Rail fare rise is far from fair

Good afternoon

You may have heard the disappointing news today that rail fares will rise by 3.8 per cent in March. Some commuters will be asked to stump up hundreds of pounds more for their season tickets. Meanwhile, fuel duty for car drivers remains frozen, as it has been for more than 11 years.

Many passengers have told us that higher rail fares will cause them to take the train less and drive more. Lynette from Cumbria wrote, "The rail fares are already expensive for two people and if they go up we may choose to drive." 

Of course, this is bad news for the environment, because driving* produces more than four times as much greenhouse gas per passenger mile as travelling by rail.

The fares rise will affect leisure travellers as well as commuters: people like Dave from Northallerton, who told us, "We would like to go to London by train to do touristy stuff and catch up with friends, but only if it's cheaper to travel by train than to drive."

Considering the urgent need to act on climate change, the Government should be making rail the affordable choice. It should have frozen rail fares to match the freeze on fuel duty. Instead, it is increasing fares by the highest percentage for eight years.

Help us to campaign for change

A green transport future is possible. Public transport needs to be more affordable, we need more rail and bus services and people need to be helped to shift many more of their journeys out of cars and planes and onto greener modes. But persuading the Government will take a lot of work and we will need your help.

Thank you.

With very best wishes

Paul
Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport

* Driving in a medium petrol car with one occupant