Train Fare Rise

Commuters in Fife face another rail price rise at the beginning of next year, with fares going up by an average of 2.2% from 2nd January 2015.

The increase, announced by industry body the Rail Delivery Group, means that more rail travellers will be paying £5, 000 for their season tickets than ever before.

Although the average rise is the lowest for five years, the increase for regulated fares, including season tickets, will be up to 2.5%.

Rail unions have condemned the fare rise, while the Campaign for Better Transport called for a stop to "consecutive governments deliberately forcing up rail fares".

RDG director general Michael Roberts said: "Money from fares goes towards running and maintaining the railway. This benefits not just passengers and businesses but communities across the country, by improving journeys, creating employment and helping to boost the economy."

But TSSA rail union leader Manuel Cortes said: "It is time to stop this annual persecution of passengers with year-on-year hikes in fares. We have seen fares jump by as much as 245% on key routes since privatisation 20 years ago."

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT transport union, said: "The scandal of Britain's great rail fares rip off is that today's hike is far outstripping average pay increases and it will once again hit those at the sharp end of the austerity clampdown the hardest."

Martin Abrams, public transport campaigner for the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Consecutive governments have deliberately forced up rail fares and it needs to stop.

"During this Parliament, many fares have risen three times faster than wages, affecting all those who rely on trains and putting enormous strain on household budgets."