Train fares rise by 5.9 per cent TOMORROW - but there's a way to avoid immediate hike
Passengers across England and Wales face a 5.9 per cent increase in rail fares
Kirsty O'Connor
Train operators are set to hike up fares by 5.9 per cent this weekend, but commuters and travellers are being told how to avoid the immediate hike.
Passengers will be hit by the largest rise in fares for more than a decade tomorrow – despite record poor reliability.
Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data showed the equivalent of one in 25 train services were cancelled in the year to February 4.
Across England and Wales fares will jump by up to 5.9 per cent on average, adding hundreds to the cost of an annual season ticket.
Passengers across England and Wales face a 5.9 per cent increase in rail fares
Kirsty O'Connor
Whilst this is the average increase, some fare rises may be higher depending on the route.
Regulated fare prices do increase every year by the level of inflation in the previous July – plus one per cent – but because inflation was 12.3 per cent for that qualifying month, Government told train operators they could not increase rates by more than average earnings.
The cap on increases in regulated rail fares in England, Scotland and Wales is set by the Westminster, Scottish and Welsh Governments respectively.
These include season tickets on commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.
Passengers across England and Wales face a 5.9 per cent increase in rail fares
Lauren Hurley
Train operators set unregulated fares, although their decisions are heavily influenced by governments due to contracts introduced because of the virus crisis.
These fares include popular advance tickets, as well as first class tickets.
For those passengers looking to avoid the hike, a train hack has been uncovered.
Tickets purchased before March 5 will be priced at the current levels, meaning they would avoid the increase.
The majority of train operators have not confirmed their fare rise plans, but those that have say they will stick to the 5.9 per cent average.
Latest research by watchdog Transport Focus shows fewer than half of passengers think they get good value for their fares.