§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that rail ticket prices do not rise by more than the price of inflation. [60364]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe price of key fares—including Savers, standard singles and returns where there are no Savers and weekly seasons—is capped under the franchise agreements which govern the provision of services. From 1 January 1999, these fares may not rise by more than one percentage point below inflation. In the London area, a wider range of products is regulated, and there is an adjustment to the fares cap which provides for additional increases and decreases according to service performance. Fares which are not capped are determined commercially by train operating companies. In the last three years, average fares, both capped and uncapped, have risen by less than the value of inflation.