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| Rail passengers hit by hikes of up to £2,100 in cost of annual tickets | Rail passengers hit by hikes of up to £2,100 in cost of annual tickets |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Rail passengers are paying up to £2,100 more for an annual ticket than they did when the Conservatives came to power, according to new research by Labour. | Rail passengers are paying up to £2,100 more for an annual ticket than they did when the Conservatives came to power, according to new research by Labour. |
| The scale of the fare increases was condemned as “truly staggering” – just as the latest rises were being implemented for the start of the New Year. | |
| Labour said the biggest hike was on a Virgin Trains season ticket between Birmingham and London, which has risen by £2,172 since 2010 and will now cost £10,200. | Labour said the biggest hike was on a Virgin Trains season ticket between Birmingham and London, which has risen by £2,172 since 2010 and will now cost £10,200. |
| But even that 27 per cent increase was dwarfed in percentage terms by the cost of annual travel between Tame Bridge Parkway, near Walsall, and Nuneaton – which has soared by 43 per cent since David Cameron entered No 10. | |
| The research found some of the sharpest increases in the constituencies of Government ministers, including a £628 rise from Maidenhead, Theresa May’s seat, to London. | The research found some of the sharpest increases in the constituencies of Government ministers, including a £628 rise from Maidenhead, Theresa May’s seat, to London. |
| And long-suffering commuters on strike-hit Southern Rail routes – who are facing the misery of a six-day shutdown next week – have also been hit by huge rises in the cost of annual travel. | And long-suffering commuters on strike-hit Southern Rail routes – who are facing the misery of a six-day shutdown next week – have also been hit by huge rises in the cost of annual travel. |
| At £4,536, a season ticket between Brighton and London will cost nearly £1,000 more than it did in 2010 – a 28 per cent increase in just seven years. | |
| Labour blamed ministers for restoring “flex”, the train companies’ right to vary prices by up to five per cent on individual regulated fares, between 2011 and 2014. | |
| Andy McDonald, the shadow Transport Secretary, said: “Passengers have faced truly staggering fare rises of over £2,000 since 2010. | |
| “In some cases, commuters are paying 43 per cent more as a direct consequence of decisions made by ministers. | “In some cases, commuters are paying 43 per cent more as a direct consequence of decisions made by ministers. |
| “Passengers were always told that higher fares were necessary to fund investment, but vital projects have been delayed by years and essential maintenance works have been put on hold.” | “Passengers were always told that higher fares were necessary to fund investment, but vital projects have been delayed by years and essential maintenance works have been put on hold.” |
| Median gross weekly wages grew by just 8 per cent between 2010 and 2016, Mr McDonald said – while regulated fares had risen three times as fast. | |
| But Transport Secretary Chris Grayling insisted wages were growing faster than regulated fares, thanks to the Government’s economic policies. | But Transport Secretary Chris Grayling insisted wages were growing faster than regulated fares, thanks to the Government’s economic policies. |
| And he said: “This commitment to cap regulated fares in line with inflation will save annual season ticket holders an average £425 in the five years to 2020. | And he said: “This commitment to cap regulated fares in line with inflation will save annual season ticket holders an average £425 in the five years to 2020. |
| “To improve services, we are investing more than £40bn into our railways. This will provide passengers with better trains that are faster and more comfortable. | “To improve services, we are investing more than £40bn into our railways. This will provide passengers with better trains that are faster and more comfortable. |
| “We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger. On average, 97 per cent of every £1 of a passenger’s fare goes back into the railway.” | “We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger. On average, 97 per cent of every £1 of a passenger’s fare goes back into the railway.” |
| Highest rises in the cost of annual season tickets in cash terms, identified by Labour: | Highest rises in the cost of annual season tickets in cash terms, identified by Labour: |
| * Birmingham to London (Virgin) – £2,172, from £8,028 (2010) to £10,200 (2017). | * Birmingham to London (Virgin) – £2,172, from £8,028 (2010) to £10,200 (2017). |
| * Coventry to London Euston (Virgin) – £1,920, from £7,096 to £9,016. | * Coventry to London Euston (Virgin) – £1,920, from £7,096 to £9,016. |
| * Swindon to London – £1,796, from £6,640 to £8,436. | * Swindon to London – £1,796, from £6,640 to £8,436. |
| * Stoke-on-Trent to Milton Keynes Central – £1,748, from £5,320 to £7,068. | * Stoke-on-Trent to Milton Keynes Central – £1,748, from £5,320 to £7,068. |
| * Dover Priory (HS1) to London – £1,672, from £4,648 to £6,320. | * Dover Priory (HS1) to London – £1,672, from £4,648 to £6,320. |
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