Rail fare hike “insult”

Greedy rail bosses have increased fares by 3.1 per cent today, despite having paid out more than ÂŁ1bn in dividends to shareholders over the last six years.

The TUC revealed the shock findings as protests were held at train stations across the country against sky high ticket prices and unreliable services.

Unite described the 3.1 per cent increases as an “insult” and called for train services to be taken out the hands of privatised firms and into public ownership.

TUC analysis shows that UK commuters spend up to five times more on season tickets than communters in European countries.

Daily passengers travelling from Chelmsford to London will have to fork out £393 a month for a season ticket this year – the equivalent of 13 per cent of an average person’s salary.

By contrast, comparable commutes would cost a mere 2 per cent of the average salary in France, 3 per cent in Ireland and 4 per cent in Germany and Belgium.

Wages are set to grow by only 2.5 per cent in 2019, while season tickets will go up by 3.1 per cent.

It will be the ninth time in the last ten years that rail fares have risen by more than wages.

Hapless transport secretary

Unite national officer for the rail industry Harish Patel said, “Given last year’s rail timetable chaos, presided over by the hapless transport secretary Chris Grayling, there should be no rail fare increases for hard-pressed travellers in 2019 – fares should have been frozen. The 3.1 per cent rise is an insult.

“As usual, the real ‘winners’ are the greedy shareholders of the privatised rail companies that have gobbled up more than £1bn in ill-gotten dividends in the last six years – money that could have gone towards freezing fares and boosting rail investment.

“Every day the case for the public ownership of the rail industry grows stronger, especially after the woeful performance of 2018.”

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady also slammed the poor management of the UK’s rail services by private companies.

O’Grady said, “The most reliable thing about our railways is the cash that goes to private shareholders each year. But with the most expensive fares in Europe, that can’t be right. It’s rewarding failure and taking money away that should be invested in better services.

“It’s time to take the railways back into public hands. Every penny from every fare should go back into the railways. The number one priority should be running a world class railway service, not private profit.”