Forum Brief: Train Fares

Rail commuters face the prospect of substantial fare increases after a decision to abolish the existing price caps on season tickets.

The Strategic Rail Authority believes that it is unfair for the taxpayer to subsidise people who choose to live in cheaper homes outside the South East and commute to London.

Forum Response: Transport Salaried Staff Association

A spokesman for the TSSA told ePolitix.com: "At a time when we are trying to encourage more people to use rail, it makes no sense at all to end this regulation.

"All it will do is give train operators the freedom to charge commuters whatever they want, with no sense of co-ordination or strategic direction.

"The SRA is meant to be promoting rail use, not standing back and saying 'let market forces decide'. It should be simplifying the system and making rail travel cheaper. The SRA will not increase rail travel by penalising the people who use it most at the moment.

"Who honestly thinks that train operators will drop season ticket prices to compensate for poor performance? They are far more likely to increase fares further to deal with over-crowding on commuter lines. The leaves only very high-earners like bankers able to afford commuting.

"In our view, there are four things the SRA could do to improve fares. Firstly, create a simplified national fares structure designed with the interests of passengers at its heart.

"They should also continue to regulate fares where it is necessary to combat monopoly power and promote social inclusion.

"In addition, the SRA should explore the feasibility of diverting resources currently used to compensate passengers for poor train operator performance to fund specific network projects designed to deliver identifiable benefits for passengers.

"Finally they should introduce a single national railcard designed to promote rail use which can be used on other forms of public transport too.

"There's much the SRA could do on fares to increase the number of rail passengers. Giving train operators a free-for-all on season tickets is not one of them."