OXFORD: As the use of Oxford Train stations raised day-by-day, the management decided to increase season tickets into London by 2.5 per cent next month.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) confirmed that season tickets will go up by 2.5 per cent and other regulated fares up by 2.2 per cent but pointed out it was lowest hike in five years.
It means an annual season ticket from Didcot or Oxford to Paddington will go up by £116 to £4,788, while it will cost £4,716 to go between Bicester North and Marylebone, a rise of £112.
The rise was condemned though by Hugh Jaeger, Chairman of Bus Users Oxford and independent rail commentator, who said the increase was “unfair” and showed Chancellor George Osborne was “biased” in favour of private motoring.
The Office of Rail Regulation also said Oxfordshire’s main stations had seen record passenger numbers. In Oxford there were 6,505,093 journeys to or from the station in the year to April, Bicester North saw 1,620,764 Banbury, 2,180,646 and Didcot 2,945,108.
Mr Jaeger said: “We have a problem. The coalition government has taken on the policies of the previous Labour governments which is to keep increasing rail fares each year over and above inflation, but they have introduced the policy of freezing fuel duty. So in real terms, they are trying to make it more expensive to travel by train and less expensive to go by road. It’s like putting a tax on rail travel and a tax break on road travel.’’
However Mr Jaeger believed forthcoming improvements including electrification due to be introduced on the First Great Western route to London in 2015 and Chiltern Rail’s plans to re-open Islip and Bicester Town stations and launch the Water Eaton Parkway Station next year, would go some way to offsetting the price increases by improving services.
THE price you will pay for your annual travel:
Oxford or Didcot to London Paddington: Was: £4,672 Now: £4788
Banbury to London Marylebone Was: £5,284 Now: £5,412
Bicester North to Marylebone Was: £4,604 Now: £4,716
Banbury to Paddington: Was: £5,284 Now: £5,412
