SOUTH WEST TRAINS CONFIRMS FARE CHANGES FOR JANUARY 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 24, 2010 -- South West Trains today (23 November) confirmed the average fare on its network is to rise by 6.5% from January 2011.

Passengers using South West Trains services will pay on average just 24p more for a journey. Industry figures show that 97p of every pound from ticket income in the UK goes towards the costs of running today’s railway*.

South West Trains, which operates the country’s most complex commuter network, is one of the UK’s best performing rail operators. More than 80% of passengers already travel on discounted tickets and customers are also benefiting from a £50 million programme of station improvements and multi-million pound improvements to train fleet.

The new fare levels are the result of a change in Government policy in recent years, which has looked to sustain rail investment by cutting the amount that taxpayers contribute and requiring passengers to pay more.

The retail price index (RPI) inflation rate in July each year is used as the benchmark for the Government’s approach for the setting of fares. South West Trains fares will rise by an average of 1.7% above the July 2010 RPI figure of 4.8%. South West Trains’ average fare was frozen in January 2010, with many passengers benefitting from price reductions.

South West Trains’ new rail fares package, effective from 2 January 2011, will incorporate a range of value-for-money initiatives, including:

•    hundreds of season ticket fares frozen in the London area
•    passengers using Oyster to benefit from a prize freeze when travelling off-peak
•    cheapest Advance fares frozen, with prices starting from just £9 one way

•    off-peak day return tickets available for earlier travel from London on many longer distance journeys, providing improved day trip opportunities.

Andy Pitt, Managing Director of South West Trains, said: “We recognise that times continue to be tough for our customers. Our new fares levels from January reflect our commitment to offering a range of value ticket prices to our customers. At the same time, we are making a positive contribution to Government revenues.

“On average, our passengers will pay just 24p more for a journey, while continuing to benefit from a multi-million pound investment programme that will deliver better trains and improved stations.

“More than 80% of our passengers travel on discounted fares and 97p of every pound customers spend on their ticket in the UK goes towards covering the costs of running today’s railway. We will continue to offer a range of value-for-money fares to suit all pockets as more people are attracted to our trains.”

South West Trains passengers are continuing to benefit from high levels of punctuality and ongoing investment. Latest figures show that the moving annual average for punctuality is running at more than 93%, which is higher than the national rail average for the UK.

Under its franchise commitment, South West Trains is making improvements to its stations and trains. From May 2011, passengers will be able to top up their Oyster cards at South West Trains stations in the London Travelcard area.

Customer satisfaction with South West Trains remains high. The most recent independent National Passenger Survey showed that 85% of passengers are satisfied with their train service. It also reported a 7% increase in the number of passengers who said their ticket represented value for money.

For further details about South West Trains, visit www.southwesttrains.co.uk.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email media@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

*Figures from the Association of Train Operating Companies shows the following breakdown for every £1 of total train company income, on average:
48p goes to Network Rail (which charges operators to access the tracks) and other infrastructure costs
17p on staff costs

17p on miscellaneous costs (including train maintenance, administration, contractors)
11p on leasing trains
4p on fuel / energy
3p to train company profit

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