Rail fares increasing again

Almost half of trains arrived late in the last month:

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https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-w...ce-measure/punctuality-national-rail-network/

At least Network Rail are now plotting on time as actually being on time rather than up to 10 minutes late (for long distance journeys). Granted for short distance it is 5 (same as Germany) but their punctuality is still better than ours. Don't even look at Switzerland's who count anything over 2 minutes as late. Or Japan where it is one minute.
 
I remember when i went to New York and was able to get a Metro travel card for the weekend for $30 (Actually a 7 day unlimited pass) and it could take you all round the Metro network in New York City. The trains were decent and nothing like the films, all air conditioned and not particularly crowded. I'm not sure on the price of the tube right now but $30 wouldn't even get me to London from the South East! Haha! The prices are mental over here.
 
Ahh every year - This year its another 60p a day into town, last year another 70p odd a day and no sign of slowing down :( gotta love £20+ a day in travel.
 
We're getting new trains on the GWML, although the electrification of the line has been a total shambles. The line won't even be fully electrified between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads, meaning the new 9 carriage intercities which were supposed to run that section fully electrified have had to have engines fitted (which was not the intention, other than a low powered engine for shunting and as a backup) so they can run as hybrids.

On the quieter, non electrified lines such as ours, we're getting 5 carriage hybrid versions of the new intercities. We currently have 8 carriage 125s which don't sound and vibrate like a motorised biscuit tin. "Progress". The 0830 Cheltenham- Paddington was unusually very short formed of 6 carriages on Monday and to say it was busy by Swindon...

We've been promised 2x 5 carriages for busier services, albeit with no interconnect. So double the staff needed and complicating travel with "the rear 5 coaches for X y z only" etc. As many of our platforms are short, one station only taking 2 carriages, it'll be interesting to see how many people get caught out.

As for Gloucester, I'm sure we'll still be saddled with 2 carriage Turbostars between Birmingham New St and Cardiff Central at peak times.
 
For the price of a cheap annual ticket, you can get a CBT, a top notch 125cc bike / scooter, all the gear, all the locks and an alarm, the lot.

It'll cost you £17 a year in tax and do over 100mpg on a bad day, some will do close to 150mpg and they cost a pittance to insure.

For that you also have something worth considerably more than a used ticket stub at the end of the year, something to move you around at your leisure, and you'll never have to fork out for the lame excuse of a rail network we have ever again.

Do it, you know it makes sense.
 
exhashdotdot said:
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The thing that surprises me is that almost 25% is spent on investment.

Where the hell is this investment? I never see any evidence of actual improvement to the lines. I'm sure the answer is that it only appears in London.
Click to expand...

Crossrail has taken billions and billions of the budget, whilst the rest of the country is getting the scraps of engineering work.
 
I've just had an email to say London Midland will be taken over in the next few days as well, so interesting how that fits with the fare increase
 
Spook187 said:
Crossrail has taken billions and billions of the budget, whilst the rest of the country is getting the scraps of engineering work.
Click to expand...

A vast majority of that budget comes exclusively from London and London businesses (even though the line goes outside the M25), and the cost benefit ratio shows it's more than worth it. The old trains can also be cascaded to lines that need them outside of London.
 
That punctuality chart is frankly shocking, just because it was better than a few years ago doesn't mean its good. 45% of trains are late, poor effort.

I am fed up of loosing 10 mins here, 10 mins there because of late running trains. Let alone the 30+mins I have lost twice within the last 7 days.
 
i figure this was the best thread rather than start a new one.

www.theguardian.com

Rail fares in England could rise by ‘outrageous’ 5.6% next year

Campaigners say passengers may be priced off trains as July inflation figure is likely to push up ticket prices
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
potentiall up to 5.6% in 2026 on regulated fairs

prety frustrating tbh less of a service, more expensive and no real sign of it getting cheaper. at some point its going to be unfeasible
 
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Yep, the attitude of those involved is shocking, they're pretty much going "**** you, whatcha gonna do about it?"
 
My local overground regularly has 1/3 of the trains in both directions cancelled due to "lack of staff"

There's only 1 flipping driver per train, most of the day there is no station attendant either
 
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