c2c fares in 2001

RAIL fares on services operated by c2c have gone down in real terms in January for the third year running, with the average 2001 increase of 0.3% once again well below the level of inflation.

It continues c2c's good record for modest increases and offering continuing value for money - only once in six years in the private sector have fares climbed above inflation. While some fares have gone up, many have gone down significantly, and where fares have increased, it is just a matter of pennies on most journeys.

And an analysis of fares shows journeys on c2c are not only quicker but remain cheaper than on the neighbouring First Great Eastern route.

Under national fares regulations, since 1998, increases for peak fares have been capped at 1% below inflation. The inflation rate used is the All Prices index published for July. This gave an inflation rate of 3.3%, and c2c set its January 2001 fares increase against this figure at just 0.3% on average.

The other big factor in setting fares is how each train company performs over the 12 months leading up to July, in terms of punctuality and reliability. Poor punctuality performance on c2c, triggering Passenger Charter discounts since January 2000, largely due to delays in introducing new trains, have contributed to keeping the increase at a very low level.

The 2001 fares changes on c2c, which came into effect on Sunday 7 January, also marks an important milestone, the conclusion of a three year process of simplifying fares, removing anomalies to put in place a zonal fares structure, similar to that operating on the London Underground. Fares within a zone will be the same as each other and the new structure offers greater simplicity of travel and transparency of price for customers.

Highlights of the 2001 fares changes include:

Travelling within c2c's 26 station zones:

• Standard Day Singles will on average reduce by 26p, or down by 6%.

• Standard Day Returns reduce by 66p, or down by 9% on average.

• Cheap Day Returns drop by 15p, or down by an average of 3%.

Travelling on c2c to other parts of the country:

• Standard Day Singles are up by 9%.

• Standard Day Returns are down by 5%.

• Cheap Day Returns on non-regulated fares are up by 3%, roughly in line with inflation.

• Standard Day Singles will on average reduce by 26p, or down by 6%.

• Standard Day Returns reduce by 66p, or down by 9% on average.

• Cheap Day Returns drop by 15p, or down by an average of 3%.

Travelling on c2c to other parts of the country:

• Standard Day Singles are up by 9%.

• Standard Day Returns are down by 5%.

• Cheap Day Returns on non-regulated fares are up by 3%, roughly in line with inflation.