Train fares to increase by 4.1% in January 2014

Despite the drop of retail price index inflation to 3.1% in July train fares will increase by an average of 4.1% in January 2014.

09:43 15 August 2013

Bad news for train passengers; it has been confirmed that train fares will increase by an average of 4.1per cent in January 2014. And up to 9.1per cent for some passengers. This is despite the fact that retail price index inflation has slowed down from 3.3per cent in June to 3.1per cent in July – because fares are set 1per cent above last month’s RPI.

On Tuesday, campaigners launched protests at railway stations, as the latest fare increase is likely to result to additional £200 to the cost of many commuters’ season tickets. Unions and consumer groups warned that 11 years of above inflation fare increases were pricing people out of train travel.

Train operators are allowed by the government to increase fares as long as the average remains under the cap. This means that the fare increase can be anywhere between 4.1per cent to 9.1per cent.