MP calls for rail fare freeze as prices set to rise next year

Thornbury and Yate MP, Claire Young has called for rail fares to be frozen next year as they could be set to rise by 4.6% in April following the latest inflation figures being released.

The rise in rail fares next year is usually based on RPI inflation figures from July released yesterday (14th August), plus 1%. It means that passengers could see a 4.6% increase in ticket prices next year.

The cost of a season ticket from Yate to Bristol could rise from £1,388 a year to £1,451.85. An increase of £63.85. It follows ticket price rises of 3.8% in 2022, 5.9% in 2023, and 4.9% in 2024.

Lib Dem MP Claire Young has said that people across Thornbury & Yate should not be paying more for a service that is “simply not working” after years of Conservative party neglect and mismanagement.

It comes as figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats showed that since 2018/19, passengers have suffered close to 1 million minutes of delays due to signal failures.

Claire Young MP said:

“Passengers across South Gloucestershire have been hammered for years by rising ticket prices, whilst our train services are simply not fit for purpose.

“Years of Conservative party neglect and mismanagement has forced rail users to suffer endless delays as they just try to go about their everyday lives.

“It would be a slap in the face for all those passengers who have been forced to suffer these cancellations and delayed journeys for ticket prices to rise again next year.

“That is why there must be an immediate fare freeze - to shield passengers from having to pay more for a service that is not delivering.

“I raised this point in Parliament just a few weeks ago and will continue to fight to fix our railways so they meet the needs of our communities.”