Labour fury at 'staggering' rail fare hikes since Tories came to power
2 min read
Labour has blasted another round of “staggering” rail fare hikes as it claimed season tickets have rocketed by almost £700 since the Conservatives came to power.
An average season ticket has shot up to £2,888 compared with £2,194 in 2010, according to new analysis by the party comparing costs on more than 180 routes.
Labour said some commuters were paying an eye-watering £2,500 more to get to work than they were in 2010, while some season tickets had doubled in price.
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said with new rises coming in today, fares have increased three times as much as wages over the period.
“Decisions taken by government ministers are making rail travel unaffordable for the many in favour of huge profits for the few,” he fumed.
“The truth is that our fragmented, privatised railway drives up costs and leaves passengers paying more for less.”
He added: “Commuters have repeatedly been told that higher fares are necessary to fund investment, but promised investment has been cancelled and essential works have been delayed by years.”
In its 2017 manifesto Labour promised to take passenger rail services back under state control.
But the TaxPayers’ Alliance argued nationalisation would lead to further delays and even lower customer satisfaction on UK rail lines.
The pressure group said two thirds of current delays are caused by Network Rail - the state owned body that maintains lines - while passenger journeys were on the up.
TPA chief executive John O’Connell said: “Whilst we hear from some on the left that renationalisation is the only way to improve the railways, the evidence clearly points in the opposite direction.”
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