July’s inflation figure – Transport Focus response

16 August 2016

Responding to the publication of July’s Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation figure of 1.9 per cent, which helps determine regulated train fares, Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:

“For some rail passengers any fare rise is going to feel unfair. Many commuters, in London and the south east in particular, have been suffering poor performance and rising prices will seem wrong.

“Transport Focus is calling for Government to freeze fare increases for Southern passengers, and to quickly introduce the promised 15 minute Delay Repay trigger and one-off compensation for badly affected passengers. Passengers are playing their part by pouring over £9 billion into the industry each year: the industry must now deliver on its promises of much more consistent, better performance.

“With wages tending to be linked to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation (0.6 per cent), passengers will be asking why their fares are going up by the higher Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure (1.9 per cent). It’s time for government to rethink the way it calculates fares.”

Passenger satisfaction with value for money can be seen in our infographic below.

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