Some recent written answers – fares

House of Commons Written Answers 23 June 2014

Transport: High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of projected ticket prices for rail passengers using the High Speed 2 rail line. [200848]

Mr Goodwill: In order to test the case for HS2, current fares were assumed to increase by RPI+1% annually until 2036 after which fares are assumed to grow in line with inflation. No fares differential was applied to services using the high speed infrastructure. This is an assumption which provides an appropriate basis for modelling costs and benefits, but does not represent a prediction of future rail fares, which will be affected by government policy, market and industry changes across the GB rail network over many years.

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects High Speed 2 will require a separate ticket pricing structure from regular rail services. [200850]

Mr Goodwill: The HS2 business case demonstrates that the project can deliver significant benefits for the country without any fares differential being required for journeys using the high speed line. It is too soon to know what fares will be set for travel on HS2 services. Government decisions about fares structures and regulation will be taken closer to the commencement of HS2 phase 1 services in 2026.

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish information on ticket pricing for High Speed 2. [200851]

Mr Goodwill: There are currently no plans to publish information relating to the likely structure or level of ticket prices for journeys using the HS2 railway following the opening of HS2 phase 1 in 2026 and beyond.

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