MPs condemn rail fare price hike

[Coxster]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6660807.stm

The government is being called on to stop a rail operator from putting up fares by up to 20%.

The rise on South West Trains (SWT) from Sunday affects services coming into London after the rush-hour "peak".

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a Commons motion condemning the increase as "excessive" and calling for a review of the regulation of rail fares.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has said he is limited in what he can do as only peak fares are regulated.

The SWT rise means passengers will not get off-peak discounts until much later in the morning.

No case

Mr Alexander told the Commons on Tuesday: "The fares at off-peak times are not regulated fares.

"Although I understand that there was real concern and public interest in the fares that were announced, it is important to emphasise that that those are not fares set by government.

"There must be a degree of flexibility for train companies to set prices against other modes of available transport, but I would urge all train companies to act responsibly when considering the setting of unregulated fares."

David Laws, the Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman, who has tabled the motion, said the company had failed to "provide an adequate business case" for the decision.

However, SWT has insisted that the new prices will bring the company into line with other operators and allow it to "better match demand and pricing".

Examples of the increases, which were first announced in March, include a cheap day return from Alton, in Hampshire, to London rising from £15.80 to £19 - a 20.25% increase.

A Bournemouth-to-London cheap day return will go up from £36.40 to £43.70 - a 20.05% rise.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Presumably SWT have done some research and reckon they'll make more money out of this scam. Whereas I doubt it.

 

[Tom]

It is also key to remember that the government approved this price hike.

 

[Mojo]

1. They could have done something about it, it could have been written into the franchise at the start. Even now, the Law could be changed (though would take ages)

2. Fancy the Lib Dems supporting railways, never thought I'd see the day

 

[KODIAK BEAR]

1. They could have done something about it, it could have been written into the franchise at the start. Even now, the Law could be changed (though would take ages)

2. Fancy the Lib Dems supporting railways, never thought I'd see the day

The goverment will not do anything about it. :-x

Since when has any goverment looked after the people ? Did they cap the gas and electric and the petrol price hikes???? NO ! :-x

They do not care about rail fares going up because some of them are getting back handers.

Beeching smashed the railways in 1963 and rail workers thought and so did alot of people, belive the labour party when harold wilson said, we promise to do a U-turn on the beeching report etc and the public,in 1964 sadly like todays public, belived all they read in the newspapers and voted them in and did naff all about it and carried on with it ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Castle if you belive this shower of sh*t called new labour, you are going to be sadly disappointed !

If SWT put their fares by 30 or 40%, the goverment will not do anything about it.:-x

lib dems???? lmfao they were last in power after the first world war !!!!:razz:
they are crap lib dems

 

[devon_metro]

I think these prie rises are disgusting, although I guess its down to the government CHARGING SWT to provide a service for them. :roll:

 

[thefab444]

lib dems???? lmfao they were last in power after the first world war !!!!:razz:
they are crap lib dems

Let me guess... you're UKIP. Or BNP.

 

[Mojo]

Could be, or he just doesn't want to see the general rot of Public Transport which increases under Liberal Democrat run councils.

 

[KODIAK BEAR]

Let me guess... you're UKIP. Or BNP.

Ummm, where did you get your info from???

I dont vote and i hate all them all as they are all the same !!!

Dont tell me, your a Sun/mirror reader arent you????

 

[Nick W]

Since when has any goverment looked after the people ? Did they cap the gas and electric and the petrol price hikes???? NO ! :-x

Petrol tax didn't go up as much as it should have due to the greater than predicted rise in oil costs...

They do not care about rail fares going up because some of them are getting back handers.

The government is commited to reducing overcrowding so would be in favour of more restrictions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Castle if you belive this shower of sh*t called new labour, you are going to be sadly disappointed !

If SWT put their fares by 30 or 40%, the goverment will not do anything about it.:-x

lib dems???? lmfao they were last in power after the first world war !!!!:razz:
they are crap lib dems

At least they have some sense.

lib dems???? lmfao they were last in power after the first world war !!!!:razz:
they are crap lib dems

Longer history than labour then.

Then again it was the liberal leader david lloyd george who was against nationalising transport in London because it was communist while many European cities had nationalised there. Paris's metro was a state project from the start.

 

[Darandio]

Just a point to add even though I don't normally follow these types of things.

Since Lib/Dem have had a say in transport in my constituency, they helped implement (along with a lot of other constituencies, I know) the free travel for pensioners then sat and watched gleefully as 50%+ of bus services went down the swanny. Lucky if you can catch a bus now.

 

[Tom]

Whereas the Lib Dems down in Bournemouth I'd say increased and improved the service on our local bus network after selling it off...

 

[Mojo]

Since Lib/Dem have had a say in transport in my constituency, they helped implement (along with a lot of other constituencies, I know) the free travel for pensioners then sat and watched gleefully as 50%+ of bus services went down the swanny. Lucky if you can catch a bus now.

Actually, the Treasuary provided the funding and told all councils with a responsibility for transport they have to provide free off-peak bus travel.

I don't know what you mean by 'in my constituency,' do you mean your Local Authority, as your MP has nothing to do with what goes on locally in those respects.

What's happenning with regards to concessionary travel is basically being repeated all over the UK. Yes, in some areas passenger numbers are up, so companies have increased services or provided larger vehicles, but the income bus operators recieve is down. The average payment per journey is less than 40p, so bus operators, particularly the smaller independant ones are having to increase prices to those who still pay, and concessionary fares for those who arguably need free or reduced price travel the most, such as students are seeing such schemes scrapped and have to pay the full fare.

The Lib Dems have been an absolute disaster in Bristol, particularly when it comes to transport, and I'm in a good mood now as it's just been revealed that the Lib Dem Lord Mayor didn't get elected, and nor did the Lib Dem council leader.

 

[WessexWarrior]

For the average bloke, this is disgraceful.

I'm starting to wish SWT hadn't won the franchise now.

 

[Nick W]

beeching did smash the railways, just as most branch lines were starting to prosper with DMU's the axe had already been swung.

Yes the 50% of lines that contained 5% of all passenger traffic.

Freight traffic had sadly also gone

Naturally I'm against the selling of land on the routes, but that doesn't feature in anything Beeching wrote.

 

[yorkie]

Note: I have split the posts that referred to the Beeching cuts to a new topic, which can be found here. Ta.