Do any of your have much information or experience with the rail fare trends?
The fares are increasing at a rate above inflation and are currently capped to prevent it being too excessive. Do you know if the cap could be eliminated soon?
That only applies to regulated fares, and those fares will stay regulated.
The problems are that some TOCs seem to think that the routeing on the tickets is not regulated (which I disagree with) and this can cause stealth rises, and that the fares that are regulated can be very restrictive in terms of the times they are valid, and still be within the terms of the legislation.
What effect do the rising prices have on the industry?
The rising prices put people off travel, but many people have no option.
This means that popular routes will continue to remain overcrowded, but at unpopular times, they still won't fill the trains.
Fares are fair on some lines, perhaps only at off-peak times, but on other lines they are hideous. Sometimes the fare from A to B can be reasonable, but go on an extra mile or two to C, and the through fare becomes extortionate.
For example, in a recent thread someone asked about
Selby to Middlesbrough. The return fare has risen to a ludicrous £40, which has the effect of putting people off rail travel. They will simply drive up the A19 instead - a lot cheaper, and quicker! It's a 71 mile journey, but it costs too much and takes too long. But split at the next station, Sherburn, where the vast majority of trains call, and the price reduces to £17.
So, rail travel may still be popular among people who understand the fares structure and have the time/resources to avoid being utterly ripped off.
Are there any improvements which could be made which mean that fares needn't go up so much but will not require a bigger government subsidy?
The rail industry needs to increase efficiency in order to reduce costs, but I would suggest that's a debate for another thread
