About that government subsidized public transportation the left is always clamoring for. BBC: Rail commuter costs ‘pass £5,000′
He said above-inflation fare rises were the result of government policy which has “sought to sustain investment in the railways by reducing the amount that taxpayers contribute and requiring passengers to pay more”.
But CBT said it was unfair millions of commuters already facing pay cuts and reduced hours in their jobs were now having to pay out more to get to work.
It also said higher fares were pricing people off the rail network, risking road congestion in the nation’s cities.
The fare rises meant some travellers were being asked to pay 20% of the average UK salary for their annual season ticket, they said.
This was the equivalent, in percentage terms, of transport secretary Philip Hammond MP being asked to pay £27,034 for a season ticket, said campaigners.
CBT chief executive Stephen Joseph said: “Commuters feel like they are being pick-pocketed by the government, expected to pay more year on year for the same poor quality service.
“Even with the promised extra investment, many passengers will see no actual improvement to their daily commute.
“Politicians need to start living in the real world and understand that people simply cannot afford to pay a fifth of their income just to do a day’s work. The government pledged to create fair fares and we all expect them to keep that promise.”
Let me start with Happy New Year, Steve!
I’m a proponent of transit. MarketWatch released their list of 2010 best cities for business. Detroit ranked 86th. I stopped checking for transit systems at 40th place, but everyone one of them had at least a bus system. 22 had some type of transit rail, as well. In the top 10, 6 have rail transit. It’s also a proven fact rail transit spurs development along the routes and especially near stations.
While some may be opposed to subsidizing transit, bear in mind government subsidizes other modes of travel as well. Landing fees do not recoup the total costs of airports (construction or operation) and huge volumes of tax dollars get thrown at roads and highways every year.
No one likes road congestion and I’ve heard it said we can’t build ourselves out of congested roads. A balanced transportation plan would consider transit alternatives, including rail. Why is it when the government says they’re going to build a new highway, no one questions it, but if they want to put in a light rail line, people clammer about where the money is going to come from? At least transit is not besmirched by the warmists and no-more-oil people even though it uses less petroleum and is more environmentally friendly.
Happy New Year to You CS as well!
The thing I am trying to point out is, if the government is running the train system, it will quickly get expensive.