Train fares set to increase by 4.1%

[Callum Johnstone]

Source: The Scotsman
2 December 2003

Train fares set to increase by 4.1%

ALASTAIR DALTON TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

Rail fares across the west of Scotland are expected to rise by 4.1 per
cent from next May after Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT)
officials recommended they fall into line with new UK-wide ticket
increases.

Members of the Glasgow-based authority will be asked on Friday to
approve rises of 1 per cent above inflation in the next annual fares
review.

The SPT area covers two-thirds of ScotRail services and comprises the
largest suburban network outside London.

Fares across the rest of ScotRail are expected to increase by a
similar amount next month.

The SPT increase follows a fares freeze this year in a bid to lure
back passengers who deserted the trains following last year's drivers'
dispute. Fares rose by 2 per cent the previous year.

Part of next year's rise will be used to help fund service
improvements between Milngavie and Larkhall, which includes more
cross-city trains, new stations and a three-mile extension from
Hamilton to Larkhall.

The new UK-wide fares increase formula replaces tickets being
previously pegged at 1 per cent below inflation.

Mike Lunan, the convener of the Rail Passengers Committee Scotland,
said: "This is not good news for passengers, but not as bad as it
might have been."

Meanwhile, ticket barriers are about to be installed at some of
Scotland's busiest stations in an attempt to curb fare dodging.
Passengers travelling without tickets are estimated to cost SPT £2
million a year, with a similar amount lost to the rest of the ScotRail
network.

Automatic barriers will be built at Waverley and Haymarket stations in
Edinburgh, and both Queen Street high and low level stations in
Glasgow.

Ten machines will be installed at some of the busiest stations on the
SPT network to enable passengers to buy tickets more easily, including
at Queen Street, Central, Hyndland and Jordanhill in Glasgow, and Croy
and Lenzie on the Edinburgh and Stirling line.

SPT said the work was due to be completed by early in the New Year.

[Ian McMillan]

Post by Callum Johnstone
Rail fares across the west of Scotland are expected to rise by 4.1 per
cent from next May after Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT)
officials recommended they fall into line with new UK-wide ticket
increases.

Time to start getting the bus methinks :-(

[David Marsh]

[Interleaved quotes: read to end for all comments]
Callum Johnstone wrote in free.uk.scotland.transport-railways:
about: Train fares set to increase by 4.1%

Post by Callum Johnstone
The SPT area covers two-thirds of ScotRail services and comprises the
largest suburban network outside London.

I've often wondered about that claim, what do they mean by "largest"?
After all, the likes of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool have pretty
large rail networks as well? Do they mean area covered, number of
stations, or what?

Post by Callum Johnstone
Meanwhile, ticket barriers are about to be installed at some of
Scotland's busiest stations in an attempt to curb fare dodging.
Passengers travelling without tickets are estimated to cost SPT £2
million a year, with a similar amount lost to the rest of the ScotRail
network.
Automatic barriers will be built at Waverley and Haymarket stations in
Edinburgh, and both Queen Street high and low level stations in
Glasgow.

About time, too.

Where will they put the barriers, though? At the end of each individual
platform (where there isn't much space), causing an annoying bottleneck
and delay for arriving passengers as an entire trainsworth tries to
filter through perhaps 2 barriers, or will there be a long landside/railside
transition somewhere across the concourse which will allow faster flow?

I presume, of course, that there will also be staffed gates for passengers
with bicycles, pushchairs, wheelchairs, luggage, etc?

Post by Callum Johnstone
Ten machines will be installed at some of the busiest stations on the
SPT network to enable passengers to buy tickets more easily, including
at Queen Street, Central, Hyndland and Jordanhill in Glasgow, and Croy
and Lenzie on the Edinburgh and Stirling line.

Also about time, too.
The queues at Queen Street ticket office are interminable..
I hope the ticket machines will be able to sell tickets to all stations
in Scotland. And would it be too much to hope for them to include Subway
add-ons as well?