PAYING MORE FOR LESS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2016 :: RMTnews 8 R MT joined protesters at stations across England, Scotland and Wales last month against the latest rise in rail fares and for a publicly owned railway. On August 16 the government announced a nearly two per cent increase in the cost of train tickets in line with the inflation figure used to calculate the annual rise in regulated rail fares. Research by the Action for Rail campaign revealed that fares have risen at double the speed of wages – an increase of 25 per cent in the last six years, yet average weekly wages have only gone up by 12 per cent. While passengers pay more for rail services, dividends paid to rail company shareholders increased by 21 per cent in the past year to £222 million. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that passengers were paying more, but getting less. “Not only that but more ticket offices are closing, guards are being removed from trains, driver-only operations are being extended and there are fewer staff at stations to provide help when required. “The train companies are putting profit before affordable fares and passenger safety yet government is sticking to this failed privatisation model, even though 62 per cent of the public support returning rail to public ownership,” he said. Campaigners at London Bridge station were joined by Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn MP, Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald MP and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, who support the call for affordable rail fares under a publicly owned railway. Southern Railway commuters also shared their frustration about the continued delays and cuts to train services. Action for Rail spokesman Philip Hadley said that Southern Rail was a franchising failure which needed to be brought under public ownership. “We know public ownership can work – evidence shows that the publicly owned East Coast was a success story before being moved back under a private company,” he said. PAYING MORE FOR LESS Latest government rise means that rail fares have increased at twice the rate of wages in the past six years