Rail passengers face big fares rise

12:30pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

A HUGE hike in train fares is expected in the New Year, causing misery for rail travellers in the Bolton area.

The high level of inflation is being blamed for the potential move, which would add hundreds of pounds to the price of an annual season ticket.

Train companies are due to base their annual fare increases for regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, on the retail price index (RPI) for July, plus one per cent.

Next month's RPI is likely to be around 4.5 per cent, which will mean thousands of rail passengers facing 5.5 per cent annual increases in January, 2009.

Although no official figures have been decided, it is thought that some fares could rise even higher.

Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "All the signs are that the July inflation figures will mean more rail fare misery for commuters."

Gerry Doherty, general secretary of transport union TSSA, said: "It is a scandal that the rail companies have this trigger which allows them to put up fares every year."

Around 40 per cent of fares are regulated and fall into the RPI plus one per cent regime, with train companies limited to how much they can raise prices annually.

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