Train commuters to and from Nottingham are some of the people across England and Wales who will be hit by rail fare increase.
Central Government announced today (Tuesday August 15) regulated rail fares will increase by 3.6 per cent in January 2018.
The fare rises will affect ‘anytime’ and some off-peak fares as well as season tickets in England and Wales.
One of the season ticket prices that will increase is the Derby to Nottingham route – this year, the ticket costs £1,440 and next year it will cost £1,492, a £52 rise.
The announcement coincides with Trades Union Congress (TUC), a national trade union centre, analysis that shows rail fares have increased more than twice as fast as wages since 2007.
The figures show rail fares have risen by 53 per cent in the past ten years while normal weekly earnings have grown by 22 per cent.
TUC Midlands regional secretary Lee Barron said: “Following the recent cancellation of the electrification of the Midlands mainline, this latest rail fare increase is yet another kick in the teeth for rail commuters in the Midlands.
“At a time when we are facing overcrowded and understaffed trains, working people are being asked to pay through the nose to get to work.
“At the same time, private rail companies are swimming in profits, with nearly a quarter billion in dividends last year.
“Enough is enough – it’s time for rail services to be publicly owned, saving money for passengers and taxpayers alike.”
TUC research also found UK commuters spend as much as six times of their salary on rail fares than other European passengers.
Train operators can raise fares by as much as the Retail Prices Index (RPI) figure for July and the figure is the highest it has been since 2011 when it was five per cent.
The most widely used measure, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), was unchanged at 2.6 per cent.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: “The Government carefully monitors how rail fares and average earnings change, and keeps under review the way fare levels are calculated.
“We are investing in the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century to improve services for passengers – providing faster and better trains with more seats.
“We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger.
“We are driving the industry hard to improve efficiency to ensure we maximise the value of passengers’ and taxpayers’ investment in the railways.
“Regulated rail fares are capped in line with inflation for next year.
“In the five years to 2019, Network Rail is spending more than £40 billion to maintain and improve the network.
“On average, 97 per cent of every £1 of a passenger’s fare goes back into the railway.”
