Passengers have voiced their anger at the ongoing Southern Rail dispute, saying thousands were now at “breaking point”.
In a 50-question survey compiled by the pressure group Association of British Commuters, they complained of stress, lost jobs, exhaustion, strained personal relationships and financial losses.
One commuter who travels from Brighton to Vauxhall said: “Quite simply, it has ruined my life.
“The stress and exhaustion from the constant disruption and uncertainty has had a dramatically negative effect on my work, my health and my relationships.”
A passenger from Horley to Victoria: “I have lost two jobs and about to be put on disciplinary for time-keeping in my new job.”
One who travels between Merstham and Clapham reported: “Getting to work is proving near impossible most days of the week.”
The group said: “Thousands of people are now at breaking point.”
It came as a “commuter choir” sang out their anger at new rail fare increases to the tune of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy at King’s Cross this morning.
The amateur group sang lyrics including “standing in a toilet doorway, that’s no way to start the day” accompanied by a professional string quartet and conducted by trained composer Chris Garrard.
Mr Garrard, 29, from Forest Hill in south London, said: “We want to rally people to protest about these increases — if we can freeze fares in the Tube, why not in trains? I hope we have an impact.”
Choir member Jo Rossi, 38, said: “I am a part-time worker and we are unfairly penalised. It costs me £172 a week to travel in from Ashford.
“Companies are being positive with flexible working but train fares are unaffordable.”
Anna Tam, 33, is part of the Crystal Palace String Quartet accompanying the choir.
Ms Tam said: “We play all over Europe but are here on this freezing morning because it is essential we have an affordable transport system.
Cat Hobbs, director of independent commuter organisation We Own It, said: “I think it is getting clearer and clearer that privatisation is failing and fares are indicative of that.
“We have 40,000 angry commuters supporting us.
“All trains should be run as one publicly owned network, it is much more profitable as shown with East Coast between 2009 and 2014, and we need to take action urgently.”
Protests organised by the trade union-backed Action for Rail were held at railway stations across the UK today over rail fare increases.
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