Happy New Year to Commuters...

11.27.46pm GMT Fri 4th Jan 2008

The railway line to London, crossing the viaduct at Digswell.

Rail passengers got their usual antidote to a happy New Year as yet again above-inflation fare rises for next year are announced. Regulated fares will rise by 4.8% on this line, more on some other lines, and unregulated fares (most of them) by more than that.

'We warned last year that the new rail franchises with high premium payments to the government would force up fares, and so it has proved' said Herts' Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Malcolm Cowan, county councillor for Handside and Peartree. 'This was all organised while Gordon Brown was chancellor, so he can't complain that it is another legacy of Tony Blair - he is the man in the frame.'

'Anyone who travels by train in Europe knows how expensive British fares are - the UK really is the centre of the rip-off culture, but in this case it is government-orchestrated. At the same time, Labour implore us to use public transport, but ministers travel free in their chauffeur-driven cars, ignorant of what they have visited upon the public by their policies. The double standards are what we have come to expect.

The present fares give the operators a profit, the rolling-stock companies a profit and a big surplus for the government - why on earth should fares rise so much?' Malcolm concluded.

For further information, contact Malcolm Cowan on 01707-324723