RAIL passengers across Oxfordshire are being hit in the pocket again as an “outrageous” fare increase of 4.1 per cent is announced.

Commuters from Oxford to London will have to pay almost £200 more for an annual season ticket when the rise comes into effect in January.

It’s the 11th year running the fares have gone up by more than inflation and Oxford rail users have blasted the increase.

Father-of-two Dominic Utton, 41, from West Oxford, said it would be a struggle to meet the increase.

He added: “If fares are going to increase by over four per cent then there should be a corresponding improvement in the service.

“I should get the 7.52am to make it in on time, but I wait for the 8.05am because it seems less crowded. It’s insane on the way back from Paddington with people running to get a seat.”

Company director Stuart Harrison, of New Yatt Road, Witney, gets the train from Long Hanborough to meetings in London.

The 66-year-old said: “The price rise is just outrageous.”

There were protests yesterday at stations up and down the country against the fare rise amid warnings that the cost of train travel is set to be 40 per cent higher from the New Year than six years ago.

January’s rise will be the sixth time in seven years that rail fares have outstripped average wage increases, said campaigners.

Analysts said the Retail Price Index inflation figure was currently 3.3 per cent, with regulated rail fares set to increase by 4.1 per cent in January, one per cent above inflation and well above average wage rises of 2.4 per cent.

And there are fears some season tickets could rise by as much as nine per cent.

It’s another blow for Oxfordshire families feeling the financial strain following Monday’s announcement that Thames Water is to increase water bills by an extra £29 over five years from 2015.

Passengers at Oxford railway station condemned the proposed increase, as protests were organised at 50 stations by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Action for Rail campaign group.

The increase means annual season ticket holders who travel standard class from Oxford and Didcot Parkway to London Paddington will pay around £185 more, increasing the annual charge from £4,532 to £4,717.

Passengers travelling from Bicester North to Marylebone face a hike of £179.74, pushing up the current cost of a standard class n annual season ticket from £4,384 to £4,563.74. The increase for tickets from Banbury to Marylebone is £237.80, from £5,800 to £6,037.80.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Again, rail users are being hard pushed by an above-inflation increase. I will look at the impact on my constituents and make a representation to the Department for Transport.”

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Nicola Blackwood said: “We do need investment in our rail network and many commuters are willing to do their bit.

“But fares have risen steeply over recent years and, with the cost of living as it is, commuters need to see the benefits of their investment in improved services and more carriages.”

Between 2008 and January 2014, rail fares will have jumped by 40 per cent, compared with a 15 per cent increase in average earnings, it was claimed by the TUC.

Richard Stow, chairman of the Thames Valley branch of campaign group Railfuture, said: “In the Thames Valley we are seeing unprecedented investment in the network since the railways first came to Oxford.”

First Great Western spokesman James Davis said: “We have invested in increased capacity over the course of our franchise from 2008.

“Last year, we added 4,500 extra seats on trains going in and out of London Paddington.”
 

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The Government is investing record amounts into our railways.

“However, we also recognise it is tough for passengers.

“That is why we are already limiting these rises by capping the average regulated fares increase at one per cent in real terms.”

FACTFILE

  • Last year, rail fares went up by an average of 5.9 per cent, with some commuters finding their season tickets rising by almost 11 per cent.
  • In 2011, an annual season ticket from Oxford to London Paddington increased by 5.7 per cent.
  • In 2010, season ticket holders faced average rises of 5.8 per cent.
  •  In 2009, ticket prices for regulated fares rose by an average of six per cent.
  • In 2008, regulated fares increased by an average of six per cent.
  • Currently, a monthly ticket from Oxford and Didcot Parkway to London Paddington costs £435.10, but from January this will increase to £452.94.
  • Tickets from Bicester North to London Marylebone will rise from £420.90 to £438.16.