Northampton South MP Brian Binley has attacked the Government over the announcement that rail fares will be steeply increasing in the new year.
Writing on his blog, Mr Binley said that commuters across the country “have every right to feel hard done by,” following yesterday’s announcement that regulated rail fares will rise by 4.1 per cent in January.
Mr Binley said that with an annual season ticket now costing £6,100, a Northampton commuter could easily end up having to spend 30 per cent of their disposable income just on getting to work.
Mr Binley, who also chairs the Northampton Rail Users Group, said: “It sometimes seems that ministers and rail companies go out of their way to make life difficult for those who rely on the railway.”
The MP also argued that rises would inhibit the growth of Northampton, saying: “If the rail fares keep going up above RPI then that simply won’t be sustainable. It would price the town out of the commuter market and stall the growth of the enterprise zone and the houses which are so badly needed.
“The truth is that there’s no need for taxpayers or rail users to suffer at all. The real savings should be coming from ensuring greater efficiency in the system.
“Don’t punish the customers until you can be sure the providers have squeezed every last element of inefficiency out of their service.
“This is not a case of passengers whingeing about paying more. This is about reforming our rail system, putting a stop to all its inefficiencies and ensuring a fairer system that can help contribute to nationwide growth.”