Business

Rail users not hit as hard as feared in ticket price rises

By David Millward
December 06, 2012

Pockets of rail commuters will not be hit as hard as feared in the New Year with season ticket prices increasing at a lower rate than expected.

But hard-pressed rail users travelling between Reading and London will be paying close to £4,000 for

their annual ticket next year.

An annual season ticket between Reading and Paddington or Waterloo stations will be £3,960 from January 2, 2013 – an increase of £160.

The 4.2 per cent rise is an improvement on the 6.2 per cent which was predicted in the summer.

In July, the retail price index, used to work out how much tickets can increase by the following year, was

3.2 per cent.

An average increase is calculated by adding a further three per cent.

However, last month Prime Minister David Cameron said the average rise for the next two years should be RPI plus one per

cent.

Consumer group Passenger Focus said it appears train operators are showing some restraint.

But chief executive Anthony Smith said: “Government and the rail industry must now work together to deliver on the welcome promise

to get fare rises in line with inflation.”

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Most recent user comments 4 of 4

(at least that's what the accounting team at FGW will think. I know there are reasons people need to use cheques)

ormy
07/12/2012 at 12:37

To be fair, the last time anyone used a cheque was 1989

ormy
07/12/2012 at 12:36

Why is it that we can't pay for tickets by cheque? Not even a £3k season ticket? Only annual tickets can be bought with a cheque but who on earth carries £3k in cash around Reading with them to pay a blooming rail season ticket? The rail companies should be forced to accept the good old British cheque and stop their meaningless whinge about "oh it is the handling costs" what a load of old tosh - use machines to process our cheques and stop seeing and treating passengers as an inconvenience.

David Williams, Reading
07/12/2012 at 09:49

The train companies should reduce the increases on sections of the lines where there is plenty of capacity. For example between Reading and Wokingham itis desirable to increase the number of people travelling and reduce the pressure on the roads particularly in the rush hour.