On
returning back to work following the Christmas break, many of us will have been
faced with a hike in rail fares – a harsh reality given the fact that January
can be a tough month after the expense of Christmas.
The average
fare reportedly rose by 4.2% and many commuters will now be faced with a hefty
increase in their annual ticket price.
But it’s
not just commuters who are riled by the price hike; we at TripAdvisor polled
our users and found that while the increase in rail fares tends to mainly
affect passengers who purchase seasonal tickets for travelling into work,
British travellers are put off using trains for UK holidays as a result of the
rise.
The poll of
over 5,000* British travellers revealed that over half of respondents (52%) are
less likely to travel by train for a UK holiday. In addition, the poll revealed
that a further 35% would not consider travelling by train anyway regardless of
the fares rise.
“While it
may be a case of perception, British travellers are clearly frustrated with the
ever-rising cost of travelling on the UK’s rail network,” commented Emma Shaw,
TripAdvisor spokesperson. This increase in fares may mean that the stay-cation
loses its appeal and travellers opt for a holiday abroad with a low-cost flight
to get them there. This will be a shame for our tourism industry which has seen
such a boost following the 2012 ‘Jubilympics’.”
*
Survey carried out on 5,332 British Travellers, between 17th August
– 24th August 2012.
