Call for debate on rail ticket prices

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Tuesday 31st Jan 2006.

Passenger Focus, the new independent consumer body representing rail passengers in Britain has called for a national debate on rail fares.

The message from passengers is that while many aspects of rail travel are getting better, the jury is out on ticket prices.

As part of the national survey more than 25,000 passengers have given their verdict on their experiences of Britain's rail services.

Passengers in the south west are satisfied with their journeys overall, provision of information about train times and platforms and how requests to station staff are dealt with.

However, the issues for passengers in the south west are clearly value for money and how well delays are dealt with.

The survey found 84 per cent of First Great Western passengers and 79 per cent of Wessex passengers are satisfied with their overall journey. More South West Trains passengers than ever before are satisfied with their journey, with 84 per cent of passengers very or fairly satisfied.

But it's a thumbs down on value for money only 48 per cent of First Great Western passengers, 60 per cent of Wessex passengers and 42 per cent of South West Trains passengers think that they are getting value from the cost of train travel.

Colin Foxall, the Passenger Focus chairman, said: "If less than half of all rail passengers think they are getting value for money, then it's a sign that the existing fares system is simply not delivering. Passenger Focus intends to start a national debate about what kind of fares structure passengers want to see we'll be going out to ask passengers."

Archive Home