News / Transport
Fares on suburban trains cost three times more in south Bristol
Campaigners say fairer prices are needed for fares on suburban trains which cost over three times as much in south Bristol.
Catching a train from the two stations south of the river means passengers have to pay more than triple the price compared to travelling in the rest of the city.
A single from Temple Meads to Clifton Down, for example, costs £1.50 and takes 14 minutes. Meanwhile, a single from Bedminster to Montpelier takes only one minute longer but costs £5.
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The difference is particularly unfair given that the top-ten most deprived neighbourhoods in Bristol are all south of the river, where there are also fewer bus services.
Speaking at a meeting of the city council’s transport & connectivity policy committee, Bristol Rail Campaign‘s Christina Biggs said: “The rail fares are very low on the Severn Beach line, and there is a discrepancy between rail fares from Parson Street and Bedminster, which are proportionally much higher.
“We would like you to work with GWR and Network Rail to think about the fare structure.”
The fare structure is the responsibility of the West of England Combined Authority, which the council would have to work with to make any changes to ticket prices.
Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, said he would “have a word with people at WECA”.
Plowden said: “I’m a great believer in trying to see what you can do which is quick and easy, like looking at fares rather than heavy engineering and irreversible changes.
“If we can make a difference by changing the fare structure, what’s not to like?”
Bus fares were made cheaper in 2022 by the combined authority, and passengers now have to pay a maximum of £2 for a single ticket.
Prices were capped to encourage more people to travel by bus, in a bid to cut congestion and pollution from private cars, and help with the cost of living.
Main photo: Alex Seabrook
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