TRAIN passengers have been hit by a nine per cent hike in rail fares - pushing the price of a standard fare from Preston to London Euston to £143.

Virgin say they have had no choice but to raise the cost of several of their tickets, meaning customers who travel at the last minute have to pay nearly £150.

And with the price of an open First Class ticket costing more than £200, it's no wonder Virgin chief Richard Branson chose to fly British Airways when he visited his new gym in Preston last week!

From Monday the price of an open standard ticket - one which you can walk up and buy on the day you travel - increased from under £130 to £143, and another round of fare reviews is due in less than four months.

The rise on 'value' fares, which involve advance booking and can only be used on off-peak services, is less significant.

But rail watchdogs have criticised the price increases.

A spokesman for the North West Rail User's Consultative Committee says it deplores the latest rises.

He said: "It appears that Virgin are capitalising on a captive market and could even be prepared to carry fewer passengers at higher prices on popular services."

The latest price increases come just days after Transport Minister Keith Hill travelled to Lancashire for a summit aimed at creating a better public transport network, and discouraging people from using their cars.

County Councillor Tim Farron, who represents Leyland, said: "This price rise just proves that the rail companies are more determined to boost profits than provide a service.

"The government is in a position to cap fares but doesn't, opting instead to penalise drivers who probably would use public transport if it was efficient and affordable."

A Virgin spokesman said: "We have kept the nine per cent rises to three of our fares, and the saver fares, which can be as low as £24.

"The rises have to be seen in context with the £2 billion we are investing in new trains and the reduction of a £26 million government subsidy over the coming year."

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