The Liberal Democrats have called for rail fares to be frozen for the next 5 years after this week's (w/c 14th) figures show that Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation in July reached 9%. This is the figure normally used to increase rail fares from next March.
It comes after ministers have refused to say how much rail tickets will rise by next year.
The price of a season ticket from Paisley Gilmour Street to Glasgow Central could go up by £87.48 according to Lib Dem analysis.
The rise comes despite disrupted services over the past year due to industrial action and the Government’s plans to close ticket offices at stations around the country.
The party is also calling for a rethink over planned ticket office closures and for the Government to finally resolve the strike action disrupting services.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillor for Paisley Southwest, Anne Hannigan, said:
“Liberal Democrats are fighting for a fair deal for Renfrewshire’s commuters and families who will be left forking out even more for train journeys in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“Ministers cannot keep turning a blind eye to these problems, especially given people are paying more for less on our rail network with more delays, cancellations and their failure to deal with the strikes.”
Local Liberal Democrat Campaigner, Jack Clark added:
“If the Conservatives had even a shred of decency, they would freeze rail fares immediately to help families struggling here in Renfrewshire under the cost-of-living crisis they created.
“We should be making clean forms of transport cheaper, yet this Conservative Government is determined to make rail more expensive than ever before.”
Local campaigner, Jack Clark, has called for the Scottish Government to freeze rail fares for at least the remainder of the year, rather than hitting commuters and travelers in Renfrewshire with a 4.8% rise.
