Commuters are set to be hit hard again, in the New Year as rail fares are set to rise from 2nd January.
Commuters Hit Hard By More Train Fare Increases
The average rail fare looks set to rise by 2.2%, and while that is the lowest average rise for five years, the rise on regulated fares look set to be up by as much as 2.5%.
This 2.5% hike is also set to hit season tickets and will see more train commuters will end up paying £5,000 for their season tickets.
The new faire will come into force in England, Scotland, and Wales and is well above the CPI inflation figure.
The rise will depend on where in the country you live and travel, with some season tickets in the north of England going up by 2% and Leeds up 1.2%. However, those who travel on the busy London routes will be hit with a 2.45 increase in January.
The rise in fares is set to help maintain the railways, according to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), but the new increase has cause fury among rail unions.
RDG director general Michael Roberts said: "Money from fares goes towards running and maintaining the railway.
"This benefits not just passengers and businesses but communities across the country, by improving journeys, creating employment and helping to boost the economy."
However, Manuel Cortes, the TSSA rail union, was not impressed by the new increase and has spoken out in defence of commuters saying: "It is time to stop this annual persecution of passengers with year-on-year hikes in fares.
"We have seen fares jump by as much as 245% on key routes since privatisation 20 years ago."
Every year commuters go through the turmoil of having to find more money to travel to work as fares are rising quicker than most yearly pay rises, and that doesn't look to be changing any time soon.
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