£1,000 return rail trip from Newquay to the Scottish Highlands

[PatchGirl]

The UK's first £1,000 rail ticket has been described as "scandalous" and "appalling value" by opposition MPs.

The first-class return walk-up fare is from Newquay, in Cornwall to Kyle of Lochalsh, in the Scottish Highlands.

The Conservatives blamed "Labour's micromanagement of the railways", while the Lib Dems called the record fare "a very unwelcome landmark".

Cross Country Trains, which sells the ticket, said an advance fare was available for £561.

The fare was unearthed in a survey by rail expert Barry Doe, who said that the price of long-distance journeys had risen by up the three times the level of inflation since privatisation in the mid-1990s.

Three train companies share the 1,700 mile (2,736km) return trip - First Great Western, Cross Country and Scotrail.

Mr Doe pointed out that on the first leg of the journey (Newquay to Par) and the last (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) there were not even any first-class carriages for the ticketholder to sit in.

A spokesman for Cross Country said: "No-one has actually bought this £1,000 fare but it does exist.

Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker said high fares were encouraging people to abandon the trains in favour of their cars.

And he added: "When you can fly halfway across Europe for £30, the idea that you can end up paying £1,000 for a train journey in Britain is absolutely scandalous."

It's no wonder people have abandoned the trains and opt for holidays abroad!