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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 9 (December 1, 1937.)

Railway Rates and Fares in Britain

Railway Rates and Fares in Britain.

While business has improved enormously on the Home railways, increased working costs are having to be met on every side. The Railway Rates Tribunal, therefore, has agreed to the companies' application for a five per cent, increase in charges, and this new rating basis is having the effect of improving the financial situation. The additional five per cent. charge applies both to freight rates and passenger fares. There are, however, certain exceptions, as, for instance, cheap workmen's tickets, suburban fares in the London area, and freight and coal traffic charged at less than tenpence per ton. Broadly speaking, Home railway charges compare most favourably with those in other lands. On the passenger side, “penny-a-mile” travel is still the rule, thanks to the operation of the special monthly return ticket rate. The basic first-class fare is one of 2 1/2d. per mile, and the third-class I ½d. per mile, but in practice by far the bulk of the business handled comes under various fare concessions, such as the monthly return ticket at one penny per mile, the weekend, and the day and half-day excursion bookings.