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19/05/2006
MPs attack 'exorbitant' rail fares
Passengers are being driven away from using the railways because of the "exorbitant" fares charged by train operators.
A report by the Commons Transport Committee accused the train operators of bringing the whole industry into disrepute because of their "single-minded" pursuit of profits.
Passengers were being "held to ransom", the cross-party committee said, by the companies which had a "see how much we can get away with" approach with customers.
Around £87 million of taxpayers money is poured into the rail network each week and the committee criticised the government for failing to ensure value for money.
Ministers needed to bring in effective regulation if they were to encourage a significant shift from road to rail - an essential move if greenhouse gas emissions were to be reduced - thet report said.
"The privatised industry has had more than a decade to get fares and ticketing right, and it has proven incapable of doing so," the report stated. "Neither passengers nor taxpayers are getting value for their money. The situation is deeply unacceptable."
Sharp rises in fares for open tickets bought on the day of travel were also criticised by the committee which said they were "absurdly high".
The committee said that "reasonably priced" open, walk-on fares had to be re-instated if the railways were to stand any chance of competing with road travel.
(KMcA/CD)
A report by the Commons Transport Committee accused the train operators of bringing the whole industry into disrepute because of their "single-minded" pursuit of profits.
Passengers were being "held to ransom", the cross-party committee said, by the companies which had a "see how much we can get away with" approach with customers.
Around £87 million of taxpayers money is poured into the rail network each week and the committee criticised the government for failing to ensure value for money.
Ministers needed to bring in effective regulation if they were to encourage a significant shift from road to rail - an essential move if greenhouse gas emissions were to be reduced - thet report said.
"The privatised industry has had more than a decade to get fares and ticketing right, and it has proven incapable of doing so," the report stated. "Neither passengers nor taxpayers are getting value for their money. The situation is deeply unacceptable."
Sharp rises in fares for open tickets bought on the day of travel were also criticised by the committee which said they were "absurdly high".
The committee said that "reasonably priced" open, walk-on fares had to be re-instated if the railways were to stand any chance of competing with road travel.
(KMcA/CD)
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