Rail ticket prices have smallest increase in five years

Rail ticket prices in Great Britain have had their smallest increase in five years and decreased in real terms, the latest statistics from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show.

In January 2015 – January 2016 the Rail Ticket Price Index increased by 0.7%, from 165.4 to 166.6.

This is the smallest annual increase since 2010 and represents a decrease in real terms, because the retail price index increased by 1.3% in the same time.

Regulated rail fares increased by 0.8%, a real-terms decrease of 0.5%, and unregulated rail fares increased by 1.8% for first class and 0.5% for standard class. In real terms, this means that the first class fares increased by 0.5% but the standard fares decreased by 0.8%.

The area with the greatest growth was London and the south east, which accounted for 46% of all revenue, followed by the long distance sector, which supplied 39%.

A National Infrastructure Commission report released last month predicted a huge growth in rail demand in London owing to its population growth.

The average price of advance tickets dropped by 0.1%, while anytime tickets increased by 0.9%, off-peak tickets increased by 1.1% and season tickets increased by 0.6%.

(Image c. Lauren Hurley from PA Wire)