were well above average – at more than 8% – include those between Birmingham and Edinburgh, and Bristol and Edinburgh, it added.
We are pleased to report that Her Majesty’s government had second thoughts about increasing fares by inflation plus 3%, and belatedly changed this back to inflation plus 1%. Obviously a lower increase is less damaging, but the 3% proposal should never have been made in the first place.
Theresa Villiers, Rail Minister, said
“We have already limited the fare increase this year to help rail passengers”.
A bit naughty saying that, as it was her government who proposed the higher increase in the first place, and all they are doing is reversing their own bad decision.
One thing which doesn’t change from one year to the next is the pretext for the fare increase. The Association of Train Operating Companies have a superb record on recycling, as can be evidenced by their press releases every time there’s a fare increase.
Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said money raised through fares helped pay for improved services.
“For a number of years, the government has sought to sustain investment in the railways by reducing what taxpayers contribute and increasing the share that is paid for by passengers,” he said.
“The focus of the whole industry is to keep on reducing the overall cost of running the railways as a way of limiting future fare rises and providing taxpayers with better value for money.”
Atoc said record amounts of money were being invested in better stations and more trains. That’s their 2012 press release.
It’s that time of year when it’s traditional to have a quiz, so here’s SMART’s Belated Christmas Quiz. All you have to do is to match up the ATOC press release with the year.
Year
A. 2004
B. 2005
C. 2007
D. 2008
E. 2009
F. 2010
ATOC press release
1. “Fare changes this year will help pay for 265,000 extra services, all against a background which is determined by government policy to reduce the call on us as taxpayers. The fare changes actually in our view strike the right balance between trying to ensure a reasonable level of increase to fund in return much improved services.”
2. “While no-one likes to pay more for their travel, we need the revenue to pay for the ongoing improvements to the railways that passengers expect – and overall satisfaction levels are now at an all time high of 80%. Train operators will continue to raise their game, delivering further improvements to the railway and enhancing the travel experience of passengers.”
3. “The revenue from fares helps pay for investment that directly benefits passengers. Billions of pounds are now being spent to improve the railway and the results are showing through.”
4. “Fares have to rise to pay for the huge investment which the rail industry is currently making in the railways – which is the fastest growing in Europe.”
5. “We know times are tough for many people but next year’s fare increases will ensure that Britain can continue investing in its railways. Money invested through fares has helped to bring about the record levels of customer satisfaction and punctuality on the railways today. Passengers are already benefiting from record levels of investment in our railways. While we understand people won’t welcome any kind of price increases, it is important to remember that we need to continue and sustain investment in our railways.”
6. “Our railways are the fastest growing in Europe and operators will continue to introduce new trains, better passenger facilities and improved travel information.”