Rail fares are on course to soar by about a
quarter over the next four years
Will rise by up to 5.6% next year - total
increase of 24% since last election
Labour calling for reform of 'broken market'
including capping of fare rises
Shadow Transport Secretary: 'Our rail fares
are among highest in Europe'
Rail fares are on course to soar by a
quarter over the next four years unless funding rules are torn up, Labour will
warn today.
Official figures released this morning
are expected to show that rail fares will rise by up to 5.6 per cent next year.
The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT)
said this would take the total increase to 24.7 per cent since the last
election.
And Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh will warn that fares will rise by a further 24 per cent by 2018 unless existing rules are changed.
Although annual rail fare increases are
implemented in January they are based on Retail Price Index figures from the
previous July. Under current rules, regulated train fares will rise by RPI plus
1 per cent.
