Jeremy Corbyn has declared today’s rail fare increases as “not justified”, as he joined protesters outside King’s Cross Station.
The Labour leader said the hike in ticket costs “drives people away from public transport” in the long-term.
With fares for British passengers “already the highest in Europe”, Corbyn said he was joining with campaigners to call on the government to freeze prices.
It comes as fares increased by an average of 3.1%, despite punctuality being at a 13-year low – a move earlier on Wednesday described as a “disgrace” by Corbyn in a video message.
The cost of many rail season tickets rose by more than £100 due to the annual price hike on Wednesday, and a rail campaign group described the latest rise as “another kick in the wallet” for passengers.
But the rail industry insists the “vast majority” of revenue from fares covers the day-to-day costs of running the railway.
One in seven trains were delayed by at least five minutes in the past 12 months as a series of major issues have plagued the railway.
Press Association analysis of historical data revealed this is the worst performance since September 2005.
Extreme weather, errors in the launch of new timetables, strikes and signalling failures are among the causes.
The 3.1% average fare rise is the second highest since January 2013.
Examples of increases in annual season tickets include £148 for Brighton to London (from £4,696 to £4,844), £130 for Gloucester to Birmingham (from £4,108 to £4,238), and £100 for Manchester to Liverpool (from £3,152 to £3,252).
The annual cost from Prime Minister Theresa May’s constituency of Maidenhead to London has increased by £96 (from £3,092 to £3,188).
Robert Nisbet, regional director of industry body the Rail Delivery Group, acknowledged “nobody wants to pay more for their journey to work” but insisted money from fares is being used to “build the better railway customers want”.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling marked the increase in fares by announcing that a new railcard to extend child fares to 16- and 17-year-olds will be available in time for the new academic year in September.
A railcard for 26-30-year-olds goes on general sale at noon on Wednesday.
Grayling claimed the government’s “record investment” in the rail network will help passengers get the “frequent, affordable and reliable journeys they deserve”.
Labour analysis of more than 180 routes suggests an average commuter is paying £2,980 for their annual season ticket, up £786 from 2010, which was the year the Conservatives came to power as part of a coalition government.
The research also indicates that fares have risen nearly three times faster than wages.
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald claimed the latest increases are “an affront to everyone who has had to endure years of chaos on Britain’s railways”.
Labour has pledged to return the railways to public ownership and called for prices to be frozen on the worst performing routes.
Fewer than half (45%) of passengers are satisfied with the value for money of train tickets, according to a survey by watchdog Transport Focus.
Its chief executive Anthony Smith said “the rail industry cannot be short of funding” as passengers contribute £10 billion a year in fares.
He added: “When will this translate into more reliable services that are better value for money?”
Bruce Williamson, from campaign group Railfuture said: “After a terrible year of timetable chaos, passengers are being rewarded with yet another kick in the wallet.”
Increases in around 45% of fares, including season tickets, are regulated by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.
They are predominantly capped at July’s RPI inflation figure, which was 3.2%.
Late trains on the first day but rail fares have gone up 3%, absolute liberty #TrainFares
— TheHighStreetHoney😘 (@ReasWorld) January 2, 2019
Other fare rises are decided by train companies.
It has been the policy of successive governments to re-balance the funding of the railways between passengers and taxpayers.
This has resulted in a reduction in the relative contribution of taxpayers, and an increase in fares.
Office of Rail and Road figures for 2017/18 show revenue from fares and other passenger charges reached £9.7 billion.
Net government support to the industry over the same period totalled £6.4 billion (excluding Network Rail loans). Almost a third of this was HS2 funding.
The Department for Transport has commissioned former British Airways chief executive Keith Williams to carry out a root and branch review of Britain’s railway, including fares.
