Rail passengers forced to ‘grin and bear’ largest hike in ticket fares for more than a decade
06.03.2023 - 02:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Train passengers will be forced to 'grin and bear' the largest hike in rail fares for more than ten years, a campaign group has said. The skyrocketing prices come as millions across the UK battle ongoing cost of living pressures.
Fares in England and Wales jumped by up to 5.9 per cent on average on Sunday (March 5), adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of many annual season tickets. An analysis by PA of Office of Rail and Road 9ORR) data found the annual rise is the largest since a 6.1 per cent jump across Britain back in 2012.
As union strikes and unreliable services continue to affect customers, while energy and food bills increase, campaign group Railfuture said it is “really harsh on the poor rail traveller” and a “bitter pill to swallow”.
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Bruce Williamson, a Railfuture spokesman, said: “I think very few people will be enjoying an income boost of 5.9 per cent so the real impact is that it is taking a larger chunk out of people’s incomes. It’s going to deter people from travelling by train.
"Fortunately for some people they can work at home a bit, but there are some people who have no choice but to travel by train and go into work every day and they’re going to be worse off as a consequence of this.
“Year-on-year rail fares have gone up, the commuters generally speaking have had to grin and bear it and the Government has got away with making rail fares more and more expensive. I think we are starting to see, because of the working-from-home aspect, there is evidence that people are not buying season tickets anymore, they’re trying to cut down as much as they can, but for many people it will be a case of grin and bear it
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