Transport Committee Chair comments on rail fares rise

Commenting on this morning’s announcement on rail fares, the Chair of the Transport Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, said:

“As predictable as the turning of the year, here comes the announcement that rail fares are to go up. Passengers are facing an average increase of 3.4% - which translates into a significant new burden on household finances.

“Today the Rail Delivery Group tells us that most of this money will go into improving and running the railway but in recent years it’s the passenger picking up a bigger share of the tab and many aren’t seeing the benefits they were promised. 

“At a time when workers are facing a real terms pay cut, isn’t it time the Government looked to spread the cost of the railway more fairly?”