Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the first day that most commuters are hit by latest Government rail fare rises, said:

“With the rail network back to a full number of commuters, as many workers who took last Friday off head back to work it’s a case of back to work and back to the cost-of-living crisis for commuters hit by rail fare hikes.

“Thousands of passengers suffered chaotic scenes on the rail network over the Christmas period thanks to the incompetence of David Cameron’s Ministers. Now commuters going back to work will see once again how this out-of-touch Government has failed to stand up for working people.

“Since 2010, David Cameron has allowed the train companies to hit passengers with massive fare rises of over 20 per cent , with some season tickets now more than 30 per cent more than they were four and a half years ago. The Government has allowed rail fares to rise three times faster than wages.

“Labour would deliver a better deal for passengers and taxpayers by simplifying the ticketing system, enforcing a strict cap on fares on every route, giving passengers a voice in how the railways are run, and stopping passengers getting fleeced at ticket machines by making it a legal right to be sold the cheapest available ticket for a journey.”