09 December 2024 , 19:57
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Train operators in the UK are the most expensive in Europe, according to new analysis.
Great Western Railway fares are 150% higher than the average across EU and Swiss operators for routes of similar lengths, campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) found.
Avanti West Coast passengers pay 50% more, revealed a study that tracked the price of 8,000 tickets for standard fares in second-class carriages on weekdays, with purchases made both seven and 28 days in advance.
Private monopolies and high infrastructure costs were to blame for making travelling in the UK "particularly costly", T&E said.
The group warned there was "no correlation" between high fares and better performance in areas such as punctuality and passenger experience.
Meanwhile, Eurostar fares were found to be nearly double the price of other European operators offering long-distance high-speed journeys of a similar length.
A Eurostar spokesperson said its "launch prices have not changed" since it introduced a new website and app in October last year, which made it "even easier for our customers to find the lowest fares".
A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said: "In the UK, we have a comprehensive railway connecting both major cities and smaller communities across the country.
"We’re glad to see customer numbers rising and demand for rail travel growing year-on-year.
"Our aim is to sustain this growth by attracting more people, while delivering a more reliable and sustainable service with a better overall experience for our customers."