Caerphilly’s Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has called for a price freeze from Arriva Trains Wales in the face of rising ticket prices.
In recent edition of the Caerphilly Labour Party’s monthly newsletter, the AM said he had written to the managing director of the rail firm asking for fares on the Rhymney line not to rise next year.
He said: “Prices on the Rhymney Valley line have been accelerating way above average earnings in recent years, leaving many people no option but to spend more of their already squeezed income for necessary travel. A return ticket to Cardiff, for instance, has increased in price by 18% since 2010 and I believe this is simply unacceptable in this current climate.
“With high unemployment, stagnant wages and the cost of living rising it is only fair that accessing public transport does not become such a burden that it excludes people who need to use it.
“Freezing prices next year would help hard-pressed commuters with the cost of travel whilst giving a much needed break for people on low incomes trying to access the jobs market.
“We hope that our call is met with a positive response.”
A spokesman for Arriva Trains Wales told Caerphilly Observer it was the Welsh Government which set the train fares.
He said: “In line with the rest of the UK rail industry, Arriva Trains Wales has carried out a review of its fares.
“The average regulated fare change will be an increase of RPI+1% which is set by the Welsh Government regulation policy.
“We continue to offer some of the cheapest rail fares in the UK for both daily and long distance journeys, and our average fare per journey on the Valleys network is still only £2.50. Our prices offer excellent value for money and can represent a huge saving when compared to the cost of driving.”
What Arriva fail to state is that fares on the Rhymney line have increased way above the RPI + 1% 'Average' in recent years. Fares on this route have gone up by an average of RPI + 2.4% since 2005. If fares would have gone up by the 'average' of RPI + 1% then people would now be paying £5.58 instead of £6 for a return ticket to Cardiff as far as Pengam. The potential savings made if RPI + 1% was applied would be over £2 per week, around £100 per year based on a 48 week working year.
It Can not be right that fares are increasing at a greater rate through the valleys than those more affluent areas who could shoulder the increases more effectively. A freeze on the Rhymney line is certainly in order to help relieve the growing cost of rail fare.
It costs me £6 for an 'off peak' return from Caerffili to Cardiff, Arriva fail to mention that people using the valley lines service normally want to get back home. Contrast this with a recent return train to Swansea, which was a more reasonable £13-80.
Contrast, also, with London where, last month, I could make as many train, tube and bus journeys as I wanted during a 24 hours period for £7. The prices charged are too high, this is why people use cars; they are still cheaper than public transport in Wales.
I agree with Cllr James Pritchard and our AM,Jeff Cuthbert,
Arriva Trains are making huge profits for their shareholders but instead of lining their pockets they should take heed of the angry commuters whose wages are frozen or are below the current cost of living and freeze the fares, its both affordable and socially responsible to do so.
Trying to pass the buck to the Welsh Assembly Government
Just to clarify: the Welsh Government is not directly responsible for setting rail fares in Wales, as the article above implies in its quote from Arriva Trains Wales (ATW).
What the Welsh Government does, as part of the Wales and Borders Franchise agreement with ATW, is set the parameters within which the train operating company can increase fares by an average of the RPI (Retail Price Inflation) rate plus one per cent.
Provided that these boundaries are adhered to, it is for ATW to then set the individual fares on particular routes. It is also worth remembering that the boundaries set within the Wales and Borders Franchise agreement only apply to regulated fares, such as season tickets and off-peak journeys. Unregulated fares – such as peak-time travel between major destinations – are set entirely by the train operating companies like ATW.
So it’s not strictly true that the Welsh Government sets rail fares in Wales. It merely sets the parameters within which the train operating companies are expected to act responsibly and raise fares by no more than an average of the RPI rate plus once per cent. The current Franchise agreement expires in 2018 and we will be looking at a number of potential options of future rail provision in Wales for beyond that date.
I did a bit of research on this myself, and as Jeff correctly points out the WAG does not have the power to set rail fares. That privilege belongs to Arriva Trains. Doubtless they will use it wisely 🙂