[from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14th August 2013]<\/p>\n
A rail passengers\u2019 champion has branded the latest train fare hike \u201can increase too far\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Government announced yesterday that train fares would rise by an average 4.1% from January.<\/p>\n
The increase sees another above-inflation rise, meaning fares have risen by 40% since 2008.<\/p>\n
Peter Marshall, chairman of the Huddersfield-Sheffield-Penistone Rail Users\u2019 Association, said passengers had had enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a fare increase too far,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the roads as they are people who work in Leeds, Sheffield or Manchester have no choice but to use the train.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor that reason rail passengers are almost sitting ducks, an easy target.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Since 2008 the Government has eased the burden of train fare subsidies on the taxpayer.<\/p>\n
Mr Marshall said previously taxpayers paid about 60% towards the cost of fares but that figure had now dropped to a third.<\/p>\n
\u201cPassengers are now paying two-thirds and this is not encouraging people to come off the roads and use public transport,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Government\u2019s fares rise criteria was retail price index (RPI) plus 1% and Mr Marshall said it was time to drop the extra 1%.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just unfair on passengers,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Mr Marshall said the rises would be easier to stomach if passengers saw improved services and better trains.<\/p>\n
He said electrification was promised on the Huddersfield Line but the \u2018new\u2019 trains were likely to be 30-year-old stock from London.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere in the North we are very much the poor relation,\u201d he added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In previous years the annual fares increase has included an additional 3% to pay for new trains but a six-year deal has come to an end.<\/p>\n
Clr James Lewis, chairman of Metro, West Yorkshire\u2019s Passenger Transport Authority, said passenger numbers in the county were at \u201crecord levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged the Government to \u201cseize the baton\u201d and work with Metro to grow capacity and invest in the network.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Campaign for Better Transport published research showing that rail fares were increasing nearly twice as fast as incomes, outstripping wage rises by almost 14% since 2007. Chief executive Stephen Joseph said:<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to work is now the biggest single monthly outgoing for many commuters, more than food, more than housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the surest ways of stamping on any green shoots of recovery is to price people off the trains and out of the jobs market.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the sake of the economy, we should end above-inflation fare increases now and start planning for fare reductions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
http:\/\/www.examiner.co.uk\/news\/west-yorkshire-news\/huddersfield-rail-expert-peter-marshall-5716395<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14th August 2013] A rail passengers\u2019 champion has branded the latest train fare hike \u201can increase too far\u201d. The Government announced yesterday that train fares would rise by an average 4.1% from January. The increase … Continue reading