Anger as train fares rise

Passengers have endured months of rail misery

Passenger groups have attacked some rail companies for raising ticket prices at a time when commuters are facing massive disruption and poor quality services.

A few companies including Virgin, GNER and Thameslink have decided not to make the annual increase because of the disruption engineering work has caused since the Hatfield derailment.

But others including Silverlink, South West Trains and Connex have raised their fares above the rate of inflation.

Passenger groups say commuters have been experiencing massive disruption since Hatfield and have called on the government to step in to reform rail fares.

The Hatfield crash prompted track repairs

Environmental transport group Transport 2000 says that under new rail franchise contracts about to be signed, operators will be able to raise fares even when they perform badly.

"The government has the power to change all this at the stroke of a pen," said the group's rail campaigner Jonathan Bray.

"In blaming companies for increasing fares, the government is 'privatising the blame' when it's the government's responsibility for determining fares regulation - a responsibility it has so far shirked."

Britain's standard rail fares are among the most expensive in the world, the group says.

A standard open return fare between London and Manchester now costs #150 - a rise of 50% in less than two years.

Transport 2000 believes an annual real cut in ticket prices could boost passenger numbers by 3% to 9% over ten years.

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority sets upper limits for some peak-time fares and season tickets.

What has happened to Prescott's integrated transport policy?

Bernard Jenkin, shadow transport minister

But other fares are unregulated, so the rail operators are free to set any price they choose.

London Underground fares have also risen, but have been pegged to the level of inflation by London Mayor Ken Livingstone. He has also frozen London bus prices.

Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee, said the decision of some companies to raise prices above inflation was "barmy".

Rail Passengers Council (RPC) chairman Stewart Francis praised the companies that froze their prices, and said: "We have been lobbying the other companies, but to no avail.

"This attitude of business-as-usual and 'the prices always go up at this time of year' is incomprehensible at a time when some passengers are still suffering problems.

"More companies should follow those that are offering near-normal services and using special offers to tempt passengers back."

The RPC says that many peak-time fares have risen below the rate of inflation, but that off-peak, walk-on fares are bearing the brunt of above-inflation rises.

Some fares have actually reduced in price. A season ticket between Bromley South and London with Connex is now 30% cheaper.

Mr Francis added: "Many train companies are at present offering fewer services of a worse quality. They should have postponed fare increases until the whole network is back to normal.

Shadow Transport Minister Bernard Jenkin blames Mr Prescott for the travel chaos

"The train companies are trading on passengers' seasonal goodwill that is already in short supply. We want to know what these companies will doing with this extra money to boost performance and service."

Shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin said: "What has happened to Prescott's integrated transport policy? After four years in office, everything is going wrong. "The trains are in chaos, the Tube is a basket case and the roads are choked with traffic jams.

"We have the highest petrol prices in Europe and now the train fares are going up. The last thing Britain needs is four more years of this."