Virgin commuters hit by strikes over increase in fares

Passengers using Sir Richard Branson's West Coast Main Line face a double whammy of fare increases and strike action, it was revealed today.

Ticket office staff will begin a "rolling programme" of walkouts at five of the biggest stations between London and Glasgow. The first will take place at peak time on Friday afternoon and Euston — with tens of thousands of passengers returning home for the weekend — is certain to be hit.

Union chiefs have ordered the strikes in protest over what they say are plans by Virgin Trains to force travellers to buy more expensive tickets by limiting the number of windows at booking offices. Queuing travellers will have to buy them from staff via hand-held machines.

Virgin Trains is increasing "Anytime" peak fares by six per cent from January. Anytime first class and first class generally will rise by four per cent. The company is also restricting cheaper off-peak travel times between London and Glasgow by nearly seven hours a week.

Gerry Doherty, leader of the TSSA transport union, said: "Our members will be striking on Friday to defend the full service they give passengers, including advice on the cheapest ticket option." On fares, he said: "Passengers are facing a double increase because the company is placing further restrictions on cheaper off-peak travel. Those who wish to make a day trip into London before 11.30 am will now have to buy more expensive fares."

A letter to staff from Glynn McDonald, Virgin stakeholder engagement manager, said the "adjustments" to off-peak times would only affect 14 out of the 330 trains run every day, and prices of tickets bought by eight in 10 passengers "will be reduced or frozen".

A spokesman for Virgin Trains, which has seen a 20 per cent rise in passenger numbers over the past year, described as "nonsense" TSSA's claims that customers were being forced to buy expensive tickets. He said machines were being brought in to give greater choice and speed up purchases. On fare rises, he said: "The union must ask itself, if we don't balance the books what happens to jobs?"