Topic ID 5502
Ware monthly travelcard to London has gone up 7% to �311. I just wonder how they get away with it.
Reply ID 63189
Captive market
Reply ID 63193
reduced govt subsidies following the banks bankrupting UK plc
Reply ID 63200
More a case of a government that has an ideological commitment to the market, and believes that there should be no government support of a public service, however necessary. They are committed to cutting government money out of the railways altogether, so be ready for many more years of high fare increases, and being called customers, not passengers etc.
Reply ID 63204
I thought they were capped at 6%, still too much by the way?
Reply ID 63205
6% was the average. Some areas went up by as much as 10% apparently.
Reply ID 63207
quote:Here? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16260872
Originally posted by Hillsider
6% was the average. Some areas went up by as much as 10% apparently.
Reply ID 63208
Yep - and anecdotal stories. I listen to Talksport on the way home from work, and Darren Gough has been sounding off about a 7%+ increase on the London - Milton Keynes line.
Reply ID 63209
Hmm, interestingly the CE of the Association of Train Operating Companies said "Money raised through fares helps pay for new trains, faster services and better stations. The longstanding government approach ... is to cut the contribution from taxpayers... The industry is working together to ... help limit future fare rises..." I'm an infrequent user of the railways, normally out of peak hours and over the years haven't seen what I would consider excessive increases to off peak fares but 7% seems a high rise. Have there been any "new trains, faster services or better stations" on the Ware line? From what I've heard over the years my perception is that the Hertford East line has been last in the queue for service improvements getting second hand trains and a reduced service with no station improvements, would that be a fair summary or is that inaccurate?
Reply ID 63210
Whilst I think the service on our line is poor (as a part time user), believe it or not, it could be worse... I was in Eastbourne over Christmas (Southern Trains I believe) - the services were simply not running at all, and the station (which is a pretty major hub in the area) was completely closed up. Not sure what their (un)fare increase is.
Reply ID 63212
There was a signallers strike over christmas for about three days, so that's why they would have been locked up then.
Reply ID 63216
As an ex commuter I recall virtually every year price rices irrespective of governments, usage, quality. Is why our transport is one of the most expensive in the world. Its a captive market and I am so glad I now work 'local'. You have my sympathy for what its worth.
Reply ID 63217
quote:Yes, exactly, this has been going on for decades, since at least privatization and I'm pretty sure it was going on even before that. I can understand that there is a lot of expense simply in maintaining the current level of service but it seems that folk perceive the Hertford East line gets left out every year. Maybe it's true, or maybe everywhere is the same in thinking someone else has got the investment? Maybe there's no investment as such and maintenance prices are swallowing up all the increase?
Originally posted by kevin phillips bong
As an ex commuter I recall virtually every year price rices irrespective of governments, usage, quality.
Reply ID 63218
Don't forget staff wage rises Ian. They 'have' to have a rise each year or the unions threaten strikes (tube drivers earn 40k??) so, then price of fares rise and it goes on + on + on + on - not really fair is it when millions of ordinary folk have had no wage rise.
Reply ID 63219
quote:I think 40k isn't a lot given the responsibility involved, ie the safety of 500-600 people at anyone given time. It makes me laugh, if people think driving a tube is such a cushy number, wht don't they train to do it themselves? They're always advertising for drivers after all.
Originally posted by kevin phillips bong
Don't forget staff wage rises Ian. They 'have' to have a rise each year or the unions threaten strikes (tube drivers earn 40k??) so, then price of fares rise and it goes on + on + on + on - not really fair is it when millions of ordinary folk have had no wage rise.
Reply ID 63220
National Express is a business that exists to make a profit and, in addition to its operating costs, it will have other overheads such as shareholder dividends and senior management bonuses. Interestingly the company was expected to make profits of �173 million in 2011 from its national and international business with profits from its UK rail and coach operation growing by 7%. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23965805-national-express-driving-ahead-with-growing-revenues-and-high-hopes.do So it is, in fact, a success story. Whether private sector success is compatible with good public service delivery is another matter...
Reply ID 63222
Driving on the Victoria Line is a doddle. Close the doors, then press two buttons and away the train goes. Sit there until the train stops automatically at the next station, then open the doors. Apparently tfl are working towards all lines working this way. Where were those driver vacancy ads again !!!!!
Reply ID 63223
quote:Bear in mind many pilots, who have to shell out thousands on training, will start on a much lower wage than this, with similar burdens of responsibility... but they havent got a union that can hold a capital city to ransom. If you want to go down the responsibility route, lets talk nurses... Or - pay according to the skills required (as with real life) and if the drivers dont like it, they can go somewhere else, and the queues of people looking for work can have a go. Having said that - the tube and the trains are different issues, so we are heading off topic.
Originally posted by Ross Kemps Shampooquote:I think 40k isn't a lot given the responsibility involved, ie the safety of 500-600 people at anyone given time. It makes me laugh, if people think driving a tube is such a cushy number, wht don't they train to do it themselves? They're always advertising for drivers after all.
Originally posted by kevin phillips bong
Don't forget staff wage rises Ian. They 'have' to have a rise each year or the unions threaten strikes (tube drivers earn 40k??) so, then price of fares rise and it goes on + on + on + on - not really fair is it when millions of ordinary folk have had no wage rise.
Reply ID 63228
quote:I can't believe that in this day and age that people think �40k per year for doing a job with that level of responsibility, that includes working shifts, unsocialable hours and having to live in the South East of England is a good salary. Plus, if you don't like the price of the fares, either work closer to home or move closer to work. No ones holding a gun at anyones head to live where you live.
Originally posted by Hillsiderquote:Bear in mind many pilots, who have to shell out thousands on training, will start on a much lower wage than this, with similar burdens of responsibility... but they havent got a union that can hold a capital city to ransom. If you want to go down the responsibility route, lets talk nurses... Or - pay according to the skills required (as with real life) and if the drivers dont like it, they can go somewhere else, and the queues of people looking for work can have a go. Having said that - the tube and the trains are different issues, so we are heading off topic.
Originally posted by Ross Kemps Shampooquote:I think 40k isn't a lot given the responsibility involved, ie the safety of 500-600 people at anyone given time. It makes me laugh, if people think driving a tube is such a cushy number, wht don't they train to do it themselves? They're always advertising for drivers after all.
Originally posted by kevin phillips bong
Don't forget staff wage rises Ian. They 'have' to have a rise each year or the unions threaten strikes (tube drivers earn 40k??) so, then price of fares rise and it goes on + on + on + on - not really fair is it when millions of ordinary folk have had no wage rise.
Reply ID 63237
To deviate a bit (well I did start the thread!), the bit I don't get is that there was a politician who said recently that train travel has become the preserve of the middle classes now (I thought they were skint now also!). This is a shame but surely supply/demand relationship dictates that total fare revenue will drop when prices become 'too high' as more people revert to cars, work local, take a coach in etc etc. I just wonder if this point is getting close and fares increases will stop exceeding inflation? P.S. I read somewhere also that the Hertford East was voted the 3rd worst line in the UK, is that true?