Passengers this New Year will welcome a slight fall in the cost of their season ticket. But some train companies are effectively forcing passengers to pay more for their travel by again fiddling with ticket restrictions. Some unregulated fares will also rise significantly more than inflation.
Anthony Smith Passenger Focus chief executive, said: "After punishing year after year price rises, passengers can finally look forward to small savings on their season tickets this New Year.
"Passengers will be pleased that the Government took our advice and has limited train companies' flexibility to raise individual regulated fares. What is concerning though, is train companies are tinkering with Off-Peak ticket restrictions, effectively forcing passengers into buying more expensive tickets."
This year, passengers travelling on Virgin Trains could use off-peak tickets to leave Euston between 09.05 and 15.14 and after 1832. From January they won't be able to leave London on these cheaper tickets until 09.26 and not between 15.00 and 18.45. This means that some journeys will be more expensive.
Meanwhile, Passenger Focus welcomed news that passengers using National Rail services within Greater London will be able to use Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.
Mr Smith said: "This will simplify many passengers' journeys from the tube and bus to the train and vice versa. But train companies and Transport for London must explain to passengers that cash fares will be more expensive and capping only works if passengers touch-in and touch-out. Information is crucial."
Examples
London - Manchester: Anytime return Jan 2009 £247. Jan 2010 £262, increase of £15 (6%)
London - Cardiff: Anytime return Jan 2009 £173. Jan 2010 £183, increase £10 (5.8%)
London-Derby: Anytime return Jan 2009 £138. Jan 2010 £146.50, increase £8.50 (6%)
The above examples compare fares last January with this January.