Blame greedy rail unions for inf lation-busting fare increases, says Grayling
MILITANT rail unions are to blame for soaring fare rises, Chris Grayling said yesterday.
Amid widespread anger at the inflation-busting increase imposed yesterday, the Transport Secretary said responsibility lay with the RMT, Aslef and other unions.
He said: “The reality is the fare increases are higher than they should be because the unions demand – with threats of national strikes if they don’t get them – higher pay rises than anybody else.
“Typical pay rises are more than three per cent and that’s what drives the increases.”
Millions of commuters returned to work after the Christmas break to find ticket prices rose by an average of 3.1 per cent, with many season tickets up by more than £100.
The largest annual fare increase since 2013 follows a year of timetable chaos, strike disruption, overcrowding and the worst punctuality for 13 years.
Industry costs have been forced up by inflation-busting pay rises after a string of crippling disputes.
Disgrace
In 2017, drivers union Aslef had a massive £14,000 pay rise following 18 months of disruption on Southern Rail, where they can earn up to £62,000 a year for a four-day week.
And the RMT secured a two-year pay agreement for 25,000 Network Rail staff to protect them from future inflation and compulsory redundancies and raise their London allowances by 29 per cent.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday branded this week’s fare increase “a disgrace”, saying the rail network should work in the interests of everybody, not just for “the profits of the few”.
But he blamed the Government for the price hikes, prompting Mr Grayling to highlight the close links between the rail unions and Labour.
“These are the same unions that fund that Labour Party,” Mr Grayling said.
Commuters yesterday expressed fury at the fare rises.
Natalie Campbell, 23, from Tring, Herts, said at London Bridge station: “Considering I’m not on a great salary, the fare rise is annoying.
“What’s worse is the trains aren’t reliable – my train was cancelled this morning – and it’s also a struggle to get a seat most times.
“I don’t want fancier trains, I just want to get to work on time.” Bruce
Williamson, of campaign group Railfuture, said: “After a terrible year of timetable chaos, passengers are being rewarded with yet another kick in the wallet.”
Fewer than half – 45 per cent – of passengers are satisfied with the value for money of tickets, a survey by watchdog Transport Focus said.
New season ticket rises include
£148 from Brighton to London (£4,696 to £4,844), £130 for Gloucester to Birmingham (£4,108 to £4,238), and £100 for Manchester to Liverpool (£3,152 to £3,252).
The annual cost to London from Prime Minister Theresa May’s Maidenhead, Berks, constituency is up by £96, from £3,092 to £3,188.
Rail Delivery Group regional
director Robert Nisbet said: “No one wants to pay more money for their fares, we appreciate that, but they [the rises] pay for the day-to-day running of the whole railway.
“What we’re going to see in 2019 is the start of an unprecedented level of investment, the biggest wave of investment since the Victorian era.
“What we’re saying to passengers
in 2019 is, soon you’re going to be able to see, touch and feel that investment and we hope it will deliver a much better service.”
Trains across the country will be stripped and ungraded, with more seats, better power outlets and increased wi-fi access, he added.