Rail passengers are being 'punished' - that's according to critics of the latest hike to train fares for England and Wales which came into force on Sunday. It's thought there'll be an increase in the number choosing to drive or fly, as the move comes as a blow for both our pockets, and the environment. Here's the full story.
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00:00 Those turning up to train stations across England and Wales this week have been hit
00:06 by an increase to the cost of rail tickets by 4.9 percent. This rise affects regulated
00:12 train fares including season tickets on commuter journeys, flexible tickets for travel around
00:17 major cities, and some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes. Even before the hike,
00:22 it was previously found the UK has the most expensive rail travel in Europe, although
00:27 we are one of the few European countries where reduced rates can be secured on advance tickets.
00:33 Campaign for Better Transport Campaign's manager Michael Solomon-Williams said "At
00:37 a time when we urgently need to encourage people to take the train, the public will
00:41 rightly be angry to discover that it has just become even more expensive to do so." Rail
00:47 Minister Hugh Merriman said last month the UK government had attempted to split the balance
00:51 between the UK taxpayer and the farepayer in relation to price rises, which he described
00:56 as being well below inflation.
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