Rail users hit with double rate of inflation rise
Just when it appeared that the UK public transport network was falling back in favour with the UK consumer it has been announced that some rail fares across the UK will increase by double the current rate of inflation. This has been received with disbelief by the various consumer groups who for many years have been trying to find a way to incorporate public transport into everyday life only to find that when there is light at the end of the tunnel the operators appear to be willing to jeopardise the long-term benefits for short-term profit.
This is also at a time when the price of oil has fallen substantially, passenger numbers are up markedly and the government is still investing serious amounts of taxpayer's money into the system, years after privatisation. There is real concern that the apparent short-term move to increase cash flow has the potential to scare off UK travellers who have only just started to trust the public transport system again.
If this increase in rail ticket prices is replicated across the country and in other areas of public transport this has the potential to move the sector back to square one with limited usage, reduced income streams and high fixed cost which could threaten many transport networks across the UK.
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