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Rail fare increases – Transport Focus response
30 November 2019
Rail fares will increase by 2.7 per cent in January, the industry announced today.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:
“We speak to thousands of passengers each year and we know that less than half feel they get value for money. After a year of patchy performance passengers just want a consistent day-to-day service they can rely on and a better chance of getting a seat.
“Transport Focus has long called for a fares system that is simple to use, easy to understand and is flexible enough to cater to how people work and travel today.
“As fares rise passengers must make their voice heard and call on operators to deliver a better service. Passenger should claim compensation every time they are delayed to help offset the cost of the fares rise and Make Delay Pay.”
Notes to editors:
Less than half of passengers (47 per cent) are satisfied their ticket offers value for money in the National Rail Passenger Survey. This falls to 30 per cent among commuters. Click here to explore satisfaction ratings nationally, by journey type or by operator.
Sample fares
These examples are not statistically representative and must not be used to draw conclusions about other prices. Fares chosen are for any permitted route rather than for a named operator or route.
| Long Distance Peak | ||||||
| From Jan 2020 | increase | |||||
| London | Cardiff | Anytime Return | £248.80 | £6.80 | GWR | |
| London | Manchester | Anytime Return | £360.00 | £10.00 | Virgin | |
| Birmingham | Edinburgh | Anytime Return | £249.30 | £6.80 | Cross Country | |
| London | Nottingham | Anytime Return | £185.00 | £3.50 | EMR | |
| shorter peak | ||||||
| Farnborough | London | Anytime Day | £34.30 | £0.90 | SWR | |
| Chelmsford | London | Anytime Day | £30.60 | £0.80 | GA | |
| Worcester | Birmingham | Anytime Day | £11.90 | £0.30 | WMT | |
| Dundee | Edinburgh | Anytime Return | £37.50 | £1.00 | Scotrail | |
| Annual Seasons | ||||||
| Tonbridge | London | Annual | £4,488 | £124 | ||
| Aylesbury | London | Annual | £4,304 | £116 | ||
| Eastbourne | London | Annual | £5,036 | £136 | ||
| Reading | London | Annual | £4,736 | £132 | ||
| Guildford | London | Annual | £3,836 | £104 | ||
| Preston | Manchester | Annual | £3004 | £80 | ||
| Caerphilly | Cardiff Queen St | Annual | £1,036 | £28 | ||
| Durham | Newcastle | Annual | £1,364 | £36 | ||
| Selby | Leeds | Annual | £1,652 | £44 | ||
| Glasgow | Edinburgh | Annual | £4,200 | £116 |