Train fare increases

Photo: Richard Lysons

Rochdale Station

Fares are being increased for train passengers travelling between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria.

The general fare increase is an average of 1.1% across all fares, 1% on regulated fares.

There is confusion about the increases, with some thinking the off peak fare will increase by 95 percent.

STORM members have tried to clarified the situation, they state: “The matter was not helped by the National Rail online timetable which was missing the off peak fare and showing £7.70 after the increase. This has now been corrected and shows £4.40.

“There is a fault with the journey planner on the National Rail website. If you put return journeys between Rochdale and Victoria both peak and off-peak before and after the fare change on 2 January it is only showing a £7.70 Anytime Return for every journey. No off-peak day return fares are shown for any journey.

“We believe there remains a low cost off-peak fare of £4.40 but if passengers who start their journey after 09:30am travel in the evening peak then they have to buy a peak fare, £7.70. That is the current position and the difference is around a 90% increase.

“The previous peak return from Rochdale to Victoria was £7.10 it has just gone up a whopping 8% to £7.70.”

STORM is most aggrieved that for a slightly shorter journey, Bolton passengers pay considerably less per mile for their tickets than Rochdale passengers.

Littleborough passengers have to pay more than those from either Bromley Cross or Lostock.