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Author Topic: The Annual outrage.............  (Read 9186 times)
TaplowGreen
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« on: August 06, 2019, 18:14:44 »

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/fury-at-aboveinflation-100-kick-in-the-teeth-on-rail-tickets-after-summer-of-delays-a4206551.html
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Clan Line
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« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2019, 20:50:47 »

You missed the link on that page to this "shock - horror" story too !

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/easyjet-passenger-pictured-sitting-on-backless-seat-during-flight-a4206671.html
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2019, 21:29:12 »


So ... predictable as a story ...

Quote
Commuters were today facing inflation-busting rail fare rises on services still blighted by delays, cancellations and overcrowding.

Increases of about 2.7 per cent are due in January under the controversial ticket-pricing policy for Britain’s rail network.

Such a rise, which is significantly higher than the rate of CPI (Consumer Prices Index - a measure of inflation) inflation, would add more than £100 to the season tickets of hundreds of thousands of workers from London’s commuter belt. For travellers from Guildford, Crawley and St Albans it would jump by £103, from Stevenage £104, Chelmsford £110, Farnham £112, and Horsham, £113, according to figures from the Campaign for Better Transport.

etc

Just because it's predictable (and I predict a rerun in January) doesn't mean I'm saying it's right ...
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Sixty3Closure
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« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2019, 08:57:48 »


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49331238

Looks like it will be 2.8%. More than my pay rise yet again Sad
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Pb_devon
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« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2019, 18:33:13 »


Are UK (United Kingdom) train fares the highest in Europe? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49346642

Useful, if somewhat brief, comparison. In summary, UK at or near the highest fares BUT the least subsidised. Anyone know of more detailed research?
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stuving
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« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2019, 22:37:01 »


Are UK (United Kingdom) train fares the highest in Europe? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49346642

Useful, if somewhat brief, comparison. In summary, UK at or near the highest fares BUT the least subsidised. Anyone know of more detailed research?

You could try this report: "Study on the prices and quality of rail passenger services". It was done in 2016 for the European Commission by Steer Davies Gleave, whose previous work on railways in the UK should at least guarantee that gets covered fully. But ... it's 236 pages, so I'm not sure exactly what's in most of it!

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Pb_devon
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« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2019, 07:25:41 »

Thanks Stuving.....as you observed, a bit too detailed!
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ellendune
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« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2019, 07:39:54 »

The table at the end quotes the average fair per km as 0.21 (Euro) which is nearly the highest. I have not problem with paying that amount.  It is the extraordinary range in prices per mile or per km or per mile - like Swindon and Kemble that is the problem. 
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broadgage
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« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2019, 13:59:46 »

I would expect fares to rise in line with inflation, and don't mind paying a bit more for actual improvements. Unfortunately, I and many others consider that things have not improved recently, and on GWR (Great Western Railway) have actually got worse in many respects.

We keep hearing how efficient the IETs (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) are without space wasted on features previously provided on intercity trains, so should not fares be reduced without all that wasted space ?
Likewise we hear how efficient it is to run a pair of 5 car units between London and Plymouth, with a single unit west of Plymouth. Presumably this great improvement in efficiency should be reflected in reduced fares.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2019, 16:17:06 »

When the new timetable is introduced there will be 300000 extra IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) seats to sell each year, or about 6000 a week, so I would imagine there will be quite a few more cheaper advance fares to be had.  That’s what we’ve been told anyway.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2019, 16:26:01 »

I would expect fares to rise in line with inflation, and don't mind paying a bit more for actual improvements.

Staff costs are at least 25% of all railway costs. Until their wage rises are linked to CPI (Consumer Prices Index - a measure of inflation)% inflation, there is not a cat in hell's chance of fares being linked to that inflation fugure.

For the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) to com[plain about these rises is completely hypocritical, when they insist on staff rises above RPI (Revenue Protection Inspector, or Retail Price Index, depending on context)%.
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grahame
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« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2019, 16:47:07 »

I would expect fares to rise in line with inflation, and don't mind paying a bit more for actual improvements.

Staff costs are at least 25% of all railway costs. Until their wage rises are linked to CPI (Consumer Prices Index - a measure of inflation)% inflation, there is not a cat in hell's chance of fares being linked to that inflation fugure.

For the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) to com[plain about these rises is completely hypocritical, when they insist on staff rises above RPI (Revenue Protection Inspector, or Retail Price Index, depending on context)%.

Oh help - I grabbed this yesterday evening when I was looking at RoSCo profits ... and didn't note my source.  Will edit in if I find it. Useful here to confirm that 25p in the pound, even if yesterday's interest was the 13p for train leasing!

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TonyK
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« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2019, 22:23:17 »

When the new timetable is introduced there will be 300000 extra IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) seats to sell each year, or about 6000 a week, so I would imagine there will be quite a few more cheaper advance fares to be had.  That’s what we’ve been told anyway.

Here's hoping.
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Now, please!
ellendune
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« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2019, 22:24:21 »

8p going to the government! I thought they subsidised the railways.
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stuving
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« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2019, 23:09:10 »

8p going to the government! I thought they subsidised the railways.

Without knowing anything at all about that graphic or its basis, you could say that:
1. much of the subsidy goes to Network rail, for things that could never be called new infrastructure
2. a subsidy to a TOC (Train Operating Company) could be added in as negative outgoings, but the alternative argument is that it's not received as part of the fare so can't be part of the breakdown of fares income
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