London rail fares two to three times as expensive as other European cities
RMT: APRIL 28 2005
SEASON TICKETS and travel cards in other European conurbations cost a fraction of those in London and the South East, a new RMT study reveals.
As the RMT Rail Against Privatisation march reaches the southeast, the study shows that in the Netherlands and Germany, commuters can buy an annual go-anywhere ticket for £1,382.68 and £2,046.90 respectively ? compared with cost of a season into London from Milton Keynes, at £3,284, Huntingdon at £3,432, or Brighton, at £2,952
London travelcards also compare unfavourably with European neighbours, with the cost in London, for travel in an approximate 15-mile radius from the centre, at £1,580, compared to Madrid (40-mile radius) at £510, Berlin (40-mile radius) at £829 and Paris (20-mile radius) at £950
"The privateers are taking out a billion pounds a year from the railways and £2 million a week from the Tube - is it any wonder that commuters are paying through the nose for their season tickets?" RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"Commuters in European countries where the railways remain in public hands pay a fraction of season ticket costs here.
"The time has come to draw the line under privatisation and bring our rail and Tube back into the public sector where they belong," Bob Crow said.
The Rail Against Privatisation march reaches London on Saturday April 30 - assemble 12:00 at Whitehall Place for a march to Camden Town Hall, Bidborough Street for a rally at 15:00 with RMT general secretary Bob Crow, Tony Benn, John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka and CWU general secretary Billy Hayes.