Labour reveals plans for ‘biggest ever’ cuts to rail fares
Jeremy Corbyn says the privatisation of Britain’s rail system ‘has ripped off passengers’
The Labour Party has pledged to slash rail fares by 33% if it wins power following the general election next week.
In an eye-catching package of proposals, the party has also promised to simplify ticket prices for part-time workers, make rail travel free for young people under the age of 16 and build a central online booking portal with no booking fees.
Announcing the plans, Jeremy Corbyn said: “Travelling by train is my favourite way of getting around the country but for too long a fragmented and privatised rail system has ripped off passengers.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Labour leader said that “taking back control of our railways is the only way to bring down fares and create a railway network that is fit for the future,”. “Labour are on the side of passengers”, he added.
The party’s proposal, billed as the “biggest ever” plan to cut rail fares, is part of a wider plan by the party to nationalise the UK’s train system.
Andy McDonald, the party’s shadow transport secretary, said: “Privatisation has created one of the most complex, exploitative and expensive ticketing systems in the world.
“Labour will scrap the bewildering and outdated fares and ticketing system that discriminates against part-time workers, discourages rail travel and excludes the young and low-paid.”
However, Conservative Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the proposals as “desperate” and “another attempt to distract from their inability and unwillingness to be straight with people on where they stand on Brexit”.
BBC business correspondent, Katie Prescott, said that Labour’s policies would “see a reverse in the direction of travel for policies on train fares since privatisation”. Prescott added that, since 1995, successive governments “have tried to move the day-to-day cost of running the railways onto fare-payers and away from the taxpayer”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The news comes as prolonged industrial action is due to hit thousands of passengers this month, after South Western Railway (SWR) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union failed to reach a deal over the role of guards on trains.
SWR provides a daily average of 600,000 passenger journeys, operating out of Britain’s busiest railway station, London Waterloo, to regions including Surrey and Hampshire, says The Guardian.
Strikes will last from 2 December until the end of New Year’s Day, breaking only for the general election on 12 December, and for Christmas Day and Boxing Day – when there are no trains running.
Sky News says it is “the longest stretch of action against a major rail operator in living memory”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Rail strikes: is Britain on track for a ‘summer of discontent’?
Speed Read The ‘biggest rail strike in modern history’ is planned for next week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
‘See it. Say it. Sorted’: is it the end of the line for train announcements?
Speed Read The transport secretary has pledged a ‘bonfire of the banalities’ on England’s railways
By The Week Staff Published
-
Flexible rail season tickets: ‘many passengers will be disappointed’
Why Everyone’s Talking About Part-time commuters can start using the new flexi tickets from 28 June
By The Week Staff Published
-
UK to bring in airport Covid tests for arrivals
Speed Read MPs call for stricter border measures as South African variant of coronavirus spreads
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
UK records biggest jump in transport use since pandemic began
Speed Read Monday rush hour sees spike in commuters across country as trains return to 90% of pre-coronavirus services
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Coronavirus: what are the odds of catching Covid-19 on a plane?
Speed Read Studies suggest air travel is safe despite concerns about air quality
By Holden Frith Last updated
-
Plane crashed ‘as distracted pilots discussed Covid fears’
Speed Read Preliminary report says ‘human error’ to blame for crash in Pakistan that claimed 98 lives
By Aaron Drapkin Last updated
-
Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic tells staff to take unpaid leave
Speed Read Move comes amid warnings that global pandemic could bankrupt aviation industry
By The Week Staff Last updated