Trains chief on hide away day
Minister in Qatar as ticket rises hit
CHRIS Grayling has been accused of running scared of rail passengers as the biggest fare rise in five years hit.
The Transport Secretary was 4,000 miles away in the sunny Gulf state of Qatar as commuters faced inflationbusting increases of 3.4% and 3.6% for season tickets.
Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the timing of the two-day official visit “smacks of a man running scared.”
RMT general secretary Mick Cash, said: “Chris Grayling knew the fares story would top the news, but instead of being available to defend his government’s great rail rip-off he booked himself a winter escape.”
Many season tickets rose by more than £100, including from Theresa May’s constituency of Maidenhead to London by £104 and Liverpool to Manchester by £108. Rail travellers face further misery should last-ditch talks today fail to avoid a series of imminent strikes on Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia, Western Railway and Arriva Rail North. Yesterday Mr Grayling, speaking from Qatar, denied leaving the UK to dodge a row over fare rises which were “higher than I would wish.” He said he had not shirked the issue and was trying to win business for Britain. He said the Government was putting significant sums into rail investment. He pinpointed improving London Bridge station and building Crossrail, which also mainly serves London.
Labour said the rises pose a “real danger” of forcing more people into commuting by car as the number of season tickets sold was reducing for the first time in many years.