David Cameron: I'll freeze rail fares if we win election

 
Freeze: David Cameron will announce the real-terms fare freeze today
Ramzy Alwakeel10 April 2015

Commuters could save hundreds of pounds thanks to a price freeze on train fares if the Tories win the general election, the Prime Minister will say today.

David Cameron is expected to say: “Because of the difficult decisions that we have taken to repair the economy, we have been able to hold down commuter fares for the past two years. If elected in May, we would freeze them in real terms for the next five."

Stephen Joseph, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, called the announcement "a step in the right direction".

"Rail passengers have suffered inflation-busting fare rises for most of the last 10 years, which have far outstripped wage growth," he said, "so any commitment to end real terms fare increases is welcome."

Prior to the government's two-year freeze, rail fares were allowed to rise by up to 1 per cent each year above inflation.

TSSA rail union leader Manuel Cortes said: "The Tories' belated conversion to inflation-only fares increases is welcome. Everyone recognises the sinner that repents, even at one minute to midnight.

"But we must remember it was their crazy decision to privatise our railways 20 years ago that has seen fares more than treble on the most popular routes since then - a staggering 246pc in peak fares between London and Manchester is but one example.

"Now after starting the inferno on fares, they want to claim credit for stopping it just ahead of the general election. I think the jury will still find them guilty for rip off rail fares on May 7."

The Prime Minister said extending the retail prices index (RPI) inflation cap on regulated ticket prices for another five years would save the average commuter hundreds of pounds.

Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said a real-terms freeze still meant fares would be too high.

"This latest stunt would still mean annual fare increases that would institutionalise the harsh reality that the British passenger pays the highest fares in Europe to travel on rammed out and unreliable trains," he said.

"The only solution is to end the rip off of rail privatisation that would allow us to free up the hundreds of millions of pounds drained off in profits to invest in services and cut fares."

Additional reporting by PA

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