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Anger at 20 per cent train fare rise
5:30am Tuesday 8th May 2007
Comments (14)HAMPSHIRE rail users have slammed plans to increase mid-morning and first class fares which could see ticket prices rise by an inflation-busting 20 per cent.
From May 20, anyone travelling between 10am and noon will be hit by the new price hikes, which will see cheap day return tickets from Southampton to Waterloo jump by over £5.
The new fares are a result of a new price band, and could see a rise of up to 20 per cent on standard off-peak tickets.
Anyone travelling between Southampton and Waterloo in this time will see their fare rise from £27.20 to £32.64.
All-day first class fares are also due to rise by 20 per cent, and off-peak fares will rise by three per cent.
Rail watchdog Passenger Focus' chief executive Anthony Smith added: "These increases are unacceptable and come only a matter of months after their last price rises. The affordable, turn-up and go railway has been further eroded and SWT is exploiting a monopoly market."
South West Trains said that it has bumped up its mid-morning prices to encourage more people to travel during off-peak times.
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Your Say YourThis is Hampshire
Andy, Locks Heath says...
8:17am Tue 8 May 07
PJ, Southampton says...
9:34am Tue 8 May 07
So "off-peak" seems to be getting smaller and smaller!
Ian, Bitterne Park says...
10:20am Tue 8 May 07
There has been considerable debates at various Labour conferences to bring the Rail service back into public hands.
Unfortunately , the labour leadership, accountable to no one it seems, has ignored or dismissed these requests.
Steve, Southampton says...
12:09pm Tue 8 May 07
I had hoped that when South West trains won the franchise last year that they would improve the service... this is a step backwards!
Steve, Southampton says...
1:15pm Tue 8 May 07
Well SWT are removing the turbostar trains (Totton to Romsey) and being replaced with refurbished old sprinter trains (brough from first great western).
Still getting over crowding, refurbished wessexs in eastleigh saids doing nothing.
Ive hardly seen a buffet or trolly service on these new trains at anytime i have traveled which is between 10am n noon
I have seen the 'blue trains' on the Portsmouth and London Waterloo line at peak where its over crowded, narrow seats these trains are not ideal for those long haul travel.
On the up i have seen some stations with face lifts like swaythling but still dosent help you get to you destionation any time quicker or easier
Lorna, southampton says...
1:35pm Tue 8 May 07
Gerry, says...
2:43pm Tue 8 May 07
Hugh Carres, says...
5:22pm Tue 8 May 07
Gerry wrote:Quite agree with you there Ger, no doubt the rank and file will continue to bleat about this but companies have a duty to the shareholders first and foremost - to maximise profits !
I have shares in the above company, and can assure you that the profits are really not worth talking about.
If people don't like it they can go elsewhere, how about one of those tatty little yellow bus things that I've seen buzzing round Ocean Village recently ?
Steve, Southampton says...
5:56pm Tue 8 May 07
Kevin Lazenby, Telford says...
7:13pm Tue 8 May 07
Many people will not be able to travel off peak to travel to work. It is rediculous.
Andy, Locks Heath says...
8:36pm Tue 8 May 07
Hugh Carres wrote:That was a particularly stupid and inane post Hugh - a PLC's duties are not in question. But the Stagecoach franchise is a monopoly - which is why there is a Rail Regulator. And I can quote Brian Souter who said himself that the amounts being bid to win franchises were a bit "Toppy". Well Stagecoach's "toppy" incompetence is being passed on to the customer with no added value whatsoever. So as a Stagecoach shareholder do you think that antagonising your customer base is good business practice?
Gerry wrote: I have shares in the above company,Quite agree with you there Ger, no doubt the rank and
and can assure you that the profits are really not worth talking
about.
file will continue to bleat about this but companies have a duty to the
shareholders first and foremost - to maximise profits !
If people don't like it they can go elsewhere, how about one of those
tatty little yellow bus things that I've seen buzzing round Ocean
Village recently ?
David Allthorpe, Southampton says...
11:13pm Tue 8 May 07
I know many people who work in London and start at 10.30 and work through till 6pm. For them this substantial rise in prices will add considerably to their costs. Many employers will soon be receiving letters of resignation or applications for pay increases.
South West Trains are just ripping the public off.
Is there no official body who can protect us from this profiteering.
Robert, says...
11:27pm Tue 8 May 07
"Stand and Deliver"
Today's highwaymen.
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Ian, Bitterne Park says...
7:24am Tue 8 May 07
Back in the early 90s I remember the Tory government saying that privatisation and competition would lead to lower prices for all.
BR was bad but dont hold privatisation up as the example of something better.