Changes to fares on the Marston Vale Line
London Midland will be making changes to
some fares on the Marston Vale Line in the industry's annual September price increases.
From September 7, the company is increasing some fares by an average of five percent:
- Off-Peak fares (the new name for ‘Savers' or ‘Cheap Day Returns' from September 7)
along the Northampton - London route and the branch lines (the price change is less
than £1 in most cases)
- Anytime tickets (currently ‘Standard Open Returns') for journeys between Birmingham
and Liverpool
-Some Off-Peak day tickets (currently ‘Cheap Day Returns') in the West Midlands
The new ticket names reflect those that are being introduced across the industry in a
fares simplication programme that will mean there are just three main ticket types -
Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime single and return tickets - from September 7.
On the Marston Vale Line, examples of the changes are:
- An off-peak return between Bletchley and Bedford has risen 30p to £5.40
- An off-peak return between Bedford and Woburn Sands is now £4.20, up 20p
- An off-peak return between Aspley Guise and Milton Keynes Central costs £4, a rise
of 20p
Alex Hynes, Commercial Director for London Midland, said: "We know that fare increases
are never popular, but in most cases ours are equivalent to paying less than a pound more.
"We are funding a massive investment programme, which includes £243 million in new fleets
of trains - the first of which will start to arrive in December - and £11.5 million on improving
our stations, much of which will be spent within the next two years.
"The change to our fares also reflect our increased operating costs; we delayed introducing any
increases during the last round of changes in May and our rises in January were below the industry
average."
He added: "We've done our best to keep the rises as low as possible; London Midland is delivering
good value for money with not only £300 million of investment but also new services and more trains
to some of our most popular destinations. We're sure passengers will welcome these when the December
2008 timetable goes live."
Stephen Sleight, Transport Officer at Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity added "The Partnership
is obviously disappointed that the price of off-peak tickets will be rising on the Marston Vale Line,
especially at a time when we know use of the line is growing. However, the service is still cracking
value for money, with a return between Bletchley and Bedford costing just £5.40. Considering the
ever-rising costs of petrol, the train is still a real alternative to the car."
Notes for Editors
The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership is led by Bedfordshire
Rural Communities Charity in association with Bedfordshire County
Council, London Midland, Milton Keynes Council, Bedford Borough
Council, Mid Bedfordshire District Council, Bedford to Bletchley
Rail Users’ Association, the Forest of Marston Vale and the
Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Associations of Town and Parish
Councils.
The Partnership has been set up to act as a bridge between the
rail industry and the community to encourage more people to use the
train for travel to work and leisure, and to share their views and
ideas for improving their railway.
The Partnership will be overseeing a range of projects throughout
2008.
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