Anger as rail fare rises top inflation

Some travellers will face rises of nearly 13 per cent, commuters in Kent and Sussex taking the brunt of the increase as some season tickets go up 12.8 per cent in January 2011.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) attempted to put a gloss on the figures by confining itself to an announcement that average fares would rise 6.2 per cent, stating the increases were necessary to ensure Britain "could continue investing in the railways".

But transport union TSSA said the move was "simply outrageous" while the RMT union said passengers would be paying "inflation-busting increases to travel on overcrowded services".

Under the existing price rise formula, regulated fares, which include season tickets, will rise by an average of 5.8 per cent in January.

There is no limit on how much unregulated fares, which include many off-peak tickets, can be raised. ATOC did not distinguish between regulated and unregulated fares in giving its overall average increase.

TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said: "It is simply outrageous that hard-pressed commuters are being forced to pay fare hikes when they are themselves facing pay freezes and job cuts.

"We will see fares soar by 30 per cent over the next four years as Ministers and private train companies hold passengers to ransom with the lifting of the fares cap formula."

For the second year ATOC gave no breakdown of figures from individual train companies.

The companies which did give more detailed information included East Coast and Southeastern. A season ticket from Ramsgate in Kent to London increases 12.8 per cent from 3,880 to 4,376.

A spokesman for East Coast said their fares would increase by an average of 5.4 per cent, with a 5.3 per cent rise in unregulated fares and a 5.8 per cent increase in regulated tickets.

ATOC's lack of information was criticised by the RMT and by rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus which said passengers "deserved to know how much they will have to bear in January".

ATOC chief executive Michael Roberts said: "We know times are tough for many people but next year's fare increases will ensure that Britain can continue investing in its railways.

"Even with these fare increases, the money passengers spend on fares covers only half the cost of running the railways – taxpayers make up the difference.

"The Government is sticking with the previous administration's policy to cut the taxpayers' contribution to the overall cost of running the railways."

Rail fares are regulated by a system which means the increases can be higher for some season tickets and long-distance journeys provided the overall average is in line with government policy.

The 2011 rises will be followed by even larger increases after the government announced a wave of fare rises in last month's comprehensive spending review, as part of plans to cut the 5bn annual rail budget, which is supplemented from a 6bn contribution by passengers.

From 2012 fares increases will be pegged at the rate of inflation plus three per cent, paving the way for higher average increases.