Rail fares set for above-inflation increases
LOCAL rail users will face an average increase of 4.8 per cent in fares from the New Year.
The increase has been defended, however, with more seats promised for customers going to London and also local station improvements.
The Association of Train Operating Companies – ATOC – announced on Wednesday fares would rise countrywide from January 2, the increases being slightly above the current rate of inflation.
First Capital Connect operates a train service from Lynn to London King's Cross. Customers will see an average rise of 4.8 per cent in both regulated fares – including season tickets, savers and standard day returns – and some unregulated fares.
The rises mean that an annual season ticket from Lynn to London King's Cross will go up from 4,156 to 4,200 and a standard day return from 39.50 to 40.50, though a cheap day return, at 26, remains unchanged.
Defending the increases, an ATOC spokesman said: "Since 1999/2000, rail fares have risen by just five per cent in real terms compared to 12 per cent for bus fares, about 20 per cent for car fuel and 26 per cent for the cost of car maintenance."
A spokeswoman for First Capital Connect said "significant improvements" were planned locally and that, in the long term, the Thameslink programme would make access between Lynn and St Pancras in London easier.
CCTV was being upgraded next spring at Lynn, Downham and Watlington stations, with other improvements, including toilet refurbishment and a new waiting room at Lynn and, in June, a new passenger footbridge at Downham.
Chairman of the Fenline Users' Association Colin Sampson said it was regrettable fares had to go up at all but that the First Capital Connect rises were among the lowest.
Rail operators were doing all they could to improve links and seating capacity. "We are going to get some extra seats from next year," he said, hoping that this would make the journey from Lynn to London better, particularly in its latter stages between Cambridge and London.
Growth in rail usage had been in double figures for the last five years, he said, adding First Capital Connect had completed the Cambridge and Peterborough capacity study to look at how capacity could be improved.
The Thameslink programme hopes to improve services between Lynn and London by 2015.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
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Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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