Cheaper fares for millions of South West Trains passengers from January 2010
No increase in average fare on South West Trains network in New Year
Fares changes across UK rail network lowest since privatisation
Limited increases to small proportion of ‘turn up and go’ tickets
New fares structure for passengers in London under Oyster PAYG
More than 80% of passengers travel using a discounted ticket
Plans to reduce fares for millions of South West Trains passengers in the New Year were announced on 16 November 2009.
New ticket prices effective from 2 January 2010 will also see no increase in the average fare paid by passengers across the South West Trains network.
Rail fares across the UK rail network as a whole will rise by an average of 1.1%, well below the expected rate of inflation next year and the lowest increase since privatisation.
There will be limited increases to a small proportion of “turn-up-and-go” tickets on the South West Trains network and some changes to when a minority of tickets are valid.
Most passengers using South West Trains services within London will also see their fares frozen as part of the introduction of Oyster Pay As You Go on National Rail services.
Passengers are also continuing to benefit from improved services and ongoing investment at South West Trains, with around 93% of trains running on time, and 84% of passengers are satisfied with their train service.
Andy Pitt, Managing Director of South West Trains, said: “We are committed to playing our part in providing affordable rail travel and our package of fares changes in January will deliver a price freeze or price cuts for millions of passengers.
“While there will be limited increases on a small proportion of ‘turn-up-and-go tickets, after all fares changes at South West Trains there is no change to the average fare paid across our network.
“Rail travel delivers good value for money compared with cars and more than four out of five passengers using our services travel on a discounted ticket. Around 95% of the cost of a rail ticket is used to pay for running and investing in our train services. By continuing to run a high quality, efficient and punctual railway, we have been able to deliver even better value for money to our passengers”.
Key changes within the new rail fares package include:
Cheaper Standard Class season tickets
Most first class fares frozen or reduced
Many off-peak fares frozen
New First Class off-peak fares on mainline services
As part of the introduction of Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) onto National Rail, there will be a number of changes to fares within London, including:
Cheaper peak time journeys
Many fares frozen at 2009 levels, including travelcards, season tickets as well as standard class single and day return tickets.
Off peak return tickets withdrawn and replaced by Oyster PAYG off-peak fares
Change to the times when off peak fares are available in the London area
In line with the Oyster PAYG off-peak fares, there will be a change to the times when South West Trains’ Super Off Peak ‘turn up and go’ ticket is valid for journeys from London.
Meanwhile, the latest research by Stagecoach Group’s budget rail service megatrain.com shows that canny Britons are beating the recession by snapping up cheap rail deals.
megatrain.com offers fares from just £1* to around 30 locations on the UK rail network and latest statistics show that passenger bookings are up more than 100% on the same point last year when the economic downturn took hold..
Around 9,000 passengers a week are now travelling on a megatrain.com ticket on South West Trains, East Midlands Trains and Virgin Trains services – up 104% on 2008 and annual numbers are on track to reach around 500,000. Some 2,000 cheap seats are now available through the megabus.com online booking engine every day, with customers paying on average 30% less than last year.