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Rocketing rail fares for Welsh passengers

Train passengers are facing rocketing fares next year.

Train company chiefs have said fares will go up by an average of 1.1 per cent in January, 2010. But many so-called unregulated fares, such as cheap day returns, will rise by considerably more.

Single supersaver fares on the First Great Western service from Swansea to London, Paddington, for example, will go up 15 per cent in January, 2010, while some advance-purchase tickets on Arriva Trains Wales will increase by 9.4 per cent.

Passenger groups and rail unions have accused train companies of "masking" the high rises by not giving separate figures for unregulated fares.

Operators, who have been ordered by the Government to cut nearly all commuter fares, have tried to recoup the cash by pushing up the cost of "unregulated" tickets which are not controlled by the Department for Transport.

They were accused of "sleight of hand" by Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons all-party Transport Select Committee.

Rail passengers face fare rises of up to 15 per cent from January, with train companies accused of masking the full extent of the price increases.

Train operators said that fares would go up by an average of 1.1 per cent in the new year.

Regulated fares, which include season tickets, will go down by 0.4 per cent because of the low inflation rate. But many unregulated fares, such as cheap-day returns, will rise considerably. First Great Western is increasing its Swindon-London ^super saver single^ by 15 per cent, from ^20 to ^23.

Increased insurance premiums and rising motoring taxes mean the annual cost of running a car has risen by 11% since 2007, research suggests. This is 2.68% higher than the 2008 average figure of ^2,277 and 11.33% above the 2007 figure of less than ^2,100.

Petrol prices are on course to have increased 26 per cent since the start of the year, figures show. The average price of a petrol at the pumps is forecast to pass 110p a litre - ^5 a gallon - in the run up to Christmas, the highest level in 15 months.

Commuters travelling from the west to London at peak times will see their rail fares go up from January.

First Great Western has announced a "mixed bag" of fare changes for the new year, with some prices going up, some going down and others staying the same.

The average journey is set to go up by 0.9 per cent from 2010, the lowest increase since privatisation.

But while regulated services will drop by an average 0.4 per cent, unregulated services are due to go up by an average of 3.5 per cent.

First Great Western spokesman Dan Payne said: "This will be the lowest January increase we've seen since the start of the franchise.

"It's a bit of a mixed bag, but 86 per cent of customers will see no change or a reduction of fares.

"At peak time they are very busy services so people will pay a premium.

"We are trying to encourage people to use off-peak services.

"We have to strike a balance."

More detail from FGW regards fare changes in January:
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/travelandtransport/Rail-fares/article-1522701-detail/article.html

Regulated services include local journeys.....

Unregulated journeys include tickets for high speed trains.......and long distance journeys

.....while standard season tickets are expected to stay the same.

I thought that super off peak were now the regulated fares folling the autumn increase

So if the super off peak is the regulated fare from Swindon to London, how come it is being increased by 15%?

Dont forget that the super off peak single was reduced by 50% a couple of months ago.  FGW could if they want increase it by 100% as that would just bring it back to the same level as before.

Dont forget that the super off peak single was reduced by 50% a couple of months ago.  FGW could if they want increase it by 100% as that would just bring it back to the same level as before.