Rail fares to rise

Rail fares to rise

Savers and Super Saver ticket prices will be pegged

Rail passengers in Devon and Cornwall will soon be charged more for their tickets.

First Great Western has announced an increase in charges which managers say will go towards improved services in the future.

Some of the company's tickets will remain the same price, but others are going up by an average of 1.8%.

Chris Kinchin-Smith, managing director of First Great Western, said: "There are two factors behind the rise.

"The subsidy from the government goes down by £10m next year.

"And we want to sustain our £150m investment programme in new trains, improved reliability and better stations as well as better training for staff."

Tickets which are regulated by the government, such as Super Savers, Savers and Season Tickets, would remain the same.

The Apex fare, which is £32.50 from Truro to London return was rising by 2.5%, or about 70p.

First class travellers face the biggest increase of 5.5%.

Mr Kinchin-Smith added: "We are sorry we need to do this, but I am afraid we cannot avoid this relatively small fare increase."