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Campaigners brave cold to protest at stations over fare increases Rail campaigners hold station protests against fare increases
(35 minutes later)
Campaigners braved freezing temperatures to protest about the new year’s hike in rail fares at dozens of stations in England and Scotland. Campaigners have braved freezing temperatures to protest against the new year’s hike in rail fares at dozens of stations in England and Scotland.
The group Action For Rail staged a variety of station demonstrations after the average increase in fares of 2.3% on Monday or almost four times the rate of inflation. Action For Rail staged the demonstrations after fares rose on Monday by an average of 2.3%, almost four times the rate of inflation.
At King’s Cross in north London the Fair Fares choir from the Campaign for Better Transport entertained commuters with a protest song accompanied by a string quartet. Singing to the tune of Ode to Joy the song began: “Fares are rising, pay not changing, overcrowding just gets worse ... standing in a toilet doorway that’s no way to start the day.” At King’s Cross in London the Fair Fares choir from the Campaign for Better Transport entertained commuters with a protest song accompanied by a string quartet. Singing to the tune of Ode to Joy the song began: “Fares are rising, pay not changing, overcrowding just gets worse ... standing in a toilet doorway that’s no way to start the day.”
'27p per minute just to get to Stevenage'. No ode to joy pic.twitter.com/lV5wIZEkBB'27p per minute just to get to Stevenage'. No ode to joy pic.twitter.com/lV5wIZEkBB
One of those protesting was Josephine Rossi, a part-time executive assistant at a charity, who spends a third of her pay on rail fare after childcare and pension costs. Josephine Rossi, a part-time executive assistant at a charity, said she spent a third of her pay on rail fares, after childcare and pension costs.
“Today I paid £172 for a week’s travel from Ashford in Kent. That is simply unaffordable. I work in Victoria but I’m forced into using the high-speed link to King’s Cross because the Southern train service to Victoria is so long and unreliable.”“Today I paid £172 for a week’s travel from Ashford in Kent. That is simply unaffordable. I work in Victoria but I’m forced into using the high-speed link to King’s Cross because the Southern train service to Victoria is so long and unreliable.”
Despite the fare, she often does not get a seat on the train and she claimed many of her friends cannot afford to work in London because of the cost of travel. Rossi said she was often unable to get a seat on the train and claimed many of her friends could not afford to work in London because of the cost of travel.
“It is £650 per month to pay to travel so any benefits you get from moving out of London to chase cheaper house prices just completely disappear. Some of my friends have had to turn down part-time jobs in London and take a full-time job in Ashford leaving a very young child at home because they couldn’t afford the train fares. Lots of companies are embracing flexible working but train companies aren’t catching up.” “It is £650 per month to pay to travel so any benefits you get from moving out of London to chase cheaper house prices just completely disappear. Some of my friends have had to turn down part-time jobs in London and take a full-time job in Ashford, leaving a very young child at home, because they couldn’t afford the train fares. Lots of companies are embracing flexible working but train companies aren’t catching up.”
Those joining the protest at King’s Cross included transport union bosses Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes, the shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, and the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry. The protest at King’s Cross was joined by the transport union leaders Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes, the shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, and the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry.
Speaking to the Guardian, Thornberry accused rail companies of “whacking up fares … much greater than the amount of money people are getting in their wages”.Speaking to the Guardian, Thornberry accused rail companies of “whacking up fares … much greater than the amount of money people are getting in their wages”.
She insisted that Labour’s plan to renationalise the railways was popular with the public. She said Labour’s plan to renationalise the railways was popular with the public.
“The majority of people think rail should be in public hands and we think so too. Bread and butter issues like how much it costs to get to work are absolutely hardcore Labour issues that I campaign on like everybody else.”“The majority of people think rail should be in public hands and we think so too. Bread and butter issues like how much it costs to get to work are absolutely hardcore Labour issues that I campaign on like everybody else.”
“Southern rail keeps falling over and it reminds people of the incompetence of some of these rail companies and the fact that people’s lives are miserable because of bad management and profits being made out of their misery and it should be back in public hands. It is a simple case.”“Southern rail keeps falling over and it reminds people of the incompetence of some of these rail companies and the fact that people’s lives are miserable because of bad management and profits being made out of their misery and it should be back in public hands. It is a simple case.”
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was also billed to be at the protest, but posted a video message instead.The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was also billed to be at the protest, but posted a video message instead.
He said: “Privatised rail franchises have become a licence to print money.” He said Labour would create a “publicly owned and publicly accountable rail system to be proud of”.He said: “Privatised rail franchises have become a licence to print money.” He said Labour would create a “publicly owned and publicly accountable rail system to be proud of”.
Campaigners were hoping to stage protests at more than 100 stations. Those that did take place included Eastbourne, Manchester, Doncaster, Grimsby, Bolton, Birmingham and several other London stations. Campaigners were planning to stage protests at more than 100 stations. Those that did take place included Eastbourne, Manchester, Doncaster, Grimsby, Bolton, Birmingham and several other London stations.
Local Labour members out supporting the @ActionForRail campaign in #Eastbourne bright and early! pic.twitter.com/1myUcgef8YLocal Labour members out supporting the @ActionForRail campaign in #Eastbourne bright and early! pic.twitter.com/1myUcgef8Y
This year’s rise in fares is the highest since January 2014 when they increased by 2.8%.This year’s rise in fares is the highest since January 2014 when they increased by 2.8%.
Figures vary between operators, with fares on Virgin Trains East Coast services up by 4.9%.Figures vary between operators, with fares on Virgin Trains East Coast services up by 4.9%.
The government uses the previous July’s retail prices index (RPI) measure of inflation to determine increases in regulated fares, which was 1.9%. These are about 40% of all tickets and include season tickets on most commuter routes and some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys. Train operating companies set the prices of other tickets but are bound by competition rules. The government uses the previous July’s retail prices index (RPI) measure of inflation to determine increases in regulated fares. In 2016 it was was 1.9%. This applies to about 40% of all tickets, including season tickets on most commuter routes and some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys. Train operating companies set the prices of other tickets but are bound by competition rules.
Early morning start for #railfail chats with commuters at Grimsby Town station pic.twitter.com/Sngv0FRVfUEarly morning start for #railfail chats with commuters at Grimsby Town station pic.twitter.com/Sngv0FRVfU
Bruce Williamson, of independent campaign group Railfuture, called on the government to use the consumer price index for regulated fare rises rather than RPI, claiming it is a “much more accurate figure” for measuring inflation. Bruce Williamson, of the independent campaign group Railfuture, called on the government to use the consumer price index for regulated fare rises rather than RPI, claiming it is a “much more accurate figure” for measuring inflation.
He said: “This is only 0.6%, which would be a much more reasonable fare increase.”He said: “This is only 0.6%, which would be a much more reasonable fare increase.”
According to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, about 97p in every pound paid by passengers goes back into running and improving services. According to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, about 97p in every pound paid by passengers goes back into running and improving services.
RDG’s chief executive, Paul Plummer, said: “Nobody wants to pay more to travel to work and at the moment, in some places, people aren’t getting the service they are paying for.RDG’s chief executive, Paul Plummer, said: “Nobody wants to pay more to travel to work and at the moment, in some places, people aren’t getting the service they are paying for.
@MomentumSBham @JeremyCorbyn4PM pic.twitter.com/DKaiqP4Jxi@MomentumSBham @JeremyCorbyn4PM pic.twitter.com/DKaiqP4Jxi
“However, increases to season tickets are set by government. Money from fares is helping to sustain investment in the longer, newer trains and more punctual journeys that passengers want.”“However, increases to season tickets are set by government. Money from fares is helping to sustain investment in the longer, newer trains and more punctual journeys that passengers want.”
Virgin Trains East Coast said an overhaul of its pricing strategy would mean there will be 10,000 more discounted advanced fares available every week. Virgin Trains East Coast said an overhaul of its pricing strategy would mean there would be an extra 10,000 discounted advanced fares available every week.
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “We are delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for more than a century, providing more seats and services.The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “We are delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for more than a century, providing more seats and services.
“We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger.”“We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger.”