Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 19:46:25 GMT
ome rail fares in England will rise by 6.2% in January - about double the rate of inflation - although other price rises may be higher.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation in July - which stood at 3.2% - is used to calculate the rises.
Some English fares will rise by RPI plus 3%, while in Scotland they will go up by RPI plus 1%. Wales has yet to set a figure for its increase.
The extra money is helping to fund huge investment across the network.
There are no fare increases currently planned in Northern Ireland, where fares are not linked to RPI, after a 3% rise in April.
Chance of higher rises
The decision to have different formulas for fare rises is a political one. In Scotland, 75% of the cost of the railways comes from a government subsidy - higher than in England.
The figures for planned rises in England and Scotland are an average across regulated tickets, which make up half of all fares. These regulated fares include season tickets and off-peak intercity journeys. In Scotland, this does not include the busy shuttle service between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
There is only so much you can squeeze passengers”
Mike Hewitson
Passenger Focus
Why the ticket splitting secrecy?
Why are rail fares going up again?
UK inflation rate rises in July
Some passengers could see their journey prices rising by more than the average, as train companies are allowed to increase them by up to five percentage points more, as long as they cut ticket prices elsewhere.
Passengers will not be told yet how prices will change on their specific route. The latest figure sets the template for this rise.
Those who travel across a border, such as from Scotland to England, will be subject to the higher English fare rises.
Mike Hewitson, of watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "This is another inflation-busting increase.
"There is only so much you can squeeze passengers. The government needs to think again about the plus 3% [formula]."
BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott says passengers and taxpayers used to split the cost of running the railways, with both sides paying about half each, but successive ministers have cut the amount of government funding and that has resulted in regular fare rises.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation in July - which stood at 3.2% - is used to calculate the rises.
Some English fares will rise by RPI plus 3%, while in Scotland they will go up by RPI plus 1%. Wales has yet to set a figure for its increase.
The extra money is helping to fund huge investment across the network.
There are no fare increases currently planned in Northern Ireland, where fares are not linked to RPI, after a 3% rise in April.
Chance of higher rises
The decision to have different formulas for fare rises is a political one. In Scotland, 75% of the cost of the railways comes from a government subsidy - higher than in England.
The figures for planned rises in England and Scotland are an average across regulated tickets, which make up half of all fares. These regulated fares include season tickets and off-peak intercity journeys. In Scotland, this does not include the busy shuttle service between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
There is only so much you can squeeze passengers”
Mike Hewitson
Passenger Focus
Why the ticket splitting secrecy?
Why are rail fares going up again?
UK inflation rate rises in July
Some passengers could see their journey prices rising by more than the average, as train companies are allowed to increase them by up to five percentage points more, as long as they cut ticket prices elsewhere.
Passengers will not be told yet how prices will change on their specific route. The latest figure sets the template for this rise.
Those who travel across a border, such as from Scotland to England, will be subject to the higher English fare rises.
Mike Hewitson, of watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "This is another inflation-busting increase.
"There is only so much you can squeeze passengers. The government needs to think again about the plus 3% [formula]."
BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott says passengers and taxpayers used to split the cost of running the railways, with both sides paying about half each, but successive ministers have cut the amount of government funding and that has resulted in regular fare rises.
Well it will cause the rise of people using coaches because of the prices of them, plus with the coach, you end up sitting in the traffic jam on the motorway.
