Disruption, delays and cancellations may seem a far too frequent affair on Britain’s rail network, but things are about to get even worse for the nation’s commuters.
The latest fare rise has been announced and means some commuters are now facing the prospect of around a £100 increase in the price of their season ticket from 2020. On some routes and journeys, this price may be higher, with a season ticket between Brighton and London set to increase £136 to £4980.
The Labour Party have criticised the fare increases, with shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald saying;
“The government has sat back and allowed private train companies to cash in while people’s pay has been held back.
“Continuous fare rises undermine urgent action to tackle the climate emergency by pricing people off the railways.
“Labour will bring our railways into public ownership so they are run in the interests of passengers, not private profit.”
According to research by passenger watchdog Transport Focus, only around 30% of commuters are satisfied with the value for money of their ticket.
This summer has seen widespread disruption to rail services, from tracks being too hot to be used, to them being shut due to floods. Last week, a major powercut caused travel chaos, leaving some people stuck in trains for many hours. Service disruption combined with overcrowding while prices continue to be hiked has often left Britain’s commuters angry in recent times.
The industry body, the Rail Delivery Group, said 98p of every £1 spent in fares goes back into running the railway.
