Responding to a BBC investigation which revealed that some commuters spend more than a tenth of their disposable income on annual rail season tickets, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Andy McDonald MP, said:

“This investigation shows the Tory Government is allowing the cost of using our railways to spiral out of control with fares having risen by a quarter since 2010, more than twice as fast as wages.”

“Commuters using ageing rolling stock for services which are always overcrowded and regularly delayed or cancelled will be particularly outraged that so much of their income continues to be spent on rail fares. Promised progress on part-time season tickets, flexible ticketing, new trains and improvement works has been pitiful whilst the cost of rail prices poorer passengers off our railways and holds commuters to ransom.”

“If the Government really wants to make rail travel more affordable, they should stop fares revenue and public subsidy that could be used to keep fares down from being siphoned off in dividends and profits by private and foreign state owned rail companies. We in the Labour Party are clear that bringing rail back into public ownership is the key to cheaper rail fares for all passengers.”