Lib Dems will freeze rail fare increases in Weston-super-Mare saving commuters hundreds of pounds

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will freeze rail fare increases for Weston-super-Mare commuters and season ticket holders for the next five years, while fixing the broken fares and ticketing system.

A Liberal Democrat government would cancel the 2.8% rail fare increase planned for December 2019 and freeze Weston-super-Mare commuter fares and season tickets for the entirety of the next five years.

These proposals would save season ticket holders from Weston to Bristol, £887 over the next five years . This policy is expected to cost approximately £1.6 billion.

The Liberal Democrats would also overhaul ticketing by simplifying the system, looking to create season tickets for part-time commuters and introducing early-bird fares. The party would ensure that all rail franchises apply delay repay compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Weston-super-Mare, Patrick Keating said:

"Under the Tories, commuters in Weston and the villages have been catastrophically let down. People are paying way over the odds for what has often been an appalling service.

"The Liberal Democrats will build a brighter future by freezing fares from Weston to Bristol for the next five years, saving local commuters hundreds of pounds. We will properly invest in fixing our creaking rail network to improve capacity and reduce overcrowding, so Weston commuters are no longer treated like cattle.

"But this is about more than just providing more funding. We will also strip rail companies of franchises if they don't meet the standards expected of them, and develop new transport mutual companies to foster alternative competition."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Savings are based on predicted RPI increases through to 2024/5. The price of an annual season ticket from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol is taken from National Rail here:
https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/seasonticket/search

• Since 1995, passenger journeys have more than doubled from 735 million per year to 1.71 billion per year, however satisfaction is now at its lowest level in ten years. Last year saw chaos across the network after the Tory's failed implementation of a new timetable.
• A Liberal Democrat government would freeze regulated rail fares for the five years of the next parliament. Regulated fares are "standard class fares including saver returns, standard returns, off-peak fares between major cities and season tickets for most commuter journeys."^. These are set by government. We will cancel the planned rise due at the end of December 2019 and keep fares at their current level.
• The fare freeze will continue for the entirety of the next Parliament at a cost of £1.6 billion over the course of the Parliament.
• After the end of the freeze Liberal Democrats will change the inflation rise to be based on the CPI.
• A Liberal Democrat government will convert the rail network to ultra-low-emission technology (electric or hydrogen) by 2035.
• A Liberal Democrat government will opening up the franchise bidding process to public sector companies, local or combined authorities, not-for-profits and mutuals.