I found this story on the BBC web site this morning. I would have thought that the operating companies would have been trying to encourage ridership, especially in this economic climate. Supposedly the extra revenue will be reinvested but I wonder how long that will take to happen.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7806190.stm
Although I must admit that the UK has a much better passenger rail system than here. I Think I have only taken the train twice in the last 28 years, once into Toronto (about 40 min.) and once to Montreal (about 4 1/2 hours by VIA 1). Maybe one day people will get out of their cars and get on the train!
Train fares rise
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Blackthorn
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tugboatcharly2
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rail fares
I will say with no fear of contridiction that the fares increase is down to to stupid politics by the tory party and John Major who is also responsible for the all the othe damage done to the energy and water companies ,it was that gang of crooks that sold it all off to their friends in the 1990"s I suppose one day the people of this country will see the light and get what was given away back to us.
PS it was the same mob that killed the rail system in the 1960"s
PS it was the same mob that killed the rail system in the 1960"s
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get_that_bus_out
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But I wouldn't fancy four days in an Amtrak seat (comfortable as they are) and I bet it costs a bit more than that when you add in the cost of a sleeper berth! Having said that I had to travel from Vancouver to Winnipeg last January and did it on VIA Rail's sleeper train which I can't recommend highly enough, even if it did cost a bit more than flying.jules wrote:Newark, New Jersey to Portland, Oregon (3,900 miles, 4 days) by Amtrak .... $209!!
There is something VERY wrong here ... and I could name what it is, but I don't want to be political, at least not here!
Getting back on topic though part of the silliness in the fares rise is that the increase in regulated fares (seasons and the "off peak" tickets formally branded as Savers) is set by the government at inflation +1% for most franchises (so they can't really bleat on about the train companies ripping people off on that front). Unregulated fares (Cheap DAy Returns, Anytime, Advance etc) are another matter, of course, but at least in most cases (with the "honourable" exception of XC levying an 11% increase in come fares) the TOCs have not raised these fares above 6%.
The inflation figure that is used to calculate the following year's fare rises is a snapshot figure taken during July, which explains why with inflation now at a much lower level the price rises are still this high.
So when the snapshot is taken this coming July when we will probably officially have *deflation*, shall we be looking forward to a fares decrease for 2010?The inflation figure that is used to calculate the following year's fare rises is a snapshot figure taken during July, which explains why with inflation now at a much lower level the price rises are still this high.
I sincerely doubt it!
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get_that_bus_out
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Interesting question - I was wondering that myself. I guess that if deflation was at more than 1% then technically that should be the case. Not that it will make much difference to me cos I start a new job in Philadelphia come June! Come to think of it, l I wonder if my student loan that I haven't paid off yet (supposed to be linked to inflation as well) will be getting any smaller..?!
In theory, all loans get smaller as an effect of inflation as rising income means the repayments of an older loan become a smaller percentage of people's income.Come to think of it, l I wonder if my student loan that I haven't paid off yet (supposed to be linked to inflation as well) will be getting any smaller..?!
But an inflation-linked loan? That's a new one on me - do you mean your repayments go UP as inflation rises? In which case, the loan company has negated any falling percentage effect over time.
Good luck with the new job, BTW. Best place to be in these scant times
The value of your loan in pounds won't be getting any smaller but thanks to the collapse in the value of the pound it will cost you 25% less in dollars to pay it off compared to a year ago.get_that_bus_out wrote:Interesting question - I was wondering that myself. I guess that if deflation was at more than 1% then technically that should be the case. Not that it will make much difference to me cos I start a new job in Philadelphia come June! Come to think of it, l I wonder if my student loan that I haven't paid off yet (supposed to be linked to inflation as well) will be getting any smaller..?!
Just be glad that you aren't contemplating the same move with savings that have decreased in dollar value by 25%
