ATOC announces 2009 rail fares changes
21st November 2008
ATOC
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) today announced that many rail fares will change from Friday 2nd January 2009 as follows:
• Regulated fares, which are capped by Government (based on the July 2008 Retail Price Index of 5%, plus 1%), e.g. Season Tickets and longer distance, Off-Peak fares, will rise by 6%.
• Unregulated fares, e.g. most leisure and Advance fares, will rise by varying amounts, according to train operator, with the average over the network of 7%.
The increased revenue will help pay for major investment to improve the railways and deliver better value for taxpayers in line with government policy to reduce subsidy to the railway by 40% between 2006/07 and 2013/14.
Train operators are currently carrying out work worth over £800 million to introduce new trains, refurbish existing fleets and improve stations.
These measures will benefit passengers through more reliable and comfortable journeys, improved station facilities (including more car and cycle parking) and better personal security.
Fare revenues and Government grants will also help fund the multi-billion pound investment programme to increase network capacity which starts in 2009. This includes the £440 million remodelling of Reading station and the £600 million redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station. We will also see the completion of the West Coast Main Line with 30% more services.
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC, said:
“Passengers in recent years have helped pay for 20% more services and performance in the first half of this year is at the highest level since records began, with more than 90% of trains arriving on time.
“Yet, since 1996, in real terms, overall rail fares have risen by just 5% and standard class regulated fares are actually lower than they were in the year before privatisation.
“Record performance and better services have contributed to the highest number of passenger travelling by rail for 60 years. The January fare changes mean that train companies can continue investing in an even better railway and still offer a range of good deals for customers.
“More than 80% of rail journeys are made using either a price-regulated or discounted ticket. And with the real costs of motoring up by over 25% since 1996, rail will continue to be an attractive option for millions of people every day.”
- ends -
For further information, please contact the ATOC Press Office on 020 7841 8020.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is the official voice for the passenger rail industry – representing train companies to the government and other opinion formers on transport policy issues. Britain's train operators are working together to change rail travel for the better.
ATOC manages many joint activities for train operators including revenue allocation and settlement, impartial retailing, National Rail Enquiries, Railcard marketing, staff travel arrangements, international products and travel agent licensing.
Notes to Editors
(1) Table of Fares Rises by Train Operator for 2009
(Retail Price Index +/- figures shown = rise above/below the Retail Price Index inflation level at July 2008 - 5%)
Train Company Average Regulated Fares Rise
(RPI at July 2008 5% - Office for National Statistics) Average Unregulated Fares Rise
Arriva Trains Wales 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
c2c 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
Chiltern Railways 6% (RPI +1%) 7.5%
CrossCountry 6% (RPI +1%) 11%
East Midlands Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7.4%
First Capital Connect 6% (RPI +1%) 9%
First Great Western 6% (RPI +1%) 6.6%
First ScotRail* 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
First TransPennine Express 6% (RPI +1%) 6.4%
London Midland 6% (RPI +1%) 0%
Merseyrail 5% (RPI +zero) 5%
National Express East Anglia 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
National Express East Coast 6% (RPI +1%) 7.4%
Northern Rail 6% (RPI +1%) 7%
Southeastern 8% (RPI +3%) 6%
Southern 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
South West Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7.2%
Virgin Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7%
AVERAGE 6.00% 7.00%
*First ScotRail’s regulated fares in Strathclyde were previously set by SPT and reviewed in May. Now Scotland has a single regulatory body, Ministers have aligned Strathclyde fares changes with the rest of Scotland from January 2009. The Strathclyde regulated fares increase is 4% to take into account the alignment. It would have been 6% in May 2009. Outside of Strathclyde, the regulated fares increase is 6%.
Fares for the London Overground concession are set by Transport for London. Fares set by ‘open access’ operators (Heathrow Express, Hull Trains, Grand Central and Wrexham & Shropshire) are not subject to fares regulation.
(2) Retail Price Index and Regulated Fares
The pricing of regulated fares, which account for over half of tickets sold, is determined by the regulatory regime set by the Department for Transport (DfT). This allows for a rise of Retail Price Index (RPI) plus one percent (except Southeastern, which is RPI+3%) based on the July 2008 RPI figure, which was 5%.
(3) Proportion of Passenger Volumes on Regulated and Discounted Tickets
Data is derived from analysis of rail industry revenue and volume data corroborated by data in the Government White Paper on Railways published in July 2007.
(4) Investment in Trains and Stations
The revenue from rail fares is spent on a wide range of improvements, including:
Better trains:
• CrossCountry is refurbishing its entire fleet of 91 trains by 2009 to provide 35% more seating and 25% more luggage space, including the introduction of five High Speed Trains on the core route between Plymouth and Edinburgh.
• £10 million by East Midlands Trains to refurbish their Class 158 trains.
• £30 million by First Capital Connect on refurbishing two fleets.
• £190 million on the 148 carriage Desiro fleet by London Midland.
• £40 million on the refurbishment of 61 Class 315 trains on National Express East Anglia.
• £45 million on the ongoing refurbishment of the High Speed Train fleet on National Express East Coast - due to be completed in 2009.
• £258 million on the introduction of the Class 395 high speed fleet for Kent service by Southeastern.
• £10 million on the refurbishment of the 17 Class 442 trains on Southern to provide more capacity on the Brighton Main Line.
• Refurbishment of the train fleets on First Great Western (including the Sleepers), London Midland, Northern Rail, Virgin and Wrexham & Shropshire.
Better stations:
Many millions of pounds are being spent by train operators on refurbishing and improving stations including ticket offices, ticket machines, information systems, Closed Circuit Television, more car and cycle parking and better waiting rooms and toilets.
New stations are opening at Aylesbury Vale Park from December 2008, and Corby and East Midlands Parkway (for East Midlands airport) during 2009.
• Regulated fares, which are capped by Government (based on the July 2008 Retail Price Index of 5%, plus 1%), e.g. Season Tickets and longer distance, Off-Peak fares, will rise by 6%.
• Unregulated fares, e.g. most leisure and Advance fares, will rise by varying amounts, according to train operator, with the average over the network of 7%.
The increased revenue will help pay for major investment to improve the railways and deliver better value for taxpayers in line with government policy to reduce subsidy to the railway by 40% between 2006/07 and 2013/14.
Train operators are currently carrying out work worth over £800 million to introduce new trains, refurbish existing fleets and improve stations.
These measures will benefit passengers through more reliable and comfortable journeys, improved station facilities (including more car and cycle parking) and better personal security.
Fare revenues and Government grants will also help fund the multi-billion pound investment programme to increase network capacity which starts in 2009. This includes the £440 million remodelling of Reading station and the £600 million redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station. We will also see the completion of the West Coast Main Line with 30% more services.
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC, said:
“Passengers in recent years have helped pay for 20% more services and performance in the first half of this year is at the highest level since records began, with more than 90% of trains arriving on time.
“Yet, since 1996, in real terms, overall rail fares have risen by just 5% and standard class regulated fares are actually lower than they were in the year before privatisation.
“Record performance and better services have contributed to the highest number of passenger travelling by rail for 60 years. The January fare changes mean that train companies can continue investing in an even better railway and still offer a range of good deals for customers.
“More than 80% of rail journeys are made using either a price-regulated or discounted ticket. And with the real costs of motoring up by over 25% since 1996, rail will continue to be an attractive option for millions of people every day.”
- ends -
For further information, please contact the ATOC Press Office on 020 7841 8020.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is the official voice for the passenger rail industry – representing train companies to the government and other opinion formers on transport policy issues. Britain's train operators are working together to change rail travel for the better.
ATOC manages many joint activities for train operators including revenue allocation and settlement, impartial retailing, National Rail Enquiries, Railcard marketing, staff travel arrangements, international products and travel agent licensing.
Notes to Editors
(1) Table of Fares Rises by Train Operator for 2009
(Retail Price Index +/- figures shown = rise above/below the Retail Price Index inflation level at July 2008 - 5%)
Train Company Average Regulated Fares Rise
(RPI at July 2008 5% - Office for National Statistics) Average Unregulated Fares Rise
Arriva Trains Wales 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
c2c 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
Chiltern Railways 6% (RPI +1%) 7.5%
CrossCountry 6% (RPI +1%) 11%
East Midlands Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7.4%
First Capital Connect 6% (RPI +1%) 9%
First Great Western 6% (RPI +1%) 6.6%
First ScotRail* 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
First TransPennine Express 6% (RPI +1%) 6.4%
London Midland 6% (RPI +1%) 0%
Merseyrail 5% (RPI +zero) 5%
National Express East Anglia 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
National Express East Coast 6% (RPI +1%) 7.4%
Northern Rail 6% (RPI +1%) 7%
Southeastern 8% (RPI +3%) 6%
Southern 6% (RPI +1%) 6%
South West Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7.2%
Virgin Trains 6% (RPI +1%) 7%
AVERAGE 6.00% 7.00%
*First ScotRail’s regulated fares in Strathclyde were previously set by SPT and reviewed in May. Now Scotland has a single regulatory body, Ministers have aligned Strathclyde fares changes with the rest of Scotland from January 2009. The Strathclyde regulated fares increase is 4% to take into account the alignment. It would have been 6% in May 2009. Outside of Strathclyde, the regulated fares increase is 6%.
Fares for the London Overground concession are set by Transport for London. Fares set by ‘open access’ operators (Heathrow Express, Hull Trains, Grand Central and Wrexham & Shropshire) are not subject to fares regulation.
(2) Retail Price Index and Regulated Fares
The pricing of regulated fares, which account for over half of tickets sold, is determined by the regulatory regime set by the Department for Transport (DfT). This allows for a rise of Retail Price Index (RPI) plus one percent (except Southeastern, which is RPI+3%) based on the July 2008 RPI figure, which was 5%.
(3) Proportion of Passenger Volumes on Regulated and Discounted Tickets
Data is derived from analysis of rail industry revenue and volume data corroborated by data in the Government White Paper on Railways published in July 2007.
(4) Investment in Trains and Stations
The revenue from rail fares is spent on a wide range of improvements, including:
Better trains:
• CrossCountry is refurbishing its entire fleet of 91 trains by 2009 to provide 35% more seating and 25% more luggage space, including the introduction of five High Speed Trains on the core route between Plymouth and Edinburgh.
• £10 million by East Midlands Trains to refurbish their Class 158 trains.
• £30 million by First Capital Connect on refurbishing two fleets.
• £190 million on the 148 carriage Desiro fleet by London Midland.
• £40 million on the refurbishment of 61 Class 315 trains on National Express East Anglia.
• £45 million on the ongoing refurbishment of the High Speed Train fleet on National Express East Coast - due to be completed in 2009.
• £258 million on the introduction of the Class 395 high speed fleet for Kent service by Southeastern.
• £10 million on the refurbishment of the 17 Class 442 trains on Southern to provide more capacity on the Brighton Main Line.
• Refurbishment of the train fleets on First Great Western (including the Sleepers), London Midland, Northern Rail, Virgin and Wrexham & Shropshire.
Better stations:
Many millions of pounds are being spent by train operators on refurbishing and improving stations including ticket offices, ticket machines, information systems, Closed Circuit Television, more car and cycle parking and better waiting rooms and toilets.
New stations are opening at Aylesbury Vale Park from December 2008, and Corby and East Midlands Parkway (for East Midlands airport) during 2009.
