Cattletruck trains for years, warns watchdog

COMMUTERS on London train services face severe overcrowding despite inflation-busting fare rises, spending watchdogs warned today.

The National Audit Office said passengers will endure cattle-truck conditions until 2014, when 1,300 extra carriages and longer platforms are introduced.

MPs warned of commuters' anger at the failure to ease overcrowding more quickly under the Department for Transport's £10 billion programme, especially as high inflation means some commuter fares could jump by 10 per cent next year, and other tickets by up to 20 per cent.

"The news that fares are likely to rise above inflation in these difficult times will infuriate many passengers who have no alternative but to travel day after day on packed trains," said Tory MP Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee.

"Rush-hour crowding is expected to increase, especially on lines into London, until 1,300 new carriages come on stream. For passengers, this increased capacity cannot come too soon."

The NAO does praise the Department for Transport for getting better value for money from the franchises for the taxpayer after the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority.

But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers warned that too many passengers are still suffering "cattle class accommodation" and blamed "excessive Government micromanagement".

The NAO said most passengers could expect to pay higher fares, highlighting how some tickets had jumped in price by 20 per cent. It also warned that train companies could enjoy a "windfall of extra revenue" if income targets are not changed.

The Department for Transport insisted it would do this to take into account the extra capacity which includes 900 more carriages for London services.

A spokesman said: "Our plans will ensure that the rail network can cope with more than 20 per cent growth by 2014, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable."

The NAO said increased passenger numbers and journey numbers would reduce the annual taxpayer subsidy of £811 million to £326 million by 2011/12.Most regulated fares, such as saver, peak-time and season tickets, have risen by inflation plus one per cent, under rules agreed between the train firms and Government.

Bosses will be able to raise some fares by 6.3 per cent next year, as the Retail Price Index was 5.3 per cent in the summer and companies have a two per cent leeway to increase some fares by more. Fares on Southeastern, which serves Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria, could see 10 per cent rises.

The company is permitted a three per cent rise on top of RPI to pay for high-speed services on the Channel Tunnel link from Ashford into St Pancras, together with the two per cent flexibility. The rises in non-regulated fares had been six to seven per cent on average in previous years, according to the NAO.

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "New rolling stock and associated works are planned, and train operators are keen to ensure decisions are made which allow them to deliver these vehicles as soon as possible."