Price Rises Are Unwelcomed Start to the New Year

I have had a number of complaints about the dire service from London Midland operating the Redditch train service.  For months now services have been cancelled without warning, leaving passengers stranded.

Despite assurances from the Department for Transport, some trains have still not been operating over the past week.

I was therefore shocked to learn this morning that London Midland have raised fares this year on a route where they are performing so poorly and recently had to give tickets away.

This year passengers will have to pay the average price hike of 4.2% on the 'anytime single' and a whopping 6.2% for the 'anytime return'.  This hits people who have no choice but to travel at peak times for work or to study.

I question how the Government can claim they have intervened by capping price hikes to around 4% but in Redditch, passengers will be subject to greater increases for their train travel than other parts of the country.

Nationally we have more people using the railways, which is essential to get people out of their cars and doing their bit for the environment.  Passengers must contribute to the cost of the railiways, however, these rises should not be higher for passengers who already have a sub standard service.  The unreliable service on this route is already putting people off using the train, a 6.2% increase in the fare adds insult to injury.

I will be doing everyting I can to defend Redditch train passengers who start the New Year not only getting a rough ride but too often they cannot get a ride at all!