Rail ticket price hike hits commuters

Inflation-busting rises in rail and Tube fares have taken effect with some mainline season tickets going up almost 13 per cent. Passenger groups have reacted with fury to the rises but the Government and London mayor Boris Johnson say the increases are necessary to support vital transport projects. Overall, main line fares are rising by an average of 6.2 per cent, with regulated fares, which include season tickets, going up by average of 5.8 per cent. But as these are just the average rises, some fares are going up by far more than this. On services run by the Southeastern train company, regulated fares are allowed to rise by an average of 7.8 per cent to account for extra investment in the franchise, including the high-speed Javelin trains. This means a Ramsgate-London season ticket goes up 12.8 per cent to £4,376, while an Ashford International-London season ticket rises 12.7 per cent to £4,328. Other passengers facing above-the-average increases include those travelling on services run by the Southern train company between Haywards Heath and London where season tickets are going up 7.69 per cent to £3,304. The 5.8 per cent average main line rail increase in regulated fares (which include season tickets) is based on the July 2010 retail prices inflation figure of 4.8 per cent plus 1 per cent, with train companies allowed to use flexibility to average out the increase.