Off track

IN the 1970s and 1980s, rail journeys produced an image of a weary, over-charged and often late traveller trudging through the station. Punctuality improved under Labour but it came at an immense price for passengers and taxpayers who had to cough up more and more for fares, subsidies and the bail-out of the East Coast main line. So thecoalition Government will deserve many fine accolades if it can solve the problems which have stumped so many of its predecessors.

Allowing train companies to raise fares by up to 10 per cent is clearly not the right start. If, as the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) suggests, this is what Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, does, then it would mean hitting Britons again, just as they are trying to survive in a depressed economy and in the midst of swingeing public spending cuts.

There would be a basic sense of unfairness in asking passengers to pay more when there are many who need to take the train to work and who cannot afford to run a car when the price of fuel is painfully high.

It would also be contradictory if a Government which wants us to live greener lifestyles forced more people onto the road. Taxpayers and travellers should not be left to take the strain.