A Fair Revision?

Those of us of an ancient bent remember when Tube and Rail Fares were increased each year in January. Indeed to the simple minded proletariat this was announced each year as an “Annual Fare Increase”. Now, however, we live in more sophisticated times and what is now announced is a “Fare Revision.” However as Tube & Bus Fares are increasing in London by an average of 6% and on National Rail by inflation + 2% but on some tickets by over 10% then the simple minded proletariat, who don’t have City bonuses or Non-Dom (i.e.; tax-free loading) status may process this in their Neanderthal minds as an unfair Fare increase!

The increases, effective from 2nd. January 2009, were announced by Mayor Boris Johnson in September and include a 10p rise in a single Oyster card bus journey to £1. The new pricing scheme does include some fare reductions aimed at encouraging commuters to travel off- peak after 0930 and before 1600. The mayor said the fare rises were required to properly fund the system.

Single bus fare paid with an Oyster card will increase from 90p to £1

A one day bus and tram pass will rise from £3 to £3.30

A weekly bus pass will go up from £13 to £13.80

The £4 adult cash fare in Zone One of the tube will be frozen

Fares in other zones will go up from £3 to £3.20.

The minimum adult cash fare on the Docklands Light Railway rises from £1.50 to £1.60

Mr Johnson blamed former mayor Ken Livingstone's pre-election fare freeze for leaving an £80m gap in transport funding that needed to be filled with higher fares. But critics argued that any decision on fare pricing, which ultimately lies with Mr Johnson, includes his own plan to scrap the western extension of the congestion zone. Transport for London is upgrading major parts of the system in preparation for the 2012 Olympics and is also investing in the Crossrail link. The new pricing does offer half-price bus and tram fares for Londoners on benefits and the Freedom Pass for the over 60s and disabled passengers will have the off-peak use restrictions lifted, allowing the elderly to travel before 0930.


Enjoy your journey!

The general rail fares will hit the many commuters who use non TfL networks to get into London, with some tickets going up by more than 11%. Regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, will be going up by an average of 6% and unregulated fares, which include off-peak tickets, will be rising even more - by an average of 7%. Just as an example, if you have an annual season ticket using Southeastern railways for the Gillingham-London route that will go up by 10.2% and will cost you £3,020.

Customer watchdog body Passenger Focus, have been quoted across many national papers today saying that rail travellers would "shudder and shiver when they find out the scale of some New Year fare rises". Their chief executive, Anthony Smith, said "Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter. In addition, the perpetual tinkering with ticket restrictions ensures back door fare rises continue. Yet again, many long distance passengers will be pushed into paying higher prices or locking themselves into rigid advance purchase, one train only fares. As an immediate action we call on ministers to open discussions with the train companies to limit the range that regulated fares can go up. Big rises simply cannot be justified in more normal times let alone the current economic climate."

With petrol prices declining and employment softening dramatically in the UK this doesn’t look like a very joined up approach to promoting public transport. However as the Celtic Sage has pointed out before Public Representatives don’t actually pay the fares which they impose as an effective tax on employment as otherwise they would end up very angry and very poor!