An industry watchdog has warned that annual train ticket prices on the popular Edinburgh to Glasgow line could rise to almost £5,000 next year.
Amid a cost of living crisis and payment disputes with train drivers it is expected that train tickets may rise, however the reported 11% increase could make public transport less accessible.
For many commuters rail travel is an accessible way to get to and from work, but it has become less reliable as of late with major disruptions and a temporary timetable in place.
Industry experts are now asking governing bodies to hold back on their planned increase, reports Edinburgh Live.
One such boffin is Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users.
He has called on the UK Government to postpone setting fares for 2023 due to the rising cost of living.
Rail fare increases are based on the retail prices index (RPI) inflation figure from July - and with RPI inflation hitting 11.1 per cent in May it could rise even more by July according to a Times report.
Mr Smith told the Times: “The government is not tied to the July figure and they’re not tied to when they make an announcement. It’s very much a political decision.”
The increases will not just apply to standard fares but also to season tickets - with the current cost of an annual season ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh at £4,430, an 11 per cent increase would cause the cost to come in at £4,922 for rail users.
A rail industry source added: “It is absolutely a government decision whether they stick to pinning fares to inflation in July.
"If they do not have the strikes under control it will be a very damaging decision to say ‘we are using July inflation’ when there’s waves of disruption and a cost of living crisis.”
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