Higher rail fares on track as prices soar over five years
TRAIN ticket prices have grown seven times faster than wages over the past five years, according to shocking new figures. The extra burden on household finances was revealed as protests at rip-off rail fares were staged across Britain. Labour highlighted the bad deal as thousands of Scots return to work after the New Year holidays, with many facing an even more expensive commute. Pay increased by 1.8 per cent between January 2013 and the start of this year, according to independent Holyrood researchers.
However, at the same time, regulated fares increased by 12.7 per cent.
Colin Smyth, Scottish Labour’s economy spokesman, said the SNP Government must take ScotRail back into public ownership.
He warned: “The SNP seem to think passengers in Scotland are getting a fair deal – they’re not.
“Passengers in this country already pay some of the highest fares in western Europe and now ticket prices are going up again.
“Rail fares have increased faster than wages over the last five years and that is unacceptable, particularly given the ongoing delays, cancellations and overcrowding rail users experience with ScotRail.”
It was revealed yesterday that average ticket prices across the UK have increased by 3.4 per cent.
The increase was 3.2 per cent on ScotRail. Off-peak tickets on ScotRail will increase by 2.6 per cent.
Protests at rail fare costs are due to be held at peak times today in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dunbar, North Berwick and major stations in Fife, including Kirkcaldy.
In England, protests were staged outside about 40 stations yesterday.