"Toxic" rail fares rising twice as fast as wages and they're going up AGAIN in January
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Rail fares have risen twice as much as wages since 2010 a report has uncovered - and they're set to hike a further 3.9% in January.
An analysis by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) found that the cost of train tickets have risen by around 32% in eight years, while average weekly earnings have only grown by 16%.
The rises mean that a new nurse or police officer commuting from Chelmsford to London, where an annual season ticket would cost £4,000, would pay 20% of their salary on just travel, the union said.
The report comes as the Government is expected to announce another hike in the New Year following a 1.9% jump back in January.
The annual increase is linked to July's Retail Price Index (RPI) - a measure of inflation - which will be announced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday - it's expected to be around 3.9%, which would mean the highest increase in fares since 2012.
Regulated fares make up almost half of all tickets and include season tickets and standard returns.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Government policy of suppressing workers' wages while at the same time presiding over corporate welfare on our privatised railway has resulted in a toxic combination of fare rises easily outstripping wages.
"The private operators and government say the rises are necessary to fund investment but the reality is that they are pocketing the profits while passengers are paying more for less, with rail engineering work being delayed or cancelled, skilled railway jobs being lost and staff cut on trains, stations and at ticket offices."
"Overcrowded and understaffed trains"
Fewer than half of passengers are satisfied with the value for money of train tickets, according to passenger watchdog Transport Focus.
A TUC report also showed that UK commuters spend up to six times as much of their salary on rail fares as other European passengers - yet described the service as "overcrowded and understaffed".
"This is grim news for commuters, who are facing another year of fare hikes," TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said.
"Meanwhile it's pay day for private rail companies, whose owners gifted themselves nearly a quarter billion in dividends last year.
"Enough is enough. It's time for rail services to be publicly owned, saving money for passengers and taxpayers alike."
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said the Government "simply can't justify allowing passengers to be ripped-off under privatised rail".
"It is outrageous that UK commuters pay over the odds in order to subsidise travel in France, Germany, Holland and Italy and generate huge profits for private train companies," he said.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The Government carefully monitors how rail fares and average earnings change, and keeps under review the way fare levels are calculated.
"We are investing in the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century to improve services for passengers - providing faster and better trains with more seats."
What you can do about it
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1. Swap your station
How many stations can you commute from? Because there might be one a little further away that could be cheaper to travel from.
In fact, you might be able to make big savings cycling or getting a bus to a station that's further from home but closer to your destination or on a different line.
Exactly the same is true in reverse, is there a different station you can travel to near work? Adding a 10 minute walk to the end of your commute might – again – produce big savings.
What about methods of travel? Can you get the train for longer, and the underground or tram for less distance? Would going backwards a stop or two put you on a different line for the rest of the journey?
2. Ditch the train
Do you have to get the train to work every day? If you live within a few miles of the office, catching the bus, tram, cycling or even running might be an option for you.
It might be slower, and more subject to traffic, than the train or tube, but a bus season ticket can save you a lot.
Bus and tram journeys in London – for example – cost £1.50 each and no more than £21.20 a week if you're paying with Oyster or contactless. Compare that to £32.40 for the cheapest weekly travelcard including Zone 1.
An annual bus pass will save you at least £448 on the price of an annual travel card that includes Zone 1 and possibly as much as £3,164.
Cycling, by contrast, can prove quicker than trains and the tube – as it lets you go direct door-to-office eliminating any walking time to and from stations.
A decent bike costs less than £400 new , or can be picked up second hand for less than £100 . You might also be able to get it with a big discount, and spread the cost interest-free, by using a Cycle-to-work scheme from your employer.
3. Split your journey
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One of the best ways to save on fares is to split up your ticket.
Because of the incredibly complex way fares are calculated, it can be cheaper to buy two or three tickets covering parts of the same trip than one for the whole journey.
For example, it can be cheaper to book a ticket from Liverpool to Crewe, then Crewe to London, than to simply buy a ticket from Liverpool to London.
It's perfectly legal as long as the train you're on stops at the stations you've bought tickets from. You can use a split ticket calculator to see if you can make savings.
Confused? We've got a complete guide on TrainSplit here , or you can see a breakdown on Raileasy.co.uk .
4. Sign up for 25% off your next journey
Register with the main ticket retailers for exclusive discounts, sales news and vouchers straight to your inbox.
London Midland often sends members 25% off vouchers. Virgin Trains also offers a free cup of tea as well as a few quid off your next journey. It's also worth getting on TheTrainline.com's mailing list too.
5. Virgin Trains: Tickets from £7.50
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If you know the date and time you'll be travelling well ahead, book in advance using Virgin Trains' 'Ticket Offers' tool and you can get peak single fares to Manchester, Birmingham and more from £7.50.
You can book up to 24-hours in advance, but tickets sell out fast, especially peak ones. The best advice is to book around 12-weeks-6-months early. Tickets times vary from 6am - midnight.
6. Register with a cashback site
Join a cashback website like TopCashback or Quidco and you can earn money every time you book a ticket online.
Both sites also regularly offer free bonus travel incentives, like this £10 to spend at thetrainline.com deal . You can keep an eye on all of these deals on our offers page.
7. Avoid automated ticket machines
Most in-station ticket machines do not advertise discounted or group tickets , and can therefore work out a lot more expensive, compared to buying in advance, over the counter or online the night before. Avoid this at all costs. If you've left it last minute, buy over-the-counter.
8. Book at the right time
Ticket retailers release a handful of cheap seats for each journey around 12-weeks before the date of travel, and these can save you as much as 80% – that's around £100 off the price of a London to Edinburgh ticket.
If you can't book 12-weeks in advance, you can still make big savings by booking even just a week early, so if you have any trips pencilled in your diary, check now .
9. Do you own a Nectar Card?
Nectar Cards work on Virgin Trains and First Great Western – meaning you can get a bit extra back at no cost.
If you book train tickets often, you can rack up money back in the form of points.
10. Are you eligible for a railcard discount?
Before you book, check to see if you're eligible for any discount railcards.
These are available for anyone under 26, over 60, disabled or with a family (discounts only if you travel with at least one child), and cost around £30 for a year. A Two-Together railcard will also save you and a friend/partner a 1/3 of your journey.
Railcards apply to all UK Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advanced fares (although only after 9:30 in the morning on weekdays).
11. Consider a season ticket
If you're a commuter, it may be worth investing in a season (monthly or annual) ticket, rather than paying daily, or weekly.
For example, if you're travelling from London to Birmingham and back every day, a monthly ticket may be cheaper than a weekly one: