Written question asked by Lord Cotter (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 March 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Monday, 14 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on increases in rail fares for 2005-06; and what action he plans to take to invest in the rail network and and improve services.

Answer: Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on increases in rail fares for 2005-06; and what action he plans to take to invest in the rail network and improve services. [220355] Mr. McNulty: Following the Strategic Rail Authority Fares Review in 2003 we announced that regulated fares would in future rise by RPI plus 1 per cent. from January 2004. This would help redress the balance of funding between the taxpayer and the fare payer. Increases in unregulated fares are a commercial matter for the train operating companies. Government funding and investment in the rail network continues to run at unprecedented levels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, made a detailed statement on this matter on 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 93WS.

Secondary information