·      Fares rise lower than average for UK rail network
·      New ticket prices available to check online at www.southwesttrains.co.uk
·      Passengers continue to benefit from more than £100 million investment

South West Trains announced that the average fare on its network will rise by an average of 5.8%. The increase, effective from January 2012, is lower than the London rail average of 5.9%.

Passengers can check the new prices for their own journeys from today at www.southwesttrains.co.ukor through National Rail Enquiries.

Advance fares will be frozen in January,with varying changes to the cost of other specific individual tickets. The average fare at South West Trains will rise by just 21p. 

Daily car parking charge changes will vary.Some prices will be frozen or reduced, while others will rise by either50p or £1, based on comparable local council and private car parking rates.Full details are online at www.southwesttrains.co.uk/parking.

Andy Pitt, Managing Director of South WestTrains, said: “Money raised through fares helps to pay for better train services and improved facilities at stations. At South West Trains we are investing over £100 million in a range of improvements, including more station car parking spaces and providing better access to our stations.

“Fares also reflect the Government’s long-standing approach to sustaining investment in the railways by reducing the contribution from taxpayers and increasing the share paid for by passengers.  In the longer-term, the rail industry is working together to continue cutting costs as a way of helping to limit future fare rises and offer better value for money for taxpayers”.

South West Trains is one of the most punctual train operators in the UK, with latest figures showing annual punctuality running at 92.7%. Customer satisfaction is higher than the UK average,with the most recent independent National Passenger Survey showing that85% of passengers are satisfied with their train service.

Passengers are continuing to benefit from a range of improvements, including:

·      better information for passengers, with the launch of a dedicated Twitter-feed,bespoke email travel alerts and a new mobile version of the website
·      continued investment to improve station facilities and access
·      introduction of 2,500 new cycle spaces and 2,000 additional car parking spaces
·      additional customer help-points and ticket vending machines