Five Oxfordshire MPs urging the Government to freeze rail fares
A season ticket between Oxford and London now costs just under £6,700
Five Oxfordshire MPs are urging the Government to freeze rail fares, calling recent rises a “slap in the face”.
It comes after rail tickets have risen above inflation by 4.6% - meaning a season ticket between Oxford and London now costs just under £6,700.
"Passengers are not paying for a service that fails to deliver"
The increase also follows ticket rises of 3.8% in 2022, 5.9% in 2023, and 4.9% in 2024.
Lib Dem MPs in Oxfordshire say people should not be paying more for a service that is “simply not delivering”.
In a joint statement, Calum Miller, Olly Glover, Charlie Maynard, Layla Moran and Freddie van Mierlo said: “Thousands of residents in Oxfordshire are already paying sky high fares to use the rail to commute for work or enjoy our county.
“Passengers across Oxfordshire are now being hammered again by rising ticket prices, whilst our railways are simply not delivering and are often overcrowded.
“Years of Conservative neglect and mismanagement have forced rail users to suffer repeated delays and regularly having to stand on long journeys.
“It’s a slap in the face for all those passengers who have had no choice but to suffer these delayed and uncomfortable journeys only for ticket prices to rise again this year.
“We must now freeze fares, so passengers are not paying for a service that fails to deliver.”
Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said: “I understand that passengers are frustrated rail fares keep rising despite unacceptable levels of delays and cancellations, which is why this Government made sure this was the lowest increase in three years, and below the growth in average earnings.
“We inherited a railway that was not fit for purpose, and I know it will take time for trust to be restored, with trains turning up on time, when and where they’re needed.
“My number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them and, through public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways, we’ll be putting passengers at the heart of everything we do, delivering the services they deserve and encouraging growth across the country delivering on our Plan for Change.”