REGULATED rail fares will rise by 3.5% from January next year, following the release of July’s inflation figures.
Under the formula, average fares in England are due to go up by July’s RPI measure of inflation, plus 1%.
RPI – the Retail Prices Index – was 2.5% last month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Polly Billington, Labour’s candidate to be the Thurrock MP said: "Thousands of commuters living in Thurrock will be horrified at the prospect of their season ticket going up in January by as much as 5.5%.
"That will add more than £120 a year onto the travel costs, just to get to work, when most people are struggling with the cost of living right now. This is on top of the fair rises of more than 20% since 2010.
"I’m afraid Thurrock’s Tory MP has done nothing to stand up for commuters, despite Labour’s call for a cap on fares. Instead the government has let the train companies rake in profit at the expense of passengers and the taxpayer.
"Labour will introduce proper robust fare caps and make it our legal right to easily find the cheapest fare. It is unacceptable our railways are 40% more expensive to run that those on the continent. Labour will get a better deal for taxpayers and fairer fares for commuters".
