Fares rise for Trains in Dorset

Description:

First Great Western train fare increases !

New fares on First Great Western (FGW) services have come in to force with many passengers experiencing a 20% rise.

FGW has introduced new restrictions on its cheapest off-peak return tickets for passengers travelling between the west of England and London.

Some customers will have to either travel later in the day or pay more for their journey. Off-peak single tickets will be reduced. The increases have been criticised by both unions and passenger groups. Leader of the TSSA union, Gerry Doherty, said the whole thing is a consequence of privitisation. He went on to claim that the firms who operate the trains are simply in it to make money. He believes fare rises will be seen across all train companies over the coming months because government-regulated fares are set to take effect in January.

These fares cannot rise more than 1% above inflation, which is measured using the Retail Price Index from the previous July. As this figure was minus 1.4% fares are set to drop by 0.4% in January 2010.

Mr Doherty claims this is forcing companies to increase unregulated fares, over which they have full control.

Under the changes brought in by FGW the BST 0900 train fare from Bristol to London will go up from £49 to £59.