Runaway train fares: Can a hike in price be justified?

'Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return'- E.M. Forster, Howard's End, 1910

Every time a new year rolls about, there's always something that immediately happens to ruin the mood. The ungodly hangover on the morning of 1 January is painful enough to deal with; having any more problems just makes the headache and dehydration that much worse. In regards to this particular issue, it may not seem like the end of the world as there is always something far more important occurring but it's still one that needs to be mentioned. This time around, the eyes of this humble blogger turns to the rising rail fares in the UK.

Behold, the mighty locomotive

You may now feel inclined to dismiss this post as irrelevant, boring or any other word to describe a feeling of disinterest, but hold on a second! Yes, a new year should mean that the first post of 2019 should be as spectacular as the London firework displays that occur on New Year's Eve. Sadly, the budget of £0 means that nothing as grand can be brought together and quite frankly there is a reason that this blog is title 'Absolute Shambles'. There is a distinct lack of organisation- much like a train service when various factors disrupt the smooth running of the timetable.

As of 2 January, rail fares in England and Wales have increased by an average of 3.1% and approximately 3% in Scotland. The hike in prices has been met with stern opposition by the likes of advocacy group Railfuture, who described the latest development as a 'kick in the wallet', and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. His popularity may be fading, but the Chairman still found time to join protesters outside King's Cross Station and brand the whole thing as a 'disgrace... our railway system should work for the interest of everybody, not just the profits of the few'. Spoken like a true democratic socialist, although sadly one not on the same level as Bernie Sanders or Justin Trudeau. It's either him or Theresa May... dark times indeed.

Chairman on the warpath

The decision has been defended by officials such as Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, citing the 'very sharp' wage increases in the rail industry being an incentive behind the rise in train fares. Ambitious engineering projects, including High Speed 2 that will create a fast rail link between London and Birmingham, means more resources are needed to complete these schemes. A greater amount of revenue created by government investment and public spending on train fares would simultaneously allow operators to invest in new services to deal with the rising number of commuters that utilise trains. The job that engineers, conductors or even the bloke in the ticket booth should never be underestimated or taken for granted, and more public usage of railways means a greater workload for them. Surely that means that a wage increase is justified?

Doubt 'justifiable' is a word these commuters want to use

So you should all know where this is going by now. One side is complaining about the poor service and the constant industrial action that disrupts the lines whenever they aren't covered in leaves. Another hits back about the need to maintain this important means of mass transportation and ensure that the well-being of all who work towards upholding this commuter service is kept up to standards. We have a debate on our hands! Don your finest public speaking clothing, get all your notes in order and indulge in some delectable verbal action. Is an increase in train fares justifiable in order to keep the trains moving, or is this just another attack on the average citizen and their bank accounts? Oh boy, what a fun blog this is!

This post is endorsed by Daenerys Targaryen

PLATFORM 1 FOR THE SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY SERVICE TO UNREASONABLE RAIL FARES

Trains are awesome; that is the opinion of this humble blogger who certainly enjoys a good train journey. There is something relaxing about sitting back and speeding through the countryside, enjoying a carefully prepared packed lunch and watching an episode of The Good Place courtesy of the free Wi-Fi bestowed upon us. After spending three years travelling between Farnham and Plymouth, one became accustomed to long train journeys that was enhanced by grandiose adventures to the likes of York, Edinburgh and more recently Durham. It was exciting to be delivered to a brand new location via a train, and it was always interesting to see what kind of commuter would be sharing a carriage on this voyage of discovery. Good thing that these journeys are affordable...

I got to see Durham Cathedral though; that's a win!

Wait, hang on, rail fares are rising and have been doing so at a rapid rate for the last decade or so. But that's OK because the trains are punctual and don't usually smell like a urinal that hasn't been cleaned since the 1980s. No, that's wrong as well. In 2018, one in seven trains were unable to arrive at a scheduled stop within 5 minutes of their time of arrival, which is a new 12-year low for the UK. Timetable changes and a bout of extreme weather conditions were primary factors in this dip in performance, but it's a good thing that rail workers never go on strike. Hmmmm, seems these notes aren't as well researched as previously thought. A different rail operator always seems to be hit by industrial action over disputes such as pay and how many guards should be on a train. Just recently, a 24-hour strike was carried out by Rail, Maritime and Transport Union workers of South Western Railway on New Year's Eve. With all these problems, how can a rise in fares be justified?

Some bad customer surveys are on the way

The wave of protests created by these hike in rail prices shows how members of the public view this drastic change in price. With Grayling blaming the power of unions in forcing this move, Corbyn is fearful of the public turning away from using railway services as the rise in rail fares outstrips the 2.6% rise in average wages in 2018. Some season tickets now cost over £100 more than they did last year after this change in rail fares, meaning that there is evidence to support Jeremy's fear of a decreased use in national rail services. Considering he has had a torrid time on trains before (well, it was staged), it's no wonder he harbours these fears.

All snug down there, Mr Corbyn?

Delays on trains, according to the Office of Rail and Road, have been calculated to have increased by 22% since 2008, with 2018 being a year that saw a combined total of 283,904 hours worth of delays. That's the equivalent of 32 years, and one is sure that nobody wants to wait that long for a train from Farnham to Aldershot. While Network Rail takes responsibility for the majority of these delays, particularly track damage and an inability to deal with hostile weather conditions, saying sorry doesn't make it better. Stats from Twitter show that rail companies apologise profusely in their tweets, with Northern apologising in more than 40% of tweets sent between November and December 2018. Sorry doesn't appear to be the hardest word.

We forgive you David! British railways, you have to work for it

Commuters are certainly entitled to claim for compensation with all these delays on rail services that usually lack staff on trains that have carriages with an average age of 20. Plans are in place to roll out new locomotives and carriages in the next few years, but that won't do much to put minds at ease. Their confidence in Britain's rail system is fading fast, expressing their jealousy of the efficient railways lines that stretch across the European mainland. We are envious of the clean carriages, friendly staff and overall smooth journey that contributes to these European rail services. To see a rise in price is more than just 'a kick in the wallet'; it's a punch to the stomach and a harsh uppercut to the jaw as well.

Accurate feeling of what it feels like to pay extra for rail travel

IT'S FAIR TO PAY A LARGER FARE

As Grayling blames the unions for the rise in fares and union officials shake their fists in fury at the 'toxic combination of gross mismanagement and profiteering by the private companies exploiting Britain's rip-off railways' (Mick Cash, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers), commuters are caught up in the middle of all of this. When you think about it, these are the people that actually use railways so should be expected to make a contribution. On the continent, commuters spend less of their income on train fares because railway maintenance is incorporated into their taxes rather than the lower price. In the UK, there is no rail tax or anything like that, so money has to come from somewhere. The government can't be expected to pay for everything; there are plenty of other areas that need cash.

What lies within that mysterious case?

Apparently, 98p of every £1 is invested back into railway services. While this may cause an outburst of laughter once that 'investment' ends up in the bonus package of rail bosses, there are plans to significantly improve services. In November 2018, the Rail Delivery Group published a document that mentioned how fares help underpin investment. Targets outlined in this document include:

• 6400 extra services a week by 2021
• 7000 new carriages and hundreds of refurbished trains to be rolled out to coincide with service increase
• Projects, such as the Great North Rail Project, are looking to be completed in the next few years

Thanks to this gradual investment, there has been a 28% increase in the number of daily services since 1998, even if the carriages are slightly below par. At least the money is going somewhere besides the pockets of the masters of the British railways.

Plenty being spent on High Speed 2, a quick escape route from Birmingham

The introduction of a brand new 'millennial' railcard for anyone aged between 26-30 shows the effort National Rail is making in an attempt to curb this rise in rail fares. Saving on train fares can go a long way for individuals looking to buy a house and start properly adulting, and one can certainly nod in appreciation at only having to spend just over £15 on a return trip to London Waterloo. While it's likely that introducing this railcard is an incentive to get this exploration-loving generation spending money on a leisurely train ride, you can't turn down the chance to bag a discount here and there. How very thrifty of us. 

Learned from the best

One final point that can be made to defend the 'rip-off railways' is that we need them. Basic economics dictates that greater demand generates a rise in price, which in turn can influence the decision to increase supply. In a way, that's what has happened in regards to the railways as commuters continue to flock to their local station in order to make their way to work or school. An rise in commuter numbers means more work for rail staff, whether it's carrying out engineering works or even just making sure that the catering is fully stocked. We need them to get us from A to B, they need us to put food on the table. It is frustrating that regular strikes occur and the timetable tends to be a mess, but we are lucky to have a somewhat functioning rail system in the first place. Let's not take them for granted.

There is a strong love-hate relationship with First Great Western

The general consensus is that this rise in rail fares is unreasonable and quite frankly a load of bollocks. Commuting is expensive enough regardless of what mode of transportation is taken, although split ticketing and bargain airlines certainly eases the pain of seeing bank accounts rapidly decrease after planning a trip. Nevertheless, the railways are vital in keeping the economy afloat through various ways, such as shipping people across the country or just making sure important freight is delivered on time. Steam engines were a driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, and the electric juggernauts that now rule the tracks are helping Britain's modern day economy survive. It's a partnership that needs to be kept alive.

Overall, you have every right to grumble about paying more for a quick train trip while hearing the man on the tannoy sadly announce that the train is delayed by 1,000,000 hours due to a pesky leaf threatening the entire structure of First Great Western. Once the train does arrive at the station, there isn't a seat in sight and you have to awkwardly stand in front of the doors that are plastered with graffiti and what could be either a melted Twix or human excrement. But we need trains, and unfortunately there isn't much we can do to influence rail fares. They are in private hands with little chance that they could become public property once again. Like any good Briton, it appears that we should just keep calm and carry on. 

Fills you with national pride, doesn't it?

Ben G 😁 xo