Anger as rail passengers face 4% increase in fares

News Reporter

Wednesday 15 August 2012

RAIL fares across Scotland will increase by more than 4% from January, while the cost of cross-border routes will surge by more than 6%.

PRICE TO PAY: Travellers arriving at Glasgow Queen Street and stations throughout Scotland face an even higher cost for their journey in the new year. Picture: Martin Shields

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Helen McArdle

The 4.2% rise on all Scottish regulated fares has led to claims a Glasgow commuter travelling to and from Edinburgh faces paying more for a 12-month season ticket than someone buying an unlimited rail pass for a year's travel around Germany.

Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie, who pointed out the discrepancy, called for the creation of off-peak season tickets to cut costs and reduce overcrowding.He said: "You can hop on any train in the whole of Germany for a year for less than a season ticket between Edinburgh and Glasgow."Train fares in the UK seem designed to enrage rather than encourage passengers on public transport, and every year passengers get another kick in the teeth with unfair above-inflation price rises."I'm calling for an off-peak season ticket to be made available for those workers who don't need to travel at peak times but who currently pay just as much."If we can make the ticket system far clearer for passengers, then we can reduce costs and overcrowding on Scotland's trains."The increase from January 3 is based on current Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation of 3.2% plus 1%. It will affect all rail journeys within the Strathclyde region, all off-peak returns, all season tickets, anytime day singles in the Edinburgh area, and anytime day returns on routes without an off-peak service. These increases are set north of the Border by the Scottish Government.Rail operators will have discretion over the price of unregulated tickets, potentially leading to even higher rises. These include sales of advance tickets and peak-time intercity journeys. Scotrail, which runs 90% of train services in Scotland, said it had not yet made a decision on unregulated fares in the new year. Commuters in England and Wales will face increases of 6.2% on their regulated fares using a formula of the RPI plus 3%.The impact of rises north and south of the Border is expected to add around £7.50 to the cost of a return Glasgow to London trip.Unions yesterday staged protests against the fare changes at stations including Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley stations, and called for the re-nationalisation of the railways. RMT Scottish regional organiser Mick Hogg said: "Higher fares mean bigger profits for the private companies, staff and service cuts, the closure of ticket offices, cuts to terms and conditions, and potential job losses."RMT regional administration manager Mike Barry added: "The price of a return fare from London to Glasgow is already about £120, so it's cheaper to go by air."Labour infrastructure spokesman Richard Baker said it would be a "slap in the face for hard-working Scots".He added: "Anyone who regularly commutes by train will experience the regular frustrations of cancelled, shortened or delayed trains. Being asked to pay more for these services when wages are being frozen and other costs are going up is just another squeeze that more and more won't be able to afford."Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "I have already confirmed there will be no fare increases beyond the RPI+1% formula introduced in the next franchise and we are developing a package which could lead to significant fares reductions, particularly in respect of off-peak."We want to see the trend of the substantial shift from road to rail which has resulted in more than 81 million passengers travelling on ScotRail services this year continue and better trains, stations and services will play a major part in that."Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "It has been Government policy during the past eight years for passengers to pay a larger share of the cost of operating the railways and to focus taxpayers' money on investing in longer term improvements."

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Anger as rail passengers face 4% increase in fares

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