REBECCA Jenkins has blasted the annual rail hike which will see an average increase of 2.7 per cent in rail fares next January.
Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Redditch says the rise will cause dismay from ‘all passenger groups across the country’.
The increase also affects regulated fares, including most commuter season tickets and some long distance off-peak fares and peak urban trips.
“A Labour Government would immediately reduce the price of season tickets and other regulated fares by a third,” she said.
“It would also introduce a wider simplification of the ticketing system.”
Ms Jenkins went on to explain that Labour’s plans to renationalise the rail system would cut these fares by 33 per cent from January and ‘tackle the crisis of unaffordability’ which ‘could save the average commuter £1,097 per year’.
For part-time workers, she says changes to the fare system would ensure they would not pay more on the trains per day than commuters with all-week season tickets.
While those aged 16 and under would travel for free.
“I have spent the last two years along the Redditch Labour Party talking to commuters who are fed up to the back teeth of fare rises with little improvement in the services.
“For too long there has been a fragmented and privatised rail systeym which has ripped off passengers.
“Taking back control of our railways is the only way to bring down fares and create a railway network which is fit for the future.
“Labour will bring about real change.”
Also standing in the General Election in Redditch are Claire Davies, Green Party; Bruce Horton, Liberal Democrats; and Rachel Maclean, Conservative Party.
