UK rail season ticket holders could see fares go up 1.6 per
cent in January despite a decrease in passenger journeys due to the coronavirus
pandemic, according to the Rail Delivery Group.
About half of the UK’s rail fares are tied to the Retail Price
Index rate of inflation, which in July rose 1.6 per cent. This year’s increase
is much lower than the 2.8 per cent hike introduced in January 2020 and is the
lowest rate of growth in fares since 2015.
Richard Nisbet, director of nations and regions for the Rail
Delivery Group, said: “Decisions about regulated rail fares, including season
tickets, are taken by governments who rightly make the choice about the balance
between how much farepayers and taxpayers contribute. We know that the best way
to support economic recovery now and keep fares down in the future is to get
more people travelling by train. This is why we are delivering our safer travel
pledge, are working with the government on flexible season tickets and want to
work with governments to update regulation so that we can build an easier to
use, better value fares system which suits changes to how people travel.”
Rail Delivery Group joined the industry last year in calling
for a ‘radical overhaul’ of the UK’s fares system aimed at making ticketing
easier to understand and more flexible for commuters who do not travel into the
office every day – something that could become more prevalent following
enforced home working during the coronavirus pandemic. Moves are also being
made to roll out contactless pay-as-you-go and e-ticketing capabilities at more
stations across the country.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of passenger watchdog
Transport Focus, reiterated the need for a new system in response to news of the
RPI increase, saying: “People’s feelings about travel and the way they use
public transport have changed. While the rail leisure travel may bounce back,
our research tells us almost two in three former rail commuters expect to work
from home more, so we will probably now travel less for work, both commuting
and on business.
“The government must go above and beyond a fares freeze and
get train companies to offer a combination of cut-price deals, carnet-style ‘bundles’,
flexible season tickets for commuters and better value for money fares across
the board. To get Britain moving again in the coming months, tickets that fit
the way we live and travel now are needed, not just season tickets designed for
city gents in the last century.
“Like the government’s restaurant deal, we need a ‘Head Out
to Help Out’ campaign to help get the country on the move again, boost the
economy and reduce traffic on our roads.”