Passengers being 'held to ransom'
Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:28 am
Ref.: Western Daily Press, Bristol - 20 May 2006
Link to online source
------------------------------------
PASSENGERS BEING 'HELD TO RANSOM'
Passengers on West rail routes face huge fare rises of up to 11 per cent next month, even as MPs attacked train operators for holding customers to ransom. Members of the Commons Transport Committee yesterday published a damning report accusing train operators of driving passengers off the railways with "exorbitant" fares and "chaotic" ticketing str uctures.
Meanwhile, the new First Great Western pricing structure will see some first class season tickets go up from between 5.9 per cent and 11 per cent on June 11, while there will be increases on some standard class season tickets.
Some First Great Western cheap day and saver fares could rise by an above-inflation 3.5 per cent, although other cheap day and saver fares will be reduced.
SuperSaver, Advance, SuperAdvance, Apex and First Apex tickets are being withdrawn, with "leisure" and "business" class tickets being brought in.
The document said the rise in some first class tickets reflected "the additional benefits and continuing improvements for first class customers".
First Great Western, which runs services from London Paddington to the West, South Wales and the Midlands, said the new pricing for all advance purchase tickets would mean customers would benefit from cheaper fares on less-busy trains and on trains booked well in advance.
Glenda Lamont, First Great Western's director of customer services, said: "We're making the changes in response to customer feedback which showed the current wide range of fares with differing terms and conditions is seen as confusing and unnecessarily complicated. To help make life simpler we've developed a new fares structure that is much easier to use and offers more benefits."
The Transport Committee's report said operating companies had brought the whole industry into disrepute with their "single-minded" pursuit of profits.
It described a system where passengers were "held to ransom" by companies who took a "see how much we can get away with" approach to their customers.
And the MPs slammed the "complacency" of the Government for failing to ensure value for money for the ú87million-a-week of taxpayers' money pouring into the rail network.
Rail Minister Derek Twigg said the Government was urging train companies to simplify the ticketing system. But the Conservatives said the Government was "trying to price people off the railways" while the Liberal Democrats said the UK had the highest rail prices in Europe.
Link to online source
------------------------------------
PASSENGERS BEING 'HELD TO RANSOM'
Passengers on West rail routes face huge fare rises of up to 11 per cent next month, even as MPs attacked train operators for holding customers to ransom. Members of the Commons Transport Committee yesterday published a damning report accusing train operators of driving passengers off the railways with "exorbitant" fares and "chaotic" ticketing str uctures.
Meanwhile, the new First Great Western pricing structure will see some first class season tickets go up from between 5.9 per cent and 11 per cent on June 11, while there will be increases on some standard class season tickets.
Some First Great Western cheap day and saver fares could rise by an above-inflation 3.5 per cent, although other cheap day and saver fares will be reduced.
SuperSaver, Advance, SuperAdvance, Apex and First Apex tickets are being withdrawn, with "leisure" and "business" class tickets being brought in.
The document said the rise in some first class tickets reflected "the additional benefits and continuing improvements for first class customers".
First Great Western, which runs services from London Paddington to the West, South Wales and the Midlands, said the new pricing for all advance purchase tickets would mean customers would benefit from cheaper fares on less-busy trains and on trains booked well in advance.
Glenda Lamont, First Great Western's director of customer services, said: "We're making the changes in response to customer feedback which showed the current wide range of fares with differing terms and conditions is seen as confusing and unnecessarily complicated. To help make life simpler we've developed a new fares structure that is much easier to use and offers more benefits."
The Transport Committee's report said operating companies had brought the whole industry into disrepute with their "single-minded" pursuit of profits.
It described a system where passengers were "held to ransom" by companies who took a "see how much we can get away with" approach to their customers.
And the MPs slammed the "complacency" of the Government for failing to ensure value for money for the ú87million-a-week of taxpayers' money pouring into the rail network.
Rail Minister Derek Twigg said the Government was urging train companies to simplify the ticketing system. But the Conservatives said the Government was "trying to price people off the railways" while the Liberal Democrats said the UK had the highest rail prices in Europe.