Rail fares go up

Higher inflation could lead to train fare rises of up to 10%, train driver’s union Aslef has warned. Existing rules permit train operating companies to increase prices in line with RPI inflation plus 1% or, in the case of Southeastern, by plus 3% (to help pay for new highspeed services). These permitted increases can be an average, the union points out, so if fares are only increased by 6% on some routes, they can be increased by 10% on others.

Aslef said the policy is at odds with the aim of getting more people out of their cars and onto trains. Aslef general secretary Keith Norman said: “Politicians simply don’t know what to do with this privatised railway”, adding that they “seem reluctant to adopt the approach that passengers, staff and taxpayers want — which is placing it under public control”.