MP hits out at 'inflation busting' rail fares hike
By Barrie White • Published 8 Jan 2012 17:30
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SLOUGH'S Labour MP Fiona Mactaggart has hit out at the Government for allowing the hike in rail prices.
Commuters coming to and from Slough will face a rise in the cost of a rail ticket from between 5% and 11%, with those buying season tickets hit hardest.
Ms Mactaggart believes the rise in prices will bite into many people's budgets when it comes to renewing season tickets.
She said: "This increase was decided on by the Government and it is hurting people at a time when there are fewer jobs, the cost of living is rising rapidly and they are already struggling to pay the bills.
"From every £10 earned £1.10 is the cost of the train fare. This unfair increase means that a weekly season ticket for commuters from Slough station to London Paddington has increased from £53 to £56.20. This amounts to 11% of average earnings for people who live here."
Peter Skinner, Labour MEP for the South East region, believes the Government needs to rethink its rail pricing policy and says it has gone back on promises made while in opposition
He said: "Commuters are getting a rotten deal. Today many have seen their train fares go up by hundreds of pounds just as they are facing the squeeze from wage freezes.
"We have the highest fares in Europe and the biggest price hikes. I want the Government to give commuters a break and back down over the massive hikes planned for 2013."
Hugh Jaeger, spokesman for Railfuture, which campaign for passengers and a better rail network, said: "Rail networks have a captured market and we are worried that this captured market will be exploited.
"What they're doing is implementing an inflation busting increase. There has been huge growth, the recession hasn't hit the railways."
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