Rail commuters need flexible tickets to get back to work, says TUC

Commenting on today's (Wednesday) RPI figure of 1.6%, which will be used to set rail fare rises in January 2021, TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams said: 

“Rail commuters cannot face another year of fare rises without fundamental changes to rail services.

“The need to reduce daily commuting means that for many people, season tickets will now be wasteful as they are expensive. In the new world of work, many people may only need to use the train two or three days a week.

“The government needs to introduce new ticket options so that people are not penalised for flexible working. Commuters cannot go on footing the bill for a broken rail system.

Commenting on cuts to rail services, Bill Adams said:

“It's time for government to put everything into saving services and staff. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the rail industry, but millions of people still rely on trains in their everyday lives. Commuters should not face a stripped down service as they return to work. 

“The government has stepped in with financial support since March. Now that the franchise system is effectively dead, the government should bring the service back into full public ownership.

“As we build back from this crisis, good, accessible jobs need to be at the heart of our recovery. Millions of people will need to return to their workplaces using our railways - they deserve a service that is fit for purpose.”