Reduce the Costs of Rail Travel says Local MP

Winchester MP Mark Oaten is calling on the Government to review the current rail fares regulation with a view to bringing down rail costs for constituents and has further urged Winchester City Council to increase bike parking at stations.

Mark has signed Early Day Motion 1852 which calls on the Government to urgently review the current rail fare regulatory structure which has resulted in the UK having the highest train fares in Europe.

To make matters worse the Government is cutting its financial contribution to rail passing the extra costs down to the passenger which results in real term fare increases year on year.

Constituents regularly contact Mark regarding the price of rail travel which makes travelling by train simply unaffordable to many. With a large number of constituents who commute to London on a regular basis there is a real opportunity to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by ensuring train tickets are affordably priced.

Mark is also very keen that Winchester station facilities are improved to provide for more bicycle parking to encourage constituents to cycle to the station.  

Mark Oaten commented:

“We seem to talk about this all the time yet nothing is being done. Trains cost so much that they are just not the viable alternative to driving into London that they should be.

“Reducing train fares will encourage more people to take a train rather than drive, reducing our emissions and congestion. And at the same time it is well worth investing in more bike parking at the station – lets make it as easy and as cheap as possible to use public transport.

The full text of EDM 1852 is below:

REVIEW OF RAIL FARE REGULATION

13.07.2009

Betts, Clive

That this House notes that the UK has the highest train fares in Europe; further notes that the Government is cutting its financial contribution to rail and making passengers pay a greater share, and that this policy leads to fare increases on regulated and unregulated tickets in real terms every year, which will mean ticket price rises in real terms in 2010, even though there may be a nominal decrease in some tickets due to deflation; further notes that rail is a low carbon mode of transport; recognises that modal shift to public transport could achieve significant carbon reduction; and calls on the Government to review current rail fares regulation and policy, with a view to reducing fares to encourage more people to take the train instead of driving or flying.