Transport Minister announces measures to make rail travel in Wales easier and more affordable

The Minister has also reduced the maximum allowable increase of regulated rail fares from 9.1% to 6.1% for the Arriva Trains Wales franchise.

The reduction in the regulated rail fares will be implemented from January 2014 and is in line with the changes being made by the Department for Transport for English services in the Wales and Borders franchise, as well as their England-based franchises.

The move means that Arriva Trains Wales could not increase individual regulated fares beyond a maximum of RPI+3%, compared with the current maximum allowed under the franchise of RPI+6%. The overall increase allowed for regulated fares, averaged across all regulated fares, remains unchanged at RPI+1%.

The new measures agreed with Arriva Trains Wales to make ticketing easier and reduce fares include:

• Season ticket price increases on all Arriva Trains Wales’ Welsh routes to be held to below RPI (3.1%) for January 2014. This is 3% less than the maximum increase announced for England.
• The introduction of a discounted multi ticket purchase system to enable more flexible travel at a lower price, which will benefit part time workers.
• A review of the zonal fares system currently in place on the Valley Lines network. Initially, this will include the elimination of Zone Six fares on the Maesteg line to bring it  into line with fares on other Valley Lines routes.
• A range of measures to make it easier to purchase tickets including 28 new Ticket Vending Machines across the Wales and Borders franchise and a trial of smart ticketing for mobile phones on Valley Lines services.

Transport Minister, Edwina Hart said:

“Today’s announcement will help keep down the cost of rail fares and ensure consistency with increases in rail fares across the border.

I am also pleased to announce we have agreed a range of measures with Arriva Trains Wales to make rail travel in Wales easier and more affordable. This demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to encouraging greater use of public transport to meet our aims of improving access to jobs and services and reducing reliance on the car to tackle carbon emissions.”