#RailRipOff | EXETER LABOUR SLAMS 25 PER CENT TORY RAIL FARE HIKE
EMBARGO: 00:01 Monday 04 January 2016
EXETER LABOUR SLAMS 25 PER CENT TORY RAIL FARE HIKE
Shocking new figures show that the cost of travelling by train has shot up by 25per cent under the Tories.
Hard working commuters are now paying more for their train fares under the Tories, because of yet another year of rail fare hikes that come into force today.
Local Exeter Labour councillor, Phil Bialyk, has slammed the Tory government for hammering passengers and commuters.
He said: “Passengers in Exeter have been hit again and again by eye-watering rail fare rises. "Fares have now rocketed by 25 per cent under the Tories, far outstripping any increase in most people’s pay packets.
“For many people here, travelling by train isn’t a luxury, it’s how they get to work every day.
"The cost of a season ticket from Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads has risen £984 since 2010 - a rise of 25%.”
Co-ordinating Exeter Labour's campaign, Cllr Paul Bull is calling for a co-operative or mutual solution to running the railways.
Paul said: “The Tories just don’t understand that for many local people, getting on the train isn’t a luxury – it’s the only way they can get to work every day.
“Hard working commuters shouldn’t be hammered again and again by this Tory Government or the train operators.
“Labour is campaigning for the public to be given a real say in the future of our railways. We’d save passengers money by allowing public sector operators to run rail lines – saving money that would otherwise be paid out to shareholders.”
[01] Exeter Labour Party will be at St Davids Station from 09:00 on Monday 04 January 2016 calling for an end to the #RailRipOff.
[02] Since David Cameron became Prime Minister in 2010, rail fares have risen by 25 per cent - three times faster than wages. Some commuters’ season tickets have risen by over 30 per cent as a result of the Government’s decision to give train operators the ability to vary regulated prices. On average 3 per cent of the price of a rail ticket goes towards paying train company shareholder’s dividends. If train companies were under public ownership as Labour has proposed, passengers would be put before profits.
Table of Regulated Rail Fare increases
Year Formula Regulated Fare % increase Cumulative % increase
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) Consumer price indices (using the RPI measure of inflation), ONS Labour market statistics and TUC calculations
