Labour promises fares cap – as train prices soar under Tories

Neil Guild
“This Tory and Liberal Democrat government has failed to stand up for working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. ” Neil Guild

Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Taunton Deane has condemned fare rises that will add hundreds of pounds a year to people’s travel costs. Neil Guild says Labour would reverse discredited Tory policies that are pushing rail travel out of people’s reach.

Rail fares are due to rise by well above the inflation rate of 3.5% in January 2015, with some fares rising by up to 5.5%, adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of season tickets. For people in Taunton this means that a season ticket to Bristol has increased by £580 since 2010. The same ticket is predicted to rise by a further £676 to £4,100 by 2018, according to figures from the House of Commons Library.

Neil Guild said:

“As a town Taunton relies heavily on its transport links and strategic location within the South West region. It has recently been announced that £4.8 million will be spent on Taunton railway station over the next two years as part of the Local Growth Fund. But the fare hike announced today, along with future predicted rise, jeopardises the value of that investment and Taunton’s attractiveness as a location for future business investment.

“What should be a reliable, sustainable alternative to road travel becomes ever further out of reach for many people. Families or businesses looking to relocate to Taunton will inevitably be discouraged from doing so due to the increasing cost of transport.

Inflation-Busting Fare Rises

Rail Rip off“This Tory and Liberal Democrat government has failed to stand up for working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. They have allowed train companies to sting passengers with inflation-busting fare rises of over 20 per cent since 2010

“We can’t go on like this. The choice facing passengers is between fares rising another 24 per cent by 2018 under the Tories, or a Labour Government which will cap annual fares on every route and enact the biggest railway reforms since the Tories’ botched privatisation, delivering a better deal for passengers and taxpayers.”

Neil Guild, Labour Party PPC for Taunton Deane – 0795 0700872

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
tim slattery
tim slattery
10 years ago

The Tory run Taunton Deane Borough Council have voted (August 19) to demolish Deane House and pursue their preferred option to move in with the Tory administration at County Hall in Taunton.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of Full Council after a similar proposal was rejected by Councillors in July.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, following the receipt of a motion made by at least 12 councillors, the matter was submitted for further consideration at the meeting held on 19 August.

The Council has been considering whether to move from The Deane House, off Station Road in Taunton, as the building, which is only 15 years old, has been neglected and not maintained.

The Lib Dems were opposed to that move and therefore the Tories had to rely on the support of the 3 Labour councillors, who voted with the Tories , much to the dismay of the councils employees union, UNISON.

The Lib Dems are considering their options regarding Standing Order 23, in which we have 6 months to form a motion to rescind that decision.

Find your ward using the SCC ward finder

Privacy Policy

To read our Privacy Policy and GDPR compliance statement click here.