Train ticket prices set to rise by more than 3% in January
Train travel across the UK is set to reach extortionate prices with fares rising by 3.1% next year.
New train prices will come into effect on January 2, 2019, and the majority of annual season tickets are set to go up by at least £100.
Over half of passengers already state that they aren’t currently satisfied with the value for money on train tickets across the UK according to independent watchdog Transport Focus.
And train punctuality is at a 12-year low, according to damning figures from the Office of Road and Rail (ORR).
The numbers showed that one in seven trains have missed their target of arriving within five minutes of their scheduled time – or 10 minutes on long-distance services – in the year to 18 August.
Customers have taken to social media to complain to their local railway company about their feelings on the increased ticket prices for the new year.
@Se_Railway How in the world can you justify a 3.5% increase in fares for 2019, when the service you are currently providing is shocking and not worth the money we pay for it!!?
See for yourself pic.twitter.com/DyykR1L3yd
— sunny (@sunnynehru) 30 November 2018
@Se_Railway 3.2% increase on your prices and your service is awful….every day broken down trains and signal failures…thieves…#southeastern #worstcompanyintheworld
— Matty Hall (@mathewH07770079) 30 November 2018
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) states that rail companies will be introducing over 6,000 extra services a week and up to 7,000 new carriages a week up until 2021.
Campaign for Better Transport, a pressure group that campaign for sustainable transport, shared a few words on twitter shortly after the price increase announcement dropped.
Not a great day for rail commuters as next years rail fares rise are announced. After a horrible year of botched timetable changes and delays the Government needs to introduce a fares freeze from January and make rail travel more affordable. @RailDeliveryGrp @transportgovuk pic.twitter.com/917wuXEvKQ
— Campaign for Better Transport (@CBTransport) 30 November 2018
Despite the price increase, a new railcard designed for 26-30 year olds is being launched at the beginning of 2019. The railcard allows passengers a third off the regular 12 month price.