THURROCK Labour’s candidate for the next General Election, Polly Billington has continued to keep up the pressure on C2C.
Speaking from the stage at the Labour conference, Ms Billington said:
"20,000 people commute from Thurrock every day – mostly to London. Many are up and out before dawn and back after dark, working hard to get by.
Their experience of rail travel is considerably better than a generation ago.
My community was served by what was known as the “Misery Line”.
But it has improved: investment in new rolling stock, in increased punctuality and better services all round.
So you might think this might be the result of privatisation. Not so. The benefits we experience on our line we pay for.
"And we actually pay twice. First as taxpayers, as government money is handed over to the companies. Then they are even rewarded for not making a profit with further bungs. But also we pay as commuters.
The franchising fiasco is a case for public ownership.
If we are paying for it, we should own it."
An annual season ticket to London costs over £3000 and day returns are often out of the reach of those seeking work.
She said "These are the prices charged by a company that won’t even pay its cleaners a Living Wage.
Transport poverty blights communities like mine.
Last year Ed you said Labour would Freeze that Bill. This year, please Freeze that Fare."
After the speech, Polly explained why this is such an important issue to people in Thurrock. "Most people travelling on C2C don’t have a choice so the idea of a market for rail travel is silly.
"We are paying through the nose and others are making a profit. Labour will cap fares, which is definitely a step in the right direction and will help people struggling with family finances.
"I hope we can gather the support for a Fare Freeze from a future Labour government. We aren’t the only community who want a better deal from the railways."
