Rail Fares To Rise By 4.1% In January 2014

Rail fares are set ro rise by 4.1% in January after the latest RPI inflation figure was revealed as 3.1%.

Thousands of people have been protesting at 50 stations across the UK against the rise of rail fares compared to the average earnings.

Train companies raise average regulated fares such as season tickets by one percentage point on top of July's RPI inflation figure - with the price hike kicking in from January.

Campaigners claim train fares have risen three times faster than wages in the last six years.

The next price hike will be the sixth time in seven years that rail fares have outstripped wages, they say.

Between 2008 and next January rail fares will have jumped by 40%, compared with a 15% increase in average earnings, it is claimed.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) warned some season tickets could rise by 9%, against forecasts of a 2.4% increase in average earnings next year.

It said rail privatisation was costing taxpayers £1.2bn a year despite "minimal" investment in trains and stations.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Every year hard-pressed rail commuters have to hand over an ever greater share of their earnings just to get to and from work.

"Wage-busting fare rises are not even going on much needed service improvements either. Instead, passenger and public subsidies are lining the pockets of the shareholders of private rail companies."

Campaigners protested at King's Cross and other stations

The TUC and the Action For Rail campaign group have planned a series of demonstrations at stations including Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Glasgow Central, Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle Central and London's Paddington and Victoria.

Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign For Better Transport, said: "Getting to work is now the biggest single monthly outgoing for many commuters - more than food, more than housing.

"For the sake of the economy, we should end above-inflation fare increases now and start planning for fare reductions."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said nobody liked paying more for fares but the Government was investing heavily in the railways.

"Nobody likes to see rail fares go up. I don't like to see it and passengers don't like to see it," he said.

"We are massively investing in the railways, with £130m being spent here at Nottingham, £800m at Reading and £600m at Birmingham.

"Running the railways is a very expensive business.

Regulated fares went up by 4.2% in January 2013, lower than initial plans for a hike of 6.2%.

The Government backed down from plans to allow a rise by 3% on top of RPI in the face of fierce opposition from passengers.

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