Local Labour campaigners fume as rail fares rise

Local MEP Peter Skinner has slammed the Tory-led government following the increase in rail fares that came in to force this week.

Thousands of commuters in Brighton and Hove have been hit by the controversial 6% increase in rail prices that have been introduced at a time when most people’s budget is severely strained.

Peter Skinner, who represents the South East in Europe, says commuters are getting a ‘rotten deal’ at the hands of the Government, while local commuter and former Labour council candidate Dan Chapman has described the price-hike as a ‘rip-off’.

Chapman said: “It’s a rip-off. The service isn’t great and you’re just expected to pay up. David Cameron and George Osborne have approved these increases which mean even more of my salary goes on transport. I feel let down – there are thousands of commuters in Brighton and Hove and they should be doing more to help us out.”

Skinner added: “Commuters are getting a rotten deal. Today many have seen their train fares go up by hundreds of pounds just as they are facing the squeeze from wage freezes, a VAT rise and cuts to tax credits and child benefit.

“In opposition the Tories said that an increase in rail fares of this amount would price people off the railways and the Liberal Democrats pledged to cut fares. Now they’ve gone back on their promises and it’s rail users who are paying the price.

“We have the highest fares in Europe and the biggest price hikes. The Tory-led Government is piling on the misery and using commuters will have to dig deep to plug the gaps created by their cuts. I want the Government to give commuters a break and back down over the massive hikes planned for 2013.”

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Tags: Dan Chapman, Peter Skinner, Transport