government wrong to reject plan to improve train

The MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted has criticised the government for rejecting moves to help reduce the cost and complexity of train tickets.

Victoria Collins had backed a plan from her fellow Liberal Democrat MPs to introduce an official report on improving the ticketing system for passenger rail.

The party made the proposal in an amendment to the government’s Passenger Railway Services Bill, which is aimed at re-organising the UK train network.

But Labour MPs last night [3rd September] voted it down.

Victoria Collins MP said: “I hear constantly from my commuter constituents in Harpenden, Berkhamsted and Tring about the extortionate cost of train travel - and the over-complicated ticketing system. These create a barrier to public transport use, worsen the cost-of-living crisis, and ultimately harm the environment.

“That’s why I voted for the Liberal Democrat proposal to require the Secretary of State for Transport to publish an annual report on how to improve ticketing. This would have provided a vital stimulus, enshrined in law, to make life easier for passengers. By taking steps to simplifying the system, it would help more people back on to the railways and it would have made the most of the crucial opportunity presented by the Bill to genuinely reform the way our trains operate.

“Sadly, the government chose to oppose our plan and whipped their MPs to vote against. The outcome is that local commuters will lose out - and continue to struggle daily with complex and ever-more expensive fares”.