Assembly Member Hits Out at Inflation Busting Rail Fare Increases

4.06.37pm GMT Tue 2nd Jan 2007

Rail fare increases above inflation discourage people to leave the car at home

Inflation busting rail fares between South Wales and London will compound the misery for train users say a leading Assembly Member.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat AM, Mike German, was particularly critical of First Great Western, which has imposed an above-inflation 4.8% rise in fares between South Wales and London.

He said, "For many people this is an increasing burden which is unavoidable as people have to get to work. However, these above inflation increases concern me as they act as a barrier to people using public transport just when we are trying to combat climate change and cut our carbon emissions.

"To the train traveling public the New Year increases will expose that something is not quite right with our railways. Inflation busting price rises are matched with overcrowding on trains, local stations with poor facilities and no sign of the Government's promise of a revolution for our railway network for the past 10 years.

"The Railway industry recives a huge subsidy, more than when the industry was in government hands, and there is a desperate need to invest in new services in the South Wales area to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto trains. The present policies of the train companies and the Government will have the opposite effect. They will lead to more congestion on our roads, more pollution and increased accidents and deaths. The Welsh Assembly Government urgently needs to talk to their opposite numbers in Westminster to reverse this policy."