New year, new rail fares

Hello

Another new year and another fare rise. More than a year after the previous Transport Secretary said that Retail Price Index (RPI) linked fare rises would be replaced, regulated fares have risen at RPI again. Passengers are not just tired of rising fares, they’re tired of broken promises as well.

It’s time for a complete overhaul of the fares system and a fairer way to calculate future levels. Only total reform will start to restore passengers' faith in the rail network, and ensure the railways are more affordable and better value for passengers.

The future of rail

Last week we published our Future of rail report which examines the current failings of the railways and what steps the Government needs to take to get them back on track. Published after yet another month of delays and disruptions, and a week before the annual fare rise, it came as no surprise to long-suffering passengers that the failures we identified were many and widespread with neither passengers nor taxpayers currently getting value for money from the railways. 

The report drew upon the evidence we submitted to the Williams Rail Review and makes a number of recommendations for how to radically improve the railways. It's now up to the Government to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the way our railways are run for the better and produce a White Paper detailing its new rail policy as soon as possible after the Williams Review is published.