The number of passengers who are satisfied with the cost of their train ticket has continued to fall, a new survey has found.
Rail watchdog Passenger Focus found that 42 per cent of customers were satisfied with value for money for the price of their train ticket compared to 44 per cent in spring 2011.
Nationally the percentage of passengers satisfied with their journey overall was 83 per cent.
The survey found that less than a third of commuters were content with the cost of their travel.
Stephen Joseph, Campaign for Better Transport‘s chief executive, said: “It’s hardly surprising that value for money satisfaction has gone down to only 42 per cent given that we have some of the highest fares in Europe. What’s even more telling is that value for money satisfaction among commuters is only 29 per cent.
“The Chancellor has found money to give motorists a tax break but, despite the rail industry being on target to make huge savings without fare increases, the Government is set to confirm much higher levels of fare rises next year, penalising rail commuters who are simply trying to get to work.”
The highest ratings for overall satisfaction were achieved by Merseyrail at 96 per cent, Heathrow Connect (94 per cent), First Hull Trains (93 per cent), Virgin Trains (91 per cent) and c2c (91 per cent).
The lowest ratings for overall satisfaction were given to Greater Anglia at 73 per cent, First Capital Connect (79 per cent), Northern Rail (80 per cent), Southern (80 per cent) and Southeastern (81 per cent).
First Capital Connect managing director Neal Lawson said: “We know we can do still better but across our network there’s an encouraging increase in satisfaction to 79 per cent – and that was in the face of seven-day-a-week engineering work for the Thameslink Programme going on at the time.”
Satisfaction with sufficient room for all passengers to sit and stand by individual routes within TOCs varied between 56 per cent and 91 per cent.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: “Annual Season ticket holders, particularly in London and the South East, despite having regulated fares, unsurprisingly do not think their tickets represent value for money. The industry must keep its focus on getting the trains on time while Government must think very carefully about the forthcoming decision on the rate of rises for regulated fares. The message from passengers is clear.”
To view the full survey visit the Passenger Focus website.
