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As Northern refuse to
settle guards' safety dispute, fares rip off
RAIL UNION RMT condemned the
shocking fact that while Northern Rail continue to knock back moves to
resolve the current guards' safety dispute, the German state owned operation
will be pressing ahead with plans to increase fares substantially from this
Sunday, 21 May 2017. The increase follows a previous hike less than 9 months ago in September
2016, as Arriva seek to milk the franchise for every penny they can get.
Despite the pretence of 'rail devolution' it is clear from the
announcement that value for money for passengers travelling in the North of
England has been shunted into a siding to ensure that profits continue to
flow out of the country to subsidise the publicly owned and operated railway
in Germany.
A shocking example of this latest rip off is the revelation that the
so called Cheap Day Return fares, in Greater Manchester, will increase by up
to 50p, or up to 9.25%, taking the maximum fare to ₤5.90.
The announcement also includes new fares, which are only available to buy
from the Northern mobile phone app or website, with fulfilment via m-ticket.
RMT says that this is the clearest possible recognition of the complete lack
of infrastructure, such as ticket offices or even ticket machines, which the
union believes will lead to further attacks on the jobs and conditions of
on-train staff.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:-
"This weekends latest fares rip
off is just another example of industry costs being shifted to the
passenger, whilst the profits made continue to be leaked away from Britain's
railways and shipped across the Channel. Northern should be forced to pull
back from their twin strategy of axing guards and raising fares in the dash
to fatten up the profits for the German state operator Arriva. This is a
scandalous situation that puts the issue of public ownership of our railways
right at the top of the agenda." |
