Rail passengers in Scotland have been promised a cruel start to the New Year after ScotRail announced an inflation-busting 6% increase in fares.
The new prices take effect on January 2. Passenger groups and politicians said the fare rises are unfair on passengers but ScotRail claims the money will allow the company to improve services.
Last month a Transport Scotland consultation on reform of rail services north of the Border suggested running fewer trains, making passengers stand for longer and axing the sleeper services between England and Scotland.
Rail travel is devolved to the Scottish Government. Under the franchise agreement, ScotRail is able to increase regulated fares by the Retail Prices Index, plus 1%
In England, rail companies can raise fares by RPI plus 3% but January’s schedule increase was capped at RPI plus 1% by Chancellor George Osborne in his autumn statement.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: ”Passengers will be relieved that the Government has capped the fares formula at RPI plus 1%. However, this has still led to average 6% rises, which will not be reflected in most people’s pay. Passengers will now have to trawl the detail to find out what is happening on their individual routes.
”The spotlight will really be on train operating companies and Network Rail to deliver on their promises about performance and overcrowding. Us passengers are paying our fair share and we want and deserve better.”
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, said: ”These inflation-busting increases show that the great rail fares privatisation swindle is still rocking along, with the train operating companies laughing all the way to the bank.
”Independent analysis by Government departments has proven that the fare increases are trousered by the shareholders of the private companies while passengers pay through the nose to travel in crammed and creaking carriages.
”The corporate welfare scroungers from the train companies have bled hundreds of millions out of our railways and they should be told that the game’s up.”
Scottish Labour transport spokesman Richard Baker MSP said: ”Coming on top of SNP Government plans to cut the number of trains, increase journey times, end cross-border trains and stop the sleeper service, ramping up fares is the last thing hard-pressed rail passengers need.”
A ScotRail spokesman said: ”We are committed to meeting customer demand for high quality punctual services. This approach enables us to continue to invest in service improvements while ensuring that rail travel remains value for money.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman added: ”It is in the gift of ScotRail to judge what the increase in relation to unregulated fares should be. This Government continues to support rail in Scotland with almost 75% of the cost of a ticket paid through Government subsidies.
”In terms of our levels of investment, by 2013-14 we will be approaching almost £800 million each year for rail services. But ultimately unregulated fares is a decision for ScotRail and it’s really for them to explain to passengers the reasons for the increase.
”Of course it is the consistent formula that’s been used for regulated fares of 1% above inflation. There’s no questions that things are getting more expensive, not least because of the price of fuel. Certainly if the UK Government continues to levy VAT and fuel duty at the current rate then it makes travel more expensive for the public but this is a commercial decision for ScotRail and one they have to respond to.”