Rail fare increase of 4.9% kicks in

 

An above inflation rise in regulated rail fares of 4.9% kicked in at the weekend.

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary said: 'Since coming to power in 2010 the Tories have hiked fares by almost twice as much as wages, and now passengers are being asked to pay more for less.

'Cancellations are at their highest ever levels, the biggest wave of industrial action in decades is causing chaos on the network, and failing operators continue to be rewarded with millions of pounds in fees.'

Meanwhile the Campaign for Better Transport contrasted the 4.9% rise with the 13-year freeze in Fuel Duty, which is expected to be extended in Wednesday Budget.

Spokesperson Michael Solomon Williams said: ‘At a time when we urgently need to encourage people to take the train, the public will rightly be angry to discover that it has just become even more expensive to do so.

‘Meanwhile Fuel Duty has been frozen for 13 years, meaning the Government has foregone £100bn which could have been spent on completing HS2 and much-needed local transport networks.'

The campaign group said five annual season tickets on popular commuter routes into London had now risen above £5,000, with three will passing the £6,000 mark, and an annual season ticket from Southampton to London now costing £7,150.

The Department for Transport made no comment on the rise in fares.

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