Commuters see rail fares rise

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RAIL TICKET hikes have seen commuters returning to work today (Tuesday) paying an average of 4.2 per cent extra to travel.

London Midland increases, which came into effect yesterday (Monday), now mean monthly season tickets between Bromsgrove and Birmingham New Street have risen £5.40 from £93 to £98.40. Annual ticket holders will pay £56 more for their pass and there will be an extra £1.40 per week to pay for those who get a seven-day pass.

Those paying for individual journeys will see a single between Bromsgrove and the city centre increasing to £5.30, an off-peak day return will now cost £5.50 and an anytime day return will be £6.60.

According to Campaign for Better Transport, a group lobbying the Government to reduce public transport prices, train fares have increased by 13 per cent since 1997, while at the same time, the cost of motoring has fallen by 14 per cent.

But a statement from London Midland said, while the average rise for their trains was 4.2 per cent, the UK average increase was 5.9 per cent.

The new fare prices have angered Standard readers, who took to our Facebook page to protest the increases were unfair in light of the perceived poor service received.

Pete Kelly called the hike 'disgusting', adding: "We pay more every year and the standard of travel goes down each year."

Dominic Baker said: "I bet the increase will not mean a better train service. The cost of train fare plus car park charges, what a joke."

Fı Harasyn said: "The cost of travel from Bromsgrove to Birmingham is disgraceful, when combined with a £3 a day parking charge.

"It actually makes it cheaper to drive, which is crazy.

"However, crowded trains seem to be the norm nowadays - I pay £163 to go to London at peak times and have to stand all the way which is even more disgraceful.

And Emma Walker added: "I think it's unbelievable the prices you pay for any public transport.

"The Government wants us to use public transport more and our cars less, why don't they make it more affordable for the average person to use buses and trains?"