Yorkshire rail passengers face squeeze from subsidy cuts

Patrick McLoughlin has ruled out proposals - first revealed by The Yorkshire Post - to introduce new parking charges at 18 stations across the region.

But with the Government determined to cut the subsidy it pays Northern Rail to run local services, concerns are growing that the company will instead hike the cost of tickets to raise revenues.

It is understood a range of fare rises are among the alternative options that have been presented to Ministers.

James Lewis, chairman of West Yorkshire transport body Metro, raised concerns about the parking plan last month and welcomed Mr McLoughlin’s decision.

But he added: “Passengers across West Yorkshire have seen fares rise but little in the way of investment and new trains meaning they are still travelling on crowded and out-dated trains with, as we saw last week, little prospect of much-needed new ones in the foreseeable future.

“We appreciate there is a need for the Department for Transport to find efficiencies in the franchise, but this shouldn’t be done by imposing measures that penalise local rail users in the short-term.

“I will be seeking clarification of any intentions the Department for Transport has to raise fares.”

Councillors in the region want any move to raise fares or introduce other charges to be part of a wider discussion over investment in improved rail services.

It emerged last week that nine trains currently used for busy transpennine services will be transferred to Chiltern Railways next year.

Whitehall officials are currently negotiating the terms of a two-year extension to Northern Rail’s franchise to operate local services in Yorkshire.

The company has been asked to put forward ideas for ways of reducing the amount of subsidy it will need from the Government and new parking charges were among the suggestions.

However, there were concerns that such a move would force councils to introduce and police costly new parking permit schemes around stations to stop passengers using suburban street to dodge the charges.

Mr McLoughlin said he had shelved the parking charges idea after being pressed on the issue by Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew. Mr Andrew said he was delighted at the announcement.

The details of the new deal with Northern Rail are expected to be announced within days.

A Department for Transport spokesman said all train companies have the freedom to increase unregulated fares, which are around half of all fares, and it would not comment on the commercially sensitive discussions until they are completed.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said the company had put forward proposals at the Government’s request on cutting costs and improving facilities.