Rail fares to rise by average of 5.9%

Train companies reveal their season ticket and off-peak fare increases for 2012.

Rail fares are to rise by an average of 5.9% next month, the Association of Train Operating Companies has announced.

The average increase train companies could impose was reduced by George Osborne in last month’s Autumn Statement from the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation plus 3% to RPI plus 1%. But the average increase announced is still higher than RPI, which was at 5.2% in November.

As the Scottish and Welsh assemblies had already decided to keep fares at RPI plus 1% it means most of Britain will see the same increase in prices. The exceptions are some Arriva Train Wales services and Merseyrail services (Merseyrail’s is pegged at RPI only).

The formula for the increases uses July’s RPI figure of 5%. It affects most season tickets and off-peak fares on intercity trains.

Season ticket increases

Here are some examples of annual season ticket increases for standard class passengers:

Route	2011 cost	2012 cost	Difference £	Difference %
Reading-London Terminals	£1,792	£1,900	£108	6%
Brighton-London Terminals	£3,200	£3,392	£192	6%
Southampton-London Terminals	£3,920	£4,060	£140	3.6%
Colchester-London Terminals	£4,140	£4,376	£236	5.7%
Oxford-London Terminals	£4,104	£4,348	£244	5.9%
Newport-Cardiff Central	£624	£684	£60	9.6%
Warwick Parkway-Birmingham stations	£1,192	£1,288	£96	8%
Crewe-Manchester stations (Virgin Trains only)	£1,572	£1,668	£96	6.1%
Stirling-Glasgow Queen Street	£870	£922	£52	6%

Looking at this brief survey, it seems that some commuters in the Midlands and Wales are going to be particularly hard hit. Train companies can put some fares above the regulated fare benchmark, so long as the overall average increase isn’t higher.

London tube, bus, DLR, tram and overground fares will rise by an average of 5.6%.

The fare increases come into effect from 2 January.

You can see how much your season ticket is going to cost next year by using National Rail's season ticket calculator

The Transport and Salaried Staffs Association has warned that car parking charges are likely to increase by 5% in the new year as well. However, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western, East Coast and London Midland have already said they will not be increasing charges at their stations.

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