Price of rail tickets to fall next year
The UK government has today confirmed that regulated train routes will see season tickets fall by around 0.4% next year as the retail price index remains in negative territory. While this is a very well received development for UK travellers it places yet more pressure on the UK rail network with more investment required and costs continuing to mushroom. So who will pay the shortfall?
The problem for the UK taxpayer is the fact that while two out of every five season tickets will be reduced next year, any shortfall in funding is likely to be made up from UK taxes. Even though the rail networks were carved up and sold off some time ago, under a franchise system, the UK taxpayer is still subsidising each and every rail network in the UK. So while on one hand UK travellers may well save money from January next year, on the other hand it is highly likely that the UK taxpayer will in some shape or form be left to cover any shortfall in funding.
After a period of significant investment into the UK rail network the current situation could undo much of the recent good work in a moment.
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