Call halt to rail cuts penalising travellers say MPs

An Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by Labour MP John McDonnell is attracting cross-party support, amid fresh anger at the amount of investment made as fares “go through the roof.”

It warns the Government’s plans “will worsen passenger services through the loss of thousands of frontline workers from trains, stations, ticket offices, safety-critical infrastructure and operational roles”, and “will result in higher fares, cuts in services and more crowded trains”.

MPs who have signed the EDM have urged the Government to run the railway as a “public service” with “affordable fares and proper staffing levels”.

Research by the TUC said that while fare prices were rising, investment by train operating companies in the railway network has been halved over the past five years.

There has been an 80 per cent reduction in investment in stations, it was claimed.

TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “MPs from across the political spectrum are voicing the concerns of thousands of their constituents who feel ripped off by private train operators who inflict heavy fare rises while cutting staff on trains and stations and keeping investment in decent facilities on trains and stations to a minimum.

“These same companies are now being rewarded by the Government with longer franchises and more freedom to maximise profits while cutting staff and closing ticket offices, showing exactly where ministers’ priorities lie – not with the passenger but with the executives and shareholders of the train operating companies.”

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: “Our plans are to reduce the cost of running the railway by £3.5bn per annum by 2019.

“If we can do this, we can reduce the burden on taxpayers, and put an end to the era of above-inflation increases in average regulated fares.”