Index showing average change in price of rail fares 2004 - 2013

Late last month, David Milward, transport editor of the +The Telegraph, published an article on fare rises based on ORR Statistics: Cost of rail travel rapidly outstripping inflation, official figures show

I was intrigued by his article as I couldn't find the official figures to which he referred. Fortunately, Juliet Hyatt of the Office Of Rail Regulation has come to my rescue. She writes:

"Your enquiry was passed to our statistics team who have advised that the 23.1% increase in real terms quoted is taken from the "Index showing average change in price of rail fares 2004-2013", the latest version of which was published last Thursday (1st August 2013). The 23.1% refers to the real terms change in average past 2013 compared to 2004, for "Anytime" tickets for all operators.

The report we publish includes the change for other ticket types (including other walk-up fares such as off-peak) for each of the three sectors (long distance, Regional, and London and South East) plus all operators combined."

From this table, the actual % fare increases in real terms by the Groups to which the three Birmingham-London train operating companies fall is as follows:

+Chiltern Railways (London & SE)

Advance .... -3.8
Anytime .... 15.9
Off Peak ... 18.4
Season .... 12.9
Super Off-Peak ... 9.7
Other ... -0.6
All Tickets ....15
Revenue per journey ... -2.5

+Virgin Trains (Long Distance)

Advance .... 21.4
Anytime .... 31.5
Off Peak ... 14
Season .... 17.9
Super Off-Peak ... 14.6
Other ... 22.3
All Tickets ....22
Revenue per journey ... -7.7

+London Midland

Advance .... 17.6
Anytime .... 17
Off Peak ... 13.9
Season .... 10.4
Super Off-Peak ... 21
Other ... 11.3
All Tickets ....14.7
Revenue per journey ... 8.1

Virgin Trains Super Off-Peak fares

Virgin Trains have introduced a £28 Super Off-Peak walk-on return fare between Birmingham and London during August.

Monday to Friday northbound outward travel from Euston is available for departures between 1100 and 1400 and after 2015; Saturday and Sunday departures between 1030 and 1630 and after 1830. RETURN travel must be on trains arriving into Euston between 1250 and 1615 and after 2030 Monday to Friday or between 1208 and 1750 and after 2005 Saturday and Sunday (ie departing New Street from 11.30 to 14.50 and after 1910 M-F, or from 1050 to 1610 and after 1850 S/S)

Monday to Friday northbound outward travel from New Street is available for departures between 1130 and 1500 and after 1900; Saturday and Sunday departures between 1030 and 1630 and after 1830. RETURN travel must be on trains arriving into\New Street between 1225 and 1530 and after 2140 Monday to Friday or between 1208 and 1750 and after 2005 Saturday and Sunday (ie departing Euston from 11.03 to 14.03 and after 2023 M-F, or from 1103 to 1623 and after 1843 S/S)

Conditions include:

Normal railcard and child discounts available.
You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel.

Super Off-Peak single tickets are available online for half the stated fare only when purchased as a return journey in conjunction with another single fare