Rail fares set to rise by as much as 13 per cent16 August 2011
In times of hardship, commuters are being hit yet again - fares will rise by as much as 13% in January.
The Government has announced that the cost of train travel will increase by around 30% over the next 3 years.
The above-inflation rises are based on a new way of calculating rail fares.
To avoid dangerous climate change the Government needs to cut emissions in all sectors of society. But higher fares will put people off using the train, meaning more cars on congested roads.
National scandal
The Campaign for Better Transport staged a demonstration this week to call on the Government to reverse unfair price hikes.
Attending the Fair Fares Now protest at Waterloo Station - Friends of the Earth's Director, Andy Atkins, said:
Price hikes send out the wrong message to commuters seeking a greener alternative to driving.
"It's a national scandal that train fares are to increase above inflation - passengers in the UK already pay some of the highest ticket prices in Europe.
The Government should encourage people to travel by train by reversing the planned increases and upgrading the rail network to make services more reliable."
Better transport
Leading rail-operator body, the Association of Train Operating Companies, said price increases were needed to pay for "more trains, better stations and faster services".
Friends of the Earth agrees we need more investment in our rail system - but not through higher fares. Money could come from:
- A fuel tax on domestic flights
£460milion a year could be raised. - Reducing maintenance costs
by 20-30% to bring them into line with other countries.
Action
Please sign the petition to call for affordable rail fares or ask your MP to sign a parliamentary petition.
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