A STUDY has cleared the way for fare increases on trains out of Liverpool's Lime Street station by concluding existing prices are "very low".
The report to the Department for Transport (DfT) found there was an "attractive financial case" for pushing up fares on many routes covered by the Northern rail franchise.
It highlighted how revenue from fares, at just 11 pence per passenger mile, was lower than that enjoyed by many of Britain's other rail operators.
Furthermore, that figure fell to as low as eight pence per passenger mile in big cities such as Liverpool, the study said.
The conclusions of the Northern Review, published yesterday, will confirm the worst suspicions of MPs who first raised the alarm when the study was revealed one year ago.
However, the analysis also concludes there is "no compelling case" for closing any railway stations, axing any lesser-used routes or changing timetables.
Northern Rail, which runs trains from Liverpool to Manchester, Wigan, Warrington, Chester and all across the North, was handed to Merseyrail operator Serco-NedRailways in December 2004.
The review was then ordered to examine whether to raise fares, close lines and replace some services with buses, in order to cut its £300m annual subsidy.
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