Rail price increases excessive

5.47.00pm GMT Sun 6th Jan 2008

Cashing in on rising passenger numbers?

Train passengers are facing above-inflation fare rises of up to 11%. Some fares are regulated, including most season tickets and saver returns, and are going up by an average of 4.8%, other fares may rise by much more.

Train journeys after Christmas and New Year were been plunged into chaos by Network Rail mismanagement, and passengers already facing the most expensive fares in Europe have to pay more for overcrowded services.

'Rail travel is essential for social, economic, and environmental reasons,' says Lib Dem campaigner Ben Prescott.

'The rail system shouldn't be slow, over crowded, unreliable AND more expensive than air travel.'

'The Labour Government boasts about the increases in rail travellers, but rather than provide better services, they're content to force up prices as a way of limiting demand, or worse, they're letting the privatised rail companies cash in.'

'Passengers are being forced off the railways because of hugely expensive tickets. This is yet another sign that the Government's rail policy is failing,' says Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker MP

'Under Labour the cost of motoring has actually fallen, while the cost of using the trains has gone through the roof.'

Local Lib Dems are also calling for Rail tickets to be simplified.

'If you know how to work the system there are some real bargains out there,' says Ben Prescott. 'Its time to change: it should be simple and easy to get the best deal.'

• South West trains have increased their ticket prices on average by 4.8% (regulated) and 4.3% (unregulated)

• First Great Western (which runs trains north out of Southampton) 4.8% and 6.1%

Related Links:

Passenger Focus - price rises.

BBC News - price rise.