Our rail travellers face highest fares in Europe

12.00.00am GMT Thu 10th Mar 2005

Travellers on Thameslink faced a 4% fare hike this year

The above inflation fare increases for Bedford's rail services this year come at the same time as new figures show that Britain's railways are the most expensive in Europe. This makes this year's inflation-busting rail fares look even more unfair, says Bedford & Kempston Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson Michael Headley .

Michael Headley said: "Rail passengers travelling with Thameslink, Midland Mainline and Silverlink Rail Companies faced increases of around 4% this year. Our rail travellers are being forced to pay today, for a promise of improvements tomorrow. Rail fares have been held down in the past because of poor service. Now commuters are going to have to pay for years of under-investment, with no guarantees of a better service."

"Britain's railways are already the most expensive in Europe, with research by the Liberal Democrats revealing that £10 will only take passengers 25 miles on the UK railway system."

"A tenner goes further on most European railways. You can travel more than seven times as far in Italy, and over four times as far in Portugal for the same money. Britain's railways come 19th in the league table, behind Germany, France, Ireland and most other European countries. Yet with this year's fare rises the gap looks like it will widen further still."

"The question that the Government must answer is, how many years will we see inflation-busting fare rises before our railways are safe, reliable and affordable?"