Rail fares should be set by agency independent of government

 

Rail fares are due to increase by 2.6%, which is above inflation.*  The Liberal Democrats will vote at their conference in March to end Government control of rail fares.  In response to another rise in fares, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport, called for an end to Government setting rail fares and an immediate fare freeze: “It is appalling that yet again people are being hit by another grossly unfair Government approved hike in rail fares. "Enough is enough. The Chancellor’s budget should announce taking ticket prices out the hands of Government and give power to an independent agency with real teeth to give a fair deal to passengers.  This new agency should be told on day one their mission is to not only immediately freeze fares, but to also pave the way for a fairer and simpler system. “The Government keeps telling us to put up and shut up every year with inflation busting increases in ticket prices.  This should be the end of the line for Government control of fares. “We have been told for too long rail fares will be made simpler, but passengers too often get conned by a complicated system which is impossible to understand “I bet if you quizzed the Transport Secretary himself, you would not get a straight answer on what all the ticket names means."