A RAIL watchdog warns some fares on the county’s main track to London are to increase by 55 per cent.

But First Great Western (FGW) says new purchasing options on the Hereford to London Paddington line actually push some prices significantly down.

Nick Brown, from Withington, keeps a check on rail fares through his Trainsplit website.

Mr Brown says his research shows planned ticketing changes from May 17 will increase both the price and complexity of available fares.

At present, said Mr Brown, passengers can take the FGW Cathedrals Express from Hereford at 06:42 and return the same way at 18:22 for £55.

His reading of the May 17 changes mean:

  • The 'off-peak return' ticket that currently costs £55 is going to increase to £68.10.
  • The new £68.10 ticket won’t be valid any more on the 18:22 service, which instead needs a more expensive return costing £86.
  • A new 'super off-peak return' ticket priced at £54.50 will be available, but can’t be used on many of the through trains, meaning changes and travel at inconvenient times.
  • Some off-peak day returns for intermediate journeys, such as Reading to Worcester, have been abolished completely, so passengers buying the anytime day return see an increase from £27.40 to £32.80

“For passengers that need a day in London that’s a fare rise of over 55 per cent,” claims Mr Brown.

As a verification, he cites nationalrail.co.uk and the £55 weekday Hereford-Paddington fare on offer ahead of May 17 and the £86 fare on offer afterwards.

FGW says the ticketing changes offer “thousands” of low-cost advance purchase fares and also introduce peak time fares to the line for the first time.

The price of an anytime fare will not change, and 25 services a day beyond Oxford will fall after peak hours.

In a statement, FGW said that, as a result of the changes, the cheapest single fare on this line will drop from £27 to £10 with advance purchase tickets available on all services, allowing discounted fares of up to 70 per cent.