2013 rail fare increase revealed

Dec 6 2012

Train companies have finally revealed the extent of the pain passengers will feel when fare rises take effect next month.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the average increase on January 2 would be 3.9%. But, as was revealed last week, some season tickets will be going up by nearly 6.5%, with a number of others going up 5% and many rising at least 4%.

All season tickets are classed as regulated fares where a 4.2% average rise cap exists for January 2013. But unregulated fares, which include some off-peak trips, can be raised to any figure train companies choose. So some of these are likely to far exceed the 3.9% average rise.

Passengers from the Kent stations of Deal, Dover Priory and Ramsgate will see their season tickets rise 6.46% to £4,940 on January 2. Other above-average rises include Folkestone-London (up 5.98% to £4,888), Canterbury-London (up 5.9% to £4,860) and Tonbridge-London (up 5.2%) to £3,796).

Some season tickets are not rising as much as 4.2%, while others are on, or very close, to the average.

The cost of a season ticket from Shenfield in Essex to London, for example, actually dips in price, from £2,720 to £2,704, while an Ellesmere Port to Chester annual ticket is rising only 2.3% to £720.

Among season ticket fares that are rising by less than 4% are Aylesbury-London (up 3.2%), Cambridge-London (up 3.8%), Tain-Inverness (up 3.8%) and Stirling-Glasgow (up 3.9%).

Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Fare rises are determined largely by Government policy, and the Chancellor confirmed the Government's approach for next year in the Autumn Statement.

"Railway funding can only come from the taxpayer or from the passenger, and the Government's policy remains that a bigger share must come from people who use the train."

He went on: "We know nobody likes paying more for their journey, especially to go to work. Train companies will continue working with the rest of the industry to become more cost efficient, helping to take the pressure off future fare rises."