Latest train fare rises attacked

Above-inflation rail fare increases of more than 6% are "completely out of kilter with the real economy", passenger groups have said.

Anthony Smith of Passenger Focus said hikes were "difficult to explain" as wages were not rising by the same rate.

Train firms say more money will allow greater investment in services.

Michael Roberts, of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said Monday's increases were partly because taxpayer funding was being reduced.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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."

Good value? Passengers offer their opinions Train users to 'shiver' at rises Full list of rises

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," he added.

Mr Roberts said the average increases amounted to just �1 or �2 a day for many season ticket holders.

Commuting by rail was still "considerably less expensive than commuting by car - even allowing for falling petrol prices", he went on.

A spokesman for the Rail Maritime and Transport union said fares should be set at levels that encourage people to use them.

"All franchising can deliver is fat dividends for shareholders and it is clearer than ever that we need a not-for-profit railway run for the public good in the public sector."

'Particularly unpalatable'

Unregulated fares - off-peak and leisure fares - have gone up by an average of 7%.

The 6% increase for regulated fares, including standard, rush hour and season tickets, is based on the inflation rate for July.

Mr Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: "What makes these rises particularly unpalatable is the fact that inflation is currently about 3%.

"Here we have rises that are on average 6 or 7% and in some cases 10%.

"Rail fares have got completely out of kilter with what is happening in the real economy and people are going to have dig very deep to find the extra money."

CrossCountry, whose network of sevices covers 1,500 miles (2,414 km) and stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff, has the highest increase for its unregulated fares - up 11%.

East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, National Express East Coast and South West Trains have put their unregulated fares up by more than 7%.

RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES

Changes from 2 January 2009

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