Merseyrail to peg train fares for new year

Nov 18 2009 by Neil Hodgson, Birkenhead News

MERSEYRAIL will not increase train ticket prices next year.

The network operator vowed to maintain current charges, despite an average 1.1% rise in train fares across the UK’s rail system.

Figures released by the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) announced that average fares will rise in January, but by less than the expected rate of inflation next year.

Atoc said that when applied to the current average price paid for a single rail journey, the average cost of a train journey will rise by 6p in January from £5.05 to £5.11.

Inflation is predicted to rise to 2.6% in January, meaning real terms cuts in prices for many passengers, said Atoc.

But Bart Schmeink, managing director of Merseyrail which operates the region’s rail franchise on behalf of transport authority Merseytravel, said: “Merseyrail is determined to offer the best value for money possible and by freezing all of our rail fares in January, we, together with our colleagues at Merseytravel, think it’s the right thing to do during these difficult economic times.”