On the day that the ATOC announced a 6% increase in the cost of regulated fares for January 2008, Bath MP Don Foster has joined calls demanding a freeze on rail fares and called for the planned rail fares increases for January to be abandoned. Liberal Democrats are calling for a 1 year freeze on rail fares to help people through the current economic crisis.  This will be paid for by cutting the budget for major road widening schemes. 

Don said that people, especially commuters, travelling from Bath to Paddington are already paying one of the highest prices per mile in the world.  With food and heating bills rising, another 6% on rail fares is not going to be a welcome late Christmas present.  Freezing fares would give a huge boost to many hard-pressed families. The cost of rail fares has risen above inflation by 6% since this Government came to power.  The Government has repeatedly frozen fuel duty for motorists in the light of external circumstances, despite the fact that under Labour the cost of motoring has actually fallen in real terms by 10%. 

It’s about time ministers showed the same consideration to train passengers as they have shown to motorists.