Season tickets may go up 37%

[Metroland]

Most train fares will be 37 per cent higher by 2015 if the annual limit is raised from one per cent above the ret*ail price index to three per cent.

Ministers are widely expected to ann*ounce such a move in a bid to cut the national deficit.

It could, for example, see commuters from Swindon to the capital paying almost £2,500 a year extra, making a season ticket cost £9,130.

Those travelling in from Reading could see prices jump £1,271 to £4,659, while Brighton commuters would have to pay an extra £1,164, taking an annual ticket to £4,268.

The figures were compiled by The Campaign for Better Transport based on official inflation forecasts.

Fares are already due to rise by 5.8 per cent in January. ‘Passengers have been promised “fair fares” by the government, and now many could be paying hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds more,’ said CBT spokeswoman Alexandra Woodsworth.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/843119-train-fares-to-rise-37-by-election-travellers-are-warned

Meanwhile:

Bob Crow, the RMT union’s left wing leader, said the above-inflation rise awarded by South West Trains will dictate future pay claims.

Mr Crow has signalled that there could be more industrial disruption if other train companies fail to meet his demands, calling on the trade union movement to use its muscle to fight spending cuts.

It could herald a difficult winter for passengers who are already bracing themselves for the biggest rise in rail fares in more than a decade.

Mr Crow’s scarcely-veiled challenge to the Coalition will intensify Tory back-bench pressure for new anti-strike laws.

The South West Trains pay increase kicks in this week but was negotiated last year, when both sides agreed that the 2010 rise would be 0.5 per cent above the rate of inflation.

This has led to RMT members enjoying a substantial rise at a time when most pay deals are being settled at below three per cent.

While train operators tried to play down the significance of the award, Mr Crow, made clear that it had set a precedent.

“The pay award of 5.2% on South West Trains sets a clear benchmark for our negotiators and for the transport sector as a whole," he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...rise-sets-benchmark-for-future-pay-deals.html

 

[WatcherZero]

I think a commentator during the Labour conference best described Crows personality, he was a communist anarchist who believed in bringing down the state in his youth and now in charge of the second most powerful union he has the power to do it. He will often disregard the interests of his members if he has a chance of causing strikes instead.