Our trains are overcrowded, underfunded, and way too expensive -- but the government is about to announce another HUGE price hike of nearly 4%.
Britain already has the highest rail fares in the EU: this latest hike could increase annual ticket prices hundreds of pounds further.
At a time when most people in this country are experiencing stagnating wages, this just isn’t fair.
We can’t let them get away with this. Last year Sadiq Khan announced he’d frozen TFL fares in London until 2020 -- let’s call on the government to do the same nationally and stop these price hikes now!
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling: we already have the most expensives trains in Europe -- stop this latest price hike!
Since our railways were privatised, prices have shot up way above inflation. Customers have been paying through the nose, while corporate bosses have creamed off the profits.
Figures show rail fares have increased by 32% since 2010, while wages have only risen by 16% in the same time. Prices in the UK are almost double that of Sweden -- and triple that of Italy and Portugal.
Last month the Retail Price Index (RPI), which is used by the government to calculate train ticket prices, rose to 3.6%. That could mean an increase of hundreds of pounds for annual ticket holders, according to the RMT.
This is just not sustainable.
Responding to the price hike, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "If I can freeze TfL fares, there is no reason why the Government can’t do the same for national rail and commuter services."
If it’s possible in London, why not the rest of the country?
When Southern Rail was bailed out by our government to the tune of £20 million, over 35,000 SumOfUs members like you spoke up in favour of renationalisation. We can't standby now and let this government rip us off yet further.
MP Chris Grayling: enough is enough. Stop this price hike and freeze rail prices now!
More information
The Mirror. 15 August 2017.
Evening Standard. 15 August 2017.