Rail transport 'value for money'

Southeastern's regulated fares will rise by an average of 8%

A rail company which is increasing regulated fares by an average of 8% next year - 2% more than the national average - is promising value for money.

Southeastern said the rise was in line with government policy for passengers to pay more and taxpayers to pay less.

The firm was given a different fare calculation because of high-speed services to be launched next year.

On Friday, train firms said revenue would be reinvested but Passenger Focus said some rises were unjustified.

Southeastern spokeswoman Sarah Boundy said: "We want people to think that it's value for money to travel by train."

These average fares will no doubt mask some very steep rises on particular routes Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus

A company statement added: "We recognise that no one likes having to pay more, and fare increases are inevitably unpopular.

"But government policy is to recoup more of the cost of rail travel from those who use it, rather than relying on the taxpayer to subsidise it."

The Southeastern network covers Kent, East Sussex and part of Surrey.

After fare rises were announced by rail operators across England, Scotland and Wales, Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, said the watchdog was concerned about the above-inflation rises.

'Unjustified' rises

He said: "No fare rises are welcome in the current economic climate.

"Some train companies deserve credit for limiting some unregulated rises. However, rises way above inflation are unjustified and unfair.

"These average fares will no doubt mask some very steep rises on particular routes."

Regulated fares - including season tickets - are usually based on a set formula which limits increases to 1% above retail price index (RPI) inflation, although there are some exceptions.

Southeastern was given a regulated fare formula of RPI plus 3%.

High-speed domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link next year will see journey times of an hour between Folkestone and London, and 37 minutes between Ashford and London.

The firm's average increase next year for unregulated fares, such as a cheap day return, is 6%.