Relief for millions of Hampshire train passengers

RAIL passengers in Hampshire have escaped new year fare hikes despite hefty increases across the country.

While passengers in neighbouring counties will have to fork out for increased rail fares of up to 15 per cent, South West Trains have decided to freeze their prices.

And those buying season tickets between Southampton and London Waterloo will see prices fall by one per cent, a saving of £40.

>This comes as a relief for millions of rail users, who were faced with an average six per cent increase when they arrived at stations last January.

The new ticket prices, which come into force today, will see cheaper standard class season tickets and frozen fares on most first-class fares and many offpeak prices.

An annual season ticket from Southampton Central to London Waterloo will now cost £4,288, compared to last year’s price of £4,328.

The good news for South West Train passengers comes despite many companies enforcing sharp rises on their unregulated, off-peak services.

Alan Shotter, from the Wessex branch of Rail Future, said: “South West Trains has brought us some good new this new year, which makes a nice change.

“This will be a great relief to passengers across Hampshire and once the tunnel is completed in Southampton, rail travel in the area will be back on track.”

There will be limited increases to a small proportion of tickets bought on the day of travel, but rail bosses say they will be delivering even better value for money for their passengers.

Alan Pitt, managing director of South West Trains, said: “We are committed to playing our part in providing affordable rail travel and our package of fare changes in January will deliver a price freeze or price cuts for millions of passengers.

“While there will be limited increases on a small proportion of ‘turn-up-and-go’ tickets, after all fare changes at South West Trains there is no change to the average fare paid across our network.”