Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

30 November 2018

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has responded to the Rail Delivery Group’s announcement that rail fares will go up by an average of 3.1 per cent in the new year by describing the move as an "annual kick in the teeth."

“New year rail fare rises are more reliable in Tory Britain than the weather or indeed our beleaguered rail services.

“Passengers deserve a break from this annual, legalised, privatised rail rip off.

“As commuters pack into their overcrowded trains again today they will be at a loss to understand why this government thinks it’s okay to carry on having chunky fare hikes dumped on them.

“After a year of serious systemic disruption as the privatisation model falls apart, a fare freeze would have been appropriate but once again hard-pressed commuters are being milked like cash cows into paying more money for less service - less seats, less staff and too often these days no trains at all.”