from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 23rd June
AN MP wants changes to railway ticket prices in the Colne Valley.
Passengers travelling the seven miles between Marsden and Greenfield must pay £5.40 for a single.
But the journey of 27 miles in the other direction to Leeds costs just £5.
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney asked Leader of the House Sir George Young for a debate on the issue this week.
He said:
“I would like a debate on anomalies in the rail fares pricing system.
“Constituents in Marsden and Slaithwaite in my patch are constantly baffled that it costs three times as much to travel just one stop in a direction that goes across different passenger transport executives as it does to go 20 miles in the other direction to Leeds.”
Sir George replied:
“I understand the perplexity of my Honourable Friend’s constituents.
“There is a consultation on ticketing that ends towards the end of the month.
“I encourage him and his constituents to make representations to that review of ticketing policy.
“There is a separate consultation exercise on devolving more autonomy to local organisations to resolve issues such as ticketing for local journeys.
“There are therefore two opportunities to influence the fares structure to which he has referred”.
Consultation on ticketing is at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-09/ Can be completed on-line. Closing date for replies is Thursday 28th June.