The Government must drop its planned increases in rail fares to protect the livelihoods of Brighton and Hove commuters and safeguard the local economy, said Brighton Pavilion’s MP today.

The MP has written to Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Transport, asking for an urgent meeting to highlight the impact of the fare increases on people in the city.

Caroline Lucas said:

“It is totally unacceptable that fares are to rise in January by up to 6.2% – 3% above inflation – with some rising by up to 11%.

“With people already under massive financial pressure and the economy flailing, I am calling on the Government to do the right thing and urgently implement a U-turn on its disastrous policy of rail fare increases.

“Worried Brighton residents working in London repeatedly tell me that they are already suffering from below average earnings and they simply can't afford the proposed increases.

“These increases represent a totally unacceptable tax on commuters, given that the percentage increase above the 1% written into franchise agreements flows directly into the Treasury.”

The Green MP is also calling for the railways to be returned to public ownership.

She said:

“A comprehensive report published in June, Rebuilding Rail by Transport for Quality of Life, makes a very convincing case for renationalisation – rightly pointing out that our privatised railway is failing society, the economy and the environment, whilst draining taxpayers’ money into the pockets of private shareholders.

“It also points out that the fragmentation caused by our privatised system results in an estimated annual loss of £1.2bn of taxpayers' money – that amount could have allowed fares to be around 18% lower than they are today.

“Unless it returns to public ownership, Britain will struggle on with a disjointed, complex and often dysfunctional railway system that often makes commuting a miserable experience and that puts us to shame internationally.”

ENDS