Anger at leap in fares

Millions of Tube, rail and bus passengers face inflation- busting fare increases from Sunday.

The price rises come at a time when one in five mainline trains continues to run late despite a record £5billion a year spent on improvements. And Tube commuters continue to suffer an appalling service, with daily breakdowns of signals, tracks or trains.

The rises have been imposed despite angry protests from passenger watchdogs, who say the service has not improved enough to warrant such huge increases. Mayor Ken Livingstone is at the centre of the row after breaking his promise not to increase Tube and bus fares above inflation.

Tube fares rise by an average of four per cent but some tickets will be more than 12 per cent dearer. On the buses, the average increase is 13 per cent. The

Mayor says he needs £125million more to invest in transport. On the national network, fares will rise by an average of four per cent.

Up to 40,000 people using trains from the Kent coast will pay double that because the service has improved.

Cynthia Hay, of pressure group Capital Transport, said: "The fares have been set to maximise revenue for Transport for London by hitting passengers in inner London with the highest rates of increase for period Travelcards - nearly two or three times inflation.

"These increases amount to a stealth tax on inner London. Many of London's essential workers may find they are facing transport poverty, with more above-inflation increases to come."

George Muir, director general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "Fares have to rise to pay for huge investment."

Yet many of the new £1-million-a-carriage trains on London's commuter routes are proving more unreliable than the 40-year-old slam-door stock.

The new Tube fare structure is so complex the Mayor has published a 58-page guide. While commuters on most routes are facing aboveinflation rises some tickets have gone down slightly. Jay Walder, in charge of financial planning at TfL, has admitted the system is a nightmare.

Confusing instructions in the guide include: "If you are using the Bakerloo line to or from Harrow & Wealdstone, single and return fares are not charged on a zonal basis and different fares apply ... Oyster Pre Pay is valid to or from Harrow & Wealdstone (Pre Pay fare to or from Zone 5 applies.)"

The guide also says: "You need a photocard before you can buy or use the following - monthly or longer Travelcards that include validity to a national rail station beyond Zones 1-6 (not needed Moor Park to Watford/Chesham/ Amersham inclusive;) - monthly or longer period Travelcards issued on printed ticket stock where available; and seven day monthly or longer period child rate Travelcard."