Home London NewsUn-fare! Rail fares increase at double the speed of wages

Un-fare! Rail fares increase at double the speed of wages

by
16th Aug 16 9:11 am

Study by unions finds

Rail fares have increased by 25 per cent in the past six years while average weekly earnings have grown only by 12 per cent.

A study by Trade Union Congress has found that dividends paid to shareholders of private train companies have risen by 21% in the last year to ยฃ222m.

TUC general secretary Frances Oโ€™Grady said: โ€œFares go up while trains remain overcrowded, stations are unstaffed, and rail companies cut the guards who ensure journeys run smoothly and safely.

โ€œItโ€™s time for rail services to be publicly owned, saving money for passengers and taxpayers alike.โ€

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said private profit was being placed above rail safety.

โ€œOur rail fares are already the highest in Europe and todayโ€™s increases will only make that record worse,โ€ he added.

โ€œItโ€™s time that ministers gave rail passengers a break and actually froze fares in real terms.โ€

โ€œWages are growing faster than train ticket prices thanks to action by the government and our commitment to cap regulated rail fares in line with inflation will save annual season ticket holders ยฃ425 on average in the five years to 2020,โ€ said Rail Minister Paul Maynard.

Leave a Comment

CLOSE AD

Sign up to our daily news alerts

[ms-form id=1]