Biggest fare rises for least punctual trains

12 April 2012

Commuters facing the highest rail fare rises are also suffering the worst punctuality, new figures show.

On Southeastern, which runs from Kent and south-east London into Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria, almost one in five trains were late from mid-October to mid-November.

Just 83.3 per cent of trains ran on time, a fall of 4.8 per cent. The company, the busiest on the commuter network, is increasing peak fares by an average 7.8 per cent from January, with some individual tickets costing far more.

A yearly season ticket from Ramsgate goes up £497 to £4,377, a rise of 12.8 per cent; one from Tonbridge rises £360 to £3,408, up 11. 8 per cent.

On Southern, which runs into Victoria, timekeeping slipped 6.6 per cent to 83.1 per cent. The operator is putting up some fares by 7.7 per cent.

Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said: "London commuters really do get the double-whammy award of the week. On top of scandalous fare increases they now have proof their trains are getting later."

Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, added: "Paying more for poorer performance is not going to impress passengers."

Network Rail figures showed overall punctuality was 86.3 per cent in the last month, four per cent down on the same period last year. Only London Overground, on 94.5 per cent, got better.

NR operations director Robin Gisby said: "The railway has made great strides in reducing the impact of the autumn weather, but the start of this year's [autumn] has been difficult."

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