Rail users are paying more and more for less and less

Liz McInnes MP (third left) with local campaigners and commuters at Castleton station this morning

Liz McInnes, Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton, has condemned the rise of more than 3% in rail fares for passengers in England and Wales which has come into effect today (2 January 2019).

This morning, Liz was at Castleton train station alongside local campaigners and commuters and witnessed many services being cancelled.

New figures released today by Labour show that some commuters are paying over £2,850 more to travel to work than in 2010. Shockingly, average fares have risen nearly three times faster than wages in that time.

Labour has also called on the Government to freeze rail fares on the routes most severely affected by the timetable changes – Govia Thameslink, Arriva Rail North and First Transpennine Express.

Liz McInnes MP says: “On the day that rail fares went up by over 3%, I was at Castleton station this morning where commuters saw cancellation after cancellation on their first day back after the bank holiday. Sadly such an unreliable service isn’t unusual.

"Given how poor the service is, these annual rises are completely unacceptable. The amount by which train companies can raise regulated fares is the responsibility of the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling - he has the power to enforce this but he’s choosing not to.

"Rail users are paying more and more for less and less, and the sooner our railways are brought back into public ownership the better.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, says: “Today’s rail fare increases are an affront to everyone who has had to endure years of chaos on Britain’s railways. Falling standards and rising fairs are a national disgrace.

"The Government must now step in to freeze fares on the worst performing routes. Labour will bring our railways back into public ownership so they are run in the interests of passengers, not private profit.”