Response to rail fares rise

30 November 2018

Responding to the 3.1% rise in regulated rail fares, Cllr Judith Blake, who leads on transport for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and is leader of Leeds City Council, said:

"Many passengers will be dismayed given the misery and despair the failing rail service has inflicted on the lives of people across the North of England over recent months. Passengers are entitled to wonder what they are paying for given the calamitous introduction of timetable changes, undelivered service improvements and the appalling levels of performance they suffer day in day out.

"In parallel with a determined effort on the part of operators to improve reliability and punctuality we need the Government to demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the underlying weakness of the North rail network including the upgrade of the trans-Pennine route."

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the Combined Authority�s Transport Committee, said:

"How can passengers be expected to stomach a 3.1% rise at a time when we estimate up to 200 people per day in our region are being left on platforms because of train overcrowding and when punctuality continues to suffer, six months on from the summer timetable change?

"We will continue to press the operators, Network Rail and the Government to deliver the rail service passengers deserve and which is central to our inclusive growth ambitions."