Cost of Rail Fares

In an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Woking, Mr Will Forster, raised the deeply concerning issue of rising rail fares and their impact on his constituents. He highlighted that the cost of a season ticket from Woking to Waterloo has increased by £773 since 2019, now standing at an astonishing £4,516. Forster argued that these eye-watering fare rises are not only unfair but also counterproductive, as they make public transport an unaffordable luxury for many, risking debt to earn a living. Forster also addressed the issue of an increasingly unreliable rail service, with over 55,000 rush-hour trains either partially or fully cancelled last year, a 10% rise on the previous year. He shared the experiences of his constituents, such as Joanna from West Byfleet, who faced unsafe conditions at the local station's car park, and Katie, who struggled with the lack of fast trains from Woking to Clapham Junction during peak hours. In response, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Simon Lightwood, acknowledged the serious concerns about the cost of rail fares and the importance of ensuring that prices are kept at an affordable level for both passengers and taxpayers. Lightwood highlighted the Government's plans for reform, including the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, which could potentially save taxpayers up to £150 million every year in fees once all franchises are in public ownership. Lightwood also discussed the Government's efforts to simplify the fares system, such as the expansion of pay-as-you-go ticketing across the south-east and the trial of simpler fares on LNER services. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that passengers receive value for money and that the railway is affordable and accessible for all. Other Liberal Democrat MPs, such as Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage), Lee Dillon (Newbury), Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheam), Zöe Franklin (Guildford), and Victoria Collins (Harpenden and Berkhamsted), also shared the concerns of their constituents regarding the high cost of rail fares and the need for improved services and reliability. They urged the Government to take immediate action to freeze rail fares and address the broader issues facing the rail network. Overall, the debate highlighted the widespread frustration among commuters across the country regarding the rising cost of rail travel and the deteriorating quality of services, with the MPs calling for the Government to prioritize affordability, reliability, and value for money in the rail system.