Railway fares spiral into the New Year - Stunell

12.00.00am GMT Tue 16th Dec 2003

Local MP Andrew Stunell is quizzing the government on above inflation rail rises in the New Year. Train operators such as First North West and Arriva North West are set to bump up their fares by up to 5%; hitting commuters from his Hazel Grove constituency.

Andrew Stunell said:

"The government keep promising improvements in our railways, but all we seem to get in return for inflation-busting fare rises is poor service, poor management with no guarantee of a better service in the future."

New research by the Liberal Democrats reveals that Britain's railways are already the most expensive in Europe.

Andrew Stunell added, "A £10 fare will take you 47 miles in the UK but it will take passengers in Italy over 180 miles and passengers in the Czech Republic a wapping 400 miles - 7 times the distance!

"With these fare rises the gap simply looks like it will widen further still. The question that the Government and First North West must answer is how many years will we see inflation-busting fare rises before our railways are safe, reliable and affordable?"

ENDS