COMMUTERS on some Merseyrail services were facing a fare increase of almost 5% as they returned to work today after the Christmas break.
The company said the average increase across all daily tickets will be 5p, going up to around 20p on peak fares.
While there has been criticism of across-the-board national rail travel price hikes at a time when the cost of living is increasingly squeezing families, Merseyrail insisted its fares are still the lowest in the country.
The average increase across all tickets on Merseyrail will be around 2.4%, according to its website.
A return ticket from Waterloo to Liverpool will go up from £3.25 to £3.40 – a rise of 4.6%.
A journey from New Brighton will go up by 10p from £3.40 to £3.50, while it will cost £4.80 to get from West Kirby into the city and back, according to prices listed on www.thetrainline.com
Season ticket prices were also expected to increase.
Merseyrail’s fares are capped in line with the retail price index (RPI) as part of its agreement with passenger transport authority Merseytravel, with which it has a 25-year franchise.
