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Train tickets to rise by 6 per cent

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Published Date: 21 November 2008
Train passengers in Scotland will face a 6% rise in the cost of most tickets from January, it was announced today.
First ScotRail said "significant cost pressures" over the year had led to the increase in fares.

But the operator said it has frozen its cheapest advance fares on more than 80 journeys across Scotland.

The 6% rise does not apply on the local network in the west of Scotland, although these fares will go up by 4%.

This is because fares in the region were previously set by Strathclyde Partnership For Transport and increased in May.

The rise applies to both unregulated fares – those set at the train operator's discretion – and regulated fares, which are fixed in agreement with Transport Scotland.

First ScotRail's commercial director Peter Williams, said: "Like other businesses, we have seen costs increase. We believe we have struck the right balance between encouraging customers to travel when there is capacity on less busy services – and the price for travel on busier services where space is at a premium."



The full article contains 180 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 21 November 2008 10:47 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: ScotRail , The railways
 
1

Steven P,

edinburgh 21/11/2008 11:22:54
Can we expect to see fares decrease in line with falling diesel prices next year, Mr Williams?
Thought not.
Would you like to expand on what other significant cost pressures First Scotrail is experiencing?
First Scotrail would get more respect if they at least admitted to blatant profiteering.
£19,00 for a return fare Edinburgh/Glasgow in 55 minutes at 45 mph average.
Where does that place First Scotrail against the benchmark of world intercity rail services?
Pretty near the bottom I guess.
2

Brad,

Glasgow 21/11/2008 12:04:02
Fares are increasing partly to reduce the level of subsidy per ticket (which is generally very high). This is Government direction.

I don't know what % of Scotrail's costs are made up for by diesel - but a large share of its mileage is by electric traction too.
3

David Harrington,

Edinburgh 21/11/2008 12:35:09
It's UK and Scottish government policy to encourage people out of their cars, which the huge increase in passengers Scotrail has seen in the past few years shows is possible. However, it seems that, as in the past, when trains have got "too" popular, the choice is not to provide the additional capacity to allow people to travel when they want, but to "encourage" them to travel when they don't want to - this is not the way to run a transport network.
4

Luke Skywalker,

United Kingdom 21/11/2008 12:41:37
I note that the article only mentions ScotRail. Does that imply that Virgin, East Coast etc are not to increase? Is this an omen for an independant Scotland? 6% rise in tax when everybody else has no rise to pay.
5

Calum Crubag,

21/11/2008 13:10:30
#5 - i think a nationalised Scotrail would be a lot more passenger friendly. Especially in an energy-rich independent Scotland.

How can First justify this? Too many trains are still breaking down, going slow or have broken toilets and little or no cycle storage.
6

Banana Heid,

Ayrshire 21/11/2008 14:44:42
It should be a 60% cut not an increase of any sort. Scotrail are shockingly bad. Their trains smell and are very rarely on time in fact the Dalmuir train I get every morning has never once been on time It's almost always 5 minutes late I have seen it arrive perhaps 2 minutes late occasionaly and at least once a month there is a 30 min delay but never has it arrived on time ever. This may not seem too bad but try telling that to my boss who is very annoyed that I am 5 minutes late every day and will probably sack me soon because of it.
7

Breezy,

Argyll 21/11/2008 14:56:48
#5
Rail fares are going up all over the U.K. from January, although the article above does give the impression that they only apply to Scotrail.
8

I should be studying,

Edinbrugh 21/11/2008 15:40:01
Well, someone has to pay for the re-painting of rolling stock to the Saltire livery.
9

Brad,

Glasgow 21/11/2008 15:44:16
#7 try the previous train
10

Elephant,

Linlithgow 21/11/2008 16:13:03
This is a private monopoly blatantly profiteering. Where no competition exists an independent body should exist to set price increases. This happens within the M25, why not here? I totally agree that with falling fuel prices this is not justified, and fear that when the '£1 bn' is pumped into the Edin-Glasgow line it will only result in higher fares as Scotrail is forced to upgrade to electric trains. I'll be back in my car next year if fuel price stays under a quid!
11

JayJay,

Right here 21/11/2008 16:22:53
All aboard the gravy train.
As a regular traveller on the Glasgow-Edinburgh express, I really do have to laugh at these pathetic explanations for yet another dose of "bend over and take it" on fares. If you have the misfortune of joining a peak train anywhere other that at either end you can "enjoy" the trip standing up. But of course we are told that the ticket now does not guarantee a seat!
What passes for transport policy in this country is an embarrassment. We want to encourage you not to use the M8 because its too congested. However, if you are daft enough to get the train, expect to be fleeced and don't ask for a seat or a functioning toilet.
I fully expect the M8 to become a toll road. Only then will the Government have achieved its objective of shafting the long suffering commuter in just about every conceivable way. Concern over climate change my rear end!
12

Banana Heid,

Ayrshire 21/11/2008 16:34:43
#10 I would need to leave the house an hour early to make my bus to catch my first train, don't think I haven't considered this but it's impractical. as I have to see my kid off to school before I leave. however I will take your Smartass comment on board for future reference. Pillock.
13

Brad,

Glasgow 21/11/2008 17:26:14
#11, the Government sets price increases on 'key fares'. RPI+1%.
14

,

21/11/2008 18:31:48
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
15

Ms Doreen in the Cyber Shebeen,

21/11/2008 23:58:49
15...You must be the guy I see every time I am on the bus...digging around in his hooter...why is it that People seem to think they attain 'invisible' status when they are in a car?...

Anyroad...this is an outrage...a blatant exploitative attack on the non driving fear of flyers in our society...I must protest and demand an immediate inquiry...and then a cup of tea...drop of the hard stuff in case of imminent unconsciousness..*hic*...I will write to the Guardian in the morning after the Abdine has worn off.....hopefully I shall find an Abdine...probably have to bid for it on ebay......utter bone chilling contempt for the decent law abiding patron of the railway...
16

Dragonhead,

Dalian,China 22/11/2008 04:43:02
Just had a round trip by rail from here to Daqing (750miles north)15 1/2 hours each way.Going 'soft sleeper', back 'hard sleeper.The service,cleanliness and safety were impressive in both classes.Waiting room in Dalian, couches,60"TV,flowers,plants,bar facility,immaculate loos.Officials call you for your train.BritRail is by comparison, a pig tip! and an expensive one at that. Even on the 'hard sleeper' There were clean loos,a washroom,and a room with on tap boiling water.Each compartment had a pedal bin,a large vacuum flask a fruit tray and a plant(hard sleeper)a clean pillow and a duvet with a fresh cover on it.In the corridor outside the open compartment hard sleeper is a small table with two pull down padded seats to sit at. Oh did I forget to mention that in both classes in each compartment there is a wall mounted flat screen TV? UK? what a place!!
17

Stuart Cowan,

Kirkpatrick Durham 23/11/2008 12:35:37
Longer platforms, MORE CARRIAGES, bus services that connect with train services. You'd expect the outrageous ticket prices would easily pay for all that but, alas, all we see is public and private sector fat cats receiving bigger bonuses and perks. Nice to see that the Chief Executive of Network Rail has seen his remuneration rise by 51% to a mind bending total of £1.24 million.

 

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