Rail passengers have been hit by the largest hike in fares for more than a decade despite record poor reliability. Fares in England and Wales increased on Sunday by up to 5.9% on average, adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of many annual season tickets. Commuters will be confronted on Monday with the largest rail fare increase in more than a decade as millions pay up to £380 a year more to travel to work amid ongoing strikes and falling reliability.
But campaigners have described the hikes as a “bitter pill”, arguing that they not only add to the cost of living burden but also risk deterring people from using the rail network and resorting to more environmentally damaging forms of transport such as the car. Norman Baker, director of external affairs for Campaign for Better Transport and a former Liberal Democrat transport minister, told: “The largest fare rise in a decade is going to do nothing to encourage more people to travel by train or help those struggling to meet the rising cost of travel.
“People will either stay at home or they will take to their cars. It is especially frustrating given that while we have seen rail fares increase year on year there have been cuts to fuel duty and air passenger duty. We need to invest in rail fares to help the environment and the economy of our towns and cities.”