Railways Under Labour on the Wrong Track - HARRIS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Jun 2006

Following the Passenger Focus report showing that the number of passengers who think their train ticket offers value for money has sunk to an all-time low, research from the Liberal Democrats shows that British rail fares are the most expensive in Europe.

Commenting, Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said:

"After nine years of this Government, travelling by train is fast becoming an expensive luxury.

"Since Labour came to power the real cost of motoring has declined by 9 per cent, whereas rail fares have increased by 5 per cent.

"Whereas in Europe ten pounds will take you across a country, in Britain it won't even take you from Oxford to London.

"An efficient rail network accessible to all is an essential part of a sustainable transport system, yet passengers are being failed by an excessively complex fare and timetable structure."

Ten pounds will transport over 600 miles in Latvia, over 200 in Italy, but a measly 38 miles in Britain. Furthermore, in France passengers can travel over three times the distance (Travel Costs from Parliamentary Answer to Question from Alistair Carmichael: 4 May 2006 : Column 1738W)