Great Western Coffee Shop

New comparison, taking weekday fares, booked 7 days and 28 days in advance finds GWR charges 2.5 the average in EU according to campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E)

https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/cornwall/news/gwr-fares-two-and-a-half-times-higher-eu-average/

https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/rail-ranking

I guess the very complicated fare structure (which DfT seems to allow) is part of the problem

My understanding is that the higher cost of passenger rail fares in the UK is due to a lower proportion of the cost being paid by the government.   Note that in 2019/20 passengers paid 58% of the costs and the government paid just 32% whereas in other parts of Europe its not so much 60 / 30 but 30 / 60 meaning fares only need to be at about half of what they are ... and if that increases passenger numbers (as a drop in fares surely would) then the economics look all the brighter

(https://www.wellho.info/pix/railincome23.jpg)

The doubters will ask why the government pays anything ... and it's largely to do with the economic benefit brought to the area which reaps huge benefits to the places served, but gives no direct income to the train operators.

There's an updated version of that report in the last fortnight at https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/udsa42ql/rail-industry-finance-uk-statistical-release-202324.pdf

(https://www.wellho.info/pix/rif24_01.jpg)

(https://www.wellho.info/pix/rif24_02.jpg)

There is something further of an explanation here as to why fares in some areas may be higher than others.  If I travel 50 miles with GWR, the government pay them £2.90 ... if I travel 50 miles with Northern, the government pays them £11.80.     The graphic tells me that tha average is £3.45 with a lot more subsidy for the wilder and more speed out places, and it would suggest to me that the old Intercity Great Western is in fact subsiding or masking support in the more rural parts of the West Counrty.