Rail passengers hit with big rises
Rail passengers across the West Midlands were today being hit with inflation-busting fare rises of up to 11 per cent.
Customer watchdog body Passenger Focus said travellers would "shudder and shiver" when they saw the new higher fares announced today.
Across the country from today, regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, will be going up by an average of six per cent and unregulated fares, which include off-peak tickets, will be rising even more – by an average of seven per cent.
Regulated fares on CrossCountry, which operates services between Wolverhampton and Manchester, are increasing by six per cent and unregulated fares are rising by 11 per cent. For London Midland, which operates routes around the West Midlands, the rises are six per cent and zero per cent respectively while on Virgin the hikes are of six and seven per cent respectively.
Virgin Trains said an anytime return ticket from Wolverhampton to Euston would increase from £129 to £139, but the off-peak return rises from £41 to £42.50.
London Midland has frozen its off-peak prices. But a Wolverhampton to Birmingham anytime day return ticket is rising from £6 to £6.30. A peak time return journey from Birmingham to Stafford rises from £9.30 to £9.90, while a peak return journey from Lichfield to Stafford was £6.40 but is now £6.70.
Anthony Smith, chief executive Passenger Focus, said today: "Many passengers will shudder and shiver when they find out the scale of some new year fare rises.
"Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter.
"In addition, the perpetual tinkering with ticket restrictions ensure back-door fare rises continue.
"Yet again, many long-distance passengers will be pushed into paying higher prices or locking themselves into rigid advance-purchase, one-train-only fares."
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said: "It is important to be clear about the facts.
"Average rises for regulated fares are six per cent and for unregulated fares, seven per cent.
"For many season ticket holders on commuter routes that amounts to an increase of about £1 or £2 a day.
"Also, about 80 per cent of fares are discounted or price-capped.
"Commuting by rail is also considerably less expensive than commuting by car.
"This even allows for falling petrol prices – and journey times are usually quicker too," he added.
