Rail fares to rise by 3.2% in the new year

The cost of regulated rail fares is set to increase by 3.2%, despite calls for a freeze on ticket prices.

Around 40% of fares are going up in January, in line with the July Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation.

That includes season tickets on most commuter routes, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys and Anytime tickets around major cities.

For many long-distance commuters, it means the annual cost of getting to work will increase by an average of £150 - the increase in season tickets will see annual passes from Liverpool to Manchester setting workers back £3,253 (up £101).

Earlier this week, the Mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to demand a freeze on rail fares, to protect northern passengers from the increases on Northern and TransPennine services in 2019.

Speaking about the letter, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “The rail industry has caused real misery for thousands of passengers across the North. Not only have people lost time at work or with their families, they have had to shell out for taxis, extra childcare and even hotel bills because of the continuing disruption.

“To ask these long-suffering passengers now to pay even more for a poor, unreliable service is to add insult to injury. A freeze in the current fares is the very least that passengers deserve."

The introduction of a new timetable in May caused widespread chaos in the north of England and on various London commuter lines. Thousands of passengers are still waiting to receive enhanced compensation.

The disruption led to the Government vetoing further timetable changes expected in December, which means upgrades in areas such as the West Midlands, the west of England and South Western Railway routes have been cancelled or delayed indefinitely.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: With passengers already furious at the shocking level of service on Britain's rip-off privatised railways, today's news is just another kick in the teeth that will come back to haunt both the Tory Government and the train companies alike.''

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the railway, said: "Fares are underpinning a once-in-a-generation investment plan to improve the railway and politicians effectively determine that season ticket prices should change in line with other day-to-day costs to help fund this.

"While the industry is learning lessons from the recent timetable change, major improvements have been delivered this year from upgraded stations at London Bridge and Liverpool Lime Street to new trains in the South West and Scotland, and more will be delivered in the next year.''

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