When the inflation rate gets announced later on this morning we will have a better idea what the increase will be dont forget that some of the increases are pegged to a formulae.
Merseyrail fare increases will only be to the rate of RPI (Retail Prices Index) inflation rate .
Its the likes of the London Standard open single and returns that see increases in double figures these days .
Will the government play cat and mouse with this news as they did last year. The increase was supposed to have been +3% from last January until an announcement in the November Budget when the increase was reduced to +1% although I think it was a few crumbs to Rail Passengers due to the abandonment of the petrol increase also in January.
With regards to Merseyrail fare increases, it is important to remember that there are 2 baskets:
1) Fares entirely on Merseyrail services, which can increase by RPI
2) Everything else, which can increase by RPI+3%
For example, Port Sunlight to Warrington can increase by 6.2% in January.
First Class and Off Peak fares are unregulated and can increase by any amount.
Fortunately there are very significant savings to have, sometimes by nearly 100%, by exploiting anomalies... for instance Town Green to Ellesmere Port SDR is £6.65, but a Town Green to Ince & Elton day return (valid via Ellesmere Port) is only £3.50, (which also undercuts Liverpool-Hooton & Ellesmere Port).
Anyway, some quick headline fares for January 2013:
(Merseyrail generally round up to nearest 10p)
Singles are 50p less.
Liverpool-Chester SDR now £6.70, becomes £7.00
Liverpool Southport SDR now £6.00, becomes £6.20
All Zone Annual Railpass now £975, becomes £1006.20
All Area Saveaway now £4.70, becomes £4.90
1 Area Saveaway now £3.50, becomes £3.60
Merseyrail Day Saver Northern/Wirral now £4.60, will become £4.80
Merseyrail Day Saver 1 Area now £3.40, will become £3.50
The July Inflation rate due out in August will determine the % increase in the train fares in the first week of January.
The all zone saveaway is currently £4.80 is it not?
I would say that Merseyrail's fares still produce the best value across the country.
(28/07/2013 09:01)jtd508110 Wrote: [ -> ]The all zone saveaway is currently £4.80 is it not?
I would say that Merseyrail's fares still produce the best value across the country.
Yes it is £4.80 and the Merseyrail All areas Daysaver is currently £4.70
(28/07/2013 09:01)jtd508110 Wrote: [ -> ]The all zone saveaway is currently £4.80 is it not?
I would say that Merseyrail's fares still produce the best value across the country.
The Saveaway product is good value, and although the Merseyrail ticket is fairly cheap, there can be better value tickets.
£10.00 gets you through all the South Wales Valleys, and beyond into Maesteg/Bridgend, without any time restriction, and is additionally valid on all buses in a fairly large geographical area. That falls to £5 unlimited travel, if you go after 18.30.
Maesteg-Treherbert via Cardiff can be a 2-3 hour rail journey alone, (which is still only £6 single (anytime)). Liverpool-Chester (45 mins) is more than £6 (peak) to start with.
Whilst £10 is more expensive than the Merseyrail/Merseytravel products, I would say that is better value for money in terms of geographical area.
Merseyrail do offer good value, locally, but perhaps not in a wider context.
(E.g. I can go Liverpool-London for £1.50 single on Virgin Trains and these fares rarely sell out)
Not all the passengers have access to the system's that get youyour £1.50 ticket .
What you are slowly making the Intercity operators though these days is a reservation only train service , walk on tickets will soon be going out with the ark.
(30/07/2013 15:43)wirralbus Wrote: [ -> ]Not all the passengers have access to the system's that get youyour £1.50 ticket .
What you are slowly making the Intercity operators though these days is a reservation only train service , walk on tickets will soon be going out with the ark.
Anyone can get the £1.50 ticket. It is even cheaper if you have an NUS Card.
Only available online/telesales though.
http://uk.megabus.com/megatrain.aspx
These really small priced fares are just gimmicks really to get you to use that media associated with that ticket.