20 October 2010
CSR fares hike will price people off the railways
Transform Scotland [1] has today (Wednesday 20th) criticised the announcement in the Comprehensive Spending Review that rail fares are to be increased.
The CSR announced that the formula for setting rail fares will rise from RPI+1% to RPI+3%.
Transform Scotland director Colin Howden said:
"The UK transport minister Phillip Hammond took the opportunity soon after May's General Election to announce that the reputed "war on the motorist" was over. [2] Well, today's decision to hike up rail fares represents a real war on rail travellers.
"The price of motoring continues to fall while the price of rail travel continues to rise – so it is indefensible that the the Coalition has decided to hit rail users rather than tackle car use. [3]
"The decision to increase rail fares will drive people off trains and back on to the roads. It is well-known that it is the price of using trains that is the key issue that deters greater use of rail travel. [4]
"The announcement also represents a major u-turn by the Liberal Democrats as they promised a reduction in rail fares in their manifesto for the 2010 General Election." [5]
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members.aspx> for details.
[2] See e.g. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278161/Labours-13-year-war-motorist-pledges-new-Transport-Secretary.html>.
[3] See e.g. <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100205/text/100205w0001.htm>: "Between 1997 and 2009 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 14 per cent., bus and coach fares increased by 24 per cent. and rail fares increased by 13 per cent. in real terms."
[4] See Passenger Focus 'National Passenger Survey': <http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/press-release.asp?dsid=4537>.
[5] See <http://www.libdems.org.uk/siteFiles/resources/PDF/Election%20Policy/Liberal%20Democrat%20Environment%20Manifesto.pdf>: "We will cut rail fares, changing the rules in contracts with Train Operating Companies so that regulated fares fall behind inflation by 1 per cent each year, meaning a real-terms cut."
[6] See also Campaign for Better Transport, our London-based equivalent, for details of their campaign against rail fare increases: <http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/climate_change/spending-review-2010>.
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