Campaigners criticise rail fare increase

Rail campaign groups have criticised the latest increase in the cost of travelling by train.

On Sunday 2 March, rail fares in England and Wales went up by 4.6%.

Meanwhile, the cost of most railcards rose by 5% (not including the railcard for disabled passengers).

Campaign for Better Transport has spoken out against the hike, saying it puts further pressure on households at a time that food and energy prices are going up.

Speaking to BBC News, head of campaigns Michael Solomon Williams said: “People are being hit hard.

“People want to take the train and they’re being priced off the railways.”

Mr Solomon Williams warned that high ticket prices are the main reason why many people are choosing not to travel by train and has called on ministers to act.

"At the same time, fuel duty's being frozen,” he said.

“Government has the choice - it can choose to intervene."

UK passengers ‘paying highest fares in Europe’ 

Railfuture, another rail campaign group, has also called for ministers to make rail travel more affordable.

“We already have pretty much the most expensive rail fares in Europe,” said spokesperson Bruce Williamson.

“Soon we’ll need to take out a mortgage just to buy a ticket.

“If they can find the money to freeze fuel duty for motorists, they can afford to freeze rail fares too.”

Passengers being ‘punished for going green’

Mr Williamson added that the high cost of rail travel in the UK makes it harder for people to make environmentally friendly travel choices.

“Passengers are still being punished for going green,” he commented.

“This policy will continue to drive passengers away from environmentally friendly rail and make our polluted and congested roads even worse.”

Government acknowledges passengers’ frustrations

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has accepted that passengers are “frustrated” by another increase in fares, despite “unacceptable levels of delays and cancellations”.

This, she said, is “why this government made sure this was the lowest increase in three years and below the growth in average earnings”.

“We inherited a railway that was not fit for purpose, and I know it will take time for trust to be restored, with trains turning up on time, when and where they’re needed,” Ms Alexander commented.

“My number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them.”