Walk-on rail fares more expensive
Published: Wednesday, 2 July 2008, 9:41AM
Some on-the-day rail fares are five times more expensive than those booked in advance, a report has showed.
The Campaign For Better Transport has said it was vital that the price of turn-up-and-go fares was pitched at reasonable levels.
The report which coincides with the first anniversary of the Government's rail White Paper, compared the cost of walk-up fares and advance-booked fares for single journeys between the largest cities in each region in England plus the largest cities in Wales and Scotland.
Journeys from Newcastle upon Tyne were 5.33 times more expensive for walk-on fares than for advance bookings, while fares from London were 5.1 times dearer and those from Cardiff 5.04 times more expensive.
On average the city-to-city turn-up-and-go fares were 4.69 times pricier than those booked in advance.
Campaign for Better Transport public transport campaigner Cat Hobbs said: "The Government's solution to high rail fares is to offer advance fares. But we can't always predict the future and so need a walk-on railway."
She added: "At a time when people are facing increases in petrol prices, the Government is planning to make the green alternative, rail, even more expensive. The Government needs to invest more in the rail network so that people can just turn up at a station and go."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We continue to protect rail passengers by limiting increases in regulated fares.
"For long distance travel, 'Saver' tickets can be bought on the day and be used any time outside the morning and evening peaks.
"Over half of journeys on a route like London-Manchester are made on these tickets. Less than ten per cent are on the Standard Open Return fare. In fact, half of all rail journeys on the network are on a regulated ticket.
"In total, 80 per cent of all journeys are made on either a regulated fare or a ticket that has been discounted by operators."
He added: "Work is under way simplifying the ticketing system."
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