Rail fare price increases go live as protests planned

A 5.9% increase on rail fares has gone live this morning, making back-to-work commuting across the UK even more stressful than usual.

Some customers will even see price hikes of up to 11% on popular routes.

The price boost has also been compounded by the fact that CrossCountry - part of transport giant Arriva - has cut four and a half hours from its off-peak travel time.

The company, which is responsible for one in ten UK rail services, has changed its morning off-peak period to start from 9.30am instead of 5am on its South West services to the north of England and Scotland.

The Government is responsible for regulating commuter train fares, and sanctioned the average price rise of 5.9% across the country.

But many services will be hit harder, according to the Daily Mail, who says a Brighton to London season ticket, including travel permit for underground zones, will rise from £4,304 to £4,644, an increase of £340 or 8%.

Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said the rises in fares were fast outgrowing increases in salaries, putting huge pressure on travellers.

'The spotlight will really be on train operating companies and Network Rail to deliver on their promises about performance and overcrowding,' he said, adding that people shouldn't have to go on paying for a 'fractured, inefficient' industry.

But commuters are preparing to make a stand - by staging a nationwide protest against the rail fare hikes tomorrow, according to the Express.

Pressure group Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) is organising a day of "commuter action" on Tuesday, 3 January, and will be joining a protest outside London St Pancras station, where people will be encouraged to lobby Chancellor George Osborne to bring prices down.

Meanwhile, recent research has shown that Brits are already paying 10 times more that other Europeans for their rail journeys.

According to CBT, the price of a 2011 season ticket from Woking in Surrey to London, including Tube travel in the capital, was £3,268. Yet a similar 22-mile journey from Velletri to Rome costs Italian season ticket holders £336.17.

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