A recent BBH study has found that commuters of the major cities in the UK spend on average, 11% of the median salaries for those cities on transport costs alone. The cities include London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol. The data used is for those passengers using annual rail season tickets five days a week. The various transit bosses always say customers are saving money, but when told the amount they were spending; most people were in a state of shock.
Train operators say rail travel is better value for money, and governments say they have capped rail fares in line with inflation. If this is so, then it creates another tough situation, which is that of the rail systems not having enough income to improve service and expand transit options to accommodate the ever-growing population throughout the UK.
With the high costs of transit, customers are disappointed as the services are delayed, cost more, and are becoming more crowded. According to the study, those commuting from Harlow Town to London pay 38p per mile on their commute, and the least expensive commute is East Didsbury to Manchester, being 11p per mile.
It appears Southern Rail has heavy ridership and with the recent strike action, there are very few passengers happy with the line. To add insult to injury, there is a 1.9% hike expected for the following year.
Commuters are unhappy, and many are contemplating working closer to home, for a better quality of life and reduction in their expenses.