RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the privateers and their shareholders were forcing commuters to pay the price of the recession.

“The train operating companies are effectively insulating themselves against an economic downturn while the government wants to reduce rail subsidy by 40 per cent between 2007 and 2014.

“This will only price people off the railway and force them back into their cars and does nothing to meet government targets to tackle climate change.

“This once again highlights the failure of rail privatisation and the need to take the entire network back into public ownership,” he said.

ends

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Rail bosses to raise fares 11 per cent because service is so good

Daily Mirror: 22/11/2008
By Mark Ellis, Transport Correspondent

Rail bosses are raising fares by up to 11 per cent because they think they're doing a good job.

The Association of Train Operating Companies reckons the rises - as much as double the rate of inflation - are justified as services are better.

It said the cash would help pay for £800million of railway investment.

But furious passengers and watchdogs yesterday called the rises a rip-off.

Atoc chief Michael Roberts boasted: "Performance in the first half of this year is the highest on record with over 90 per cent of trains on time. With better services, it contributed to the highest number of passengers for 60 years."

Travellers using CrossCountry - which runs trains across Britain - will have to fork out up to 11 per cent more from January on unregulated fares.

Southeastern tickets will increase an average of eight per cent on regulated fares, which include season tickets.

Rail union RMT accused train companies of forcing commuters to pay the price of the recession.

Chief Bob Crow said: "This will only price people off the railway and force them back into their cars."

Gerry Doherty, of transport union TSSA, added: "It makes a mockery of the Government's pledge to help hardworking families in the recession.

"If every other business is cutting prices, why should the rail companies be allowed to get away with daylight robbery?"

Atoc said companies were currently introducing new trains, refurbishing others and improving stations.