§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what was the average increase in real terms in rail fares between 1979 and 1997; [11256]
(2) what were the annual increases in real terms in rail fares in each year since 1979. [11257]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonInformation for each year between 1979 and 1996 inclusive is in the table. Figures for 1997 are not available.
Key commuter and leisure fares are regulated by the franchising director. For three years from 1 January 1996 annual increases in regulated fares are capped in line with the retail prices index from the June 1995 price base. For 210W four years from 1 January 1999, increases are capped at RPI minus 1 per cent. There is some limited scope for individual commuter fares—in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Greater Manchester—to exceed the cap where these are balanced by other regulated fares being held below the cap.
Rail fare index Rail fare index 1979=100 (a) RPI 1979=100 (b) Real rail fare index 1979=100 (c) Annual increase in real rail fares 1979 100.0 100.0 100.0 1980 124.2 118.0 105.3 5.3 per cent. 1981 142.1 132.0 107.8 2.2 per cent. 1982 163.1 143.4 113.8 5.7 per cent. 1983 171.8 149.9 114.6 0.7 per cent. 1984 173.6 157.4 110.3 -3.8 per cent. 1985 184.6 167.0 110.6 0.3 per cent. 1986 197.1 172.7 114.2 3.3 per cent. 1987 207.3 179.9 115.2 0.9 per cent. 1988 221.7 188.7 117.5 2.0 per cent. 1989 241.9 203.3 119.0 1.2 per cent. 1990 263.1 226.1 118.4 -2.2 per cent. 1991 290.5 235.6 123.3 5.8 per cent. 1992 311.7 244.5 127.5 3.4 per cent. 1993 333.6 248.3 134.3 5.3 per cent. 1994 348.4 254.4 137.0 2.0 per cent. 1995 363.9 263.2 138.3 0.9 per cent. 1996 377.6 269.5 140.0 1.3 per cent. Percentage change from 1996 to 1979 40.0 per cent.
1 (c) = 100* (a)/(b).
Source:
Office for National Statistics.