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Press release 29th December 2016

Rail fare increases – what are passengers getting for their money?


On the 2nd of January, rail fares will rise again by an average of 2.3%. "With the chaos on Southern, lacklustre performance in Scotland, and stalled electrification on the Great Western main line, passengers are going to wonder what they are getting for their increased ticket price" said Bruce Williamson from the independent campaign group Railfuture.

"Our walk-on rail fares are already the most eye-watering in Europe, and with fuel duty frozen for motorists for the fifth year on the trot, it can’t be denied that people are being priced off the railways. Passenger growth is slowing for the first time in twenty years.”

"The key to this is the government's insistence on using the outdated RPI figure for inflation, which is usually higher than the much more accurate figure, CPI. This is only 0.6%, which would be a much more reasonable fare increase.”

" It's no wonder passengers consistently rate rail fares as poor value for money. Inflation is set to outstrip wages next year, making rail fares even less affordable, with an ever-larger chunk of working people's income being spent on getting to work."


Notes to editors:

A more detailed analysis of the effect of RPI versus CPI on rail fares can be found on our website:
http://www.railfuture.org.uk/article1639-Fare-rises-RPI-vs-CPI

Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.

Follow Railfuture on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Railfuture

For further information and comment please contact:

Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954 Mobile: 07759 557389
media at railfuture.org.uk