- ITV Report
Government announce cap on rail fare increases
The Government today announced it is to cap the increases of regulated fares planned for January 2014.
In January 2014, no regulated fare - which includes season tickets - can go up by more than 6.1 per cent.
ITV News' Consumer Editor Chris Choi reports:
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the move was designed to help reduce the cost of living for hard-working people, prediciting the cap could save commuters £200 a year.
The rail customer watchdog, Passenger Focus, welcomed the cap saying it is a "step towards a fairer system" for passengers.
However, the leader of the RMT transport union, Bob Crow, described the announcement as a "total con":
"This is a total con that will still leave the vast majority paying inflation-busting fares to pump up the profits of the private train operators.
"For a few it will feel like having your wallet nicked with the mugger then handing you a few bob back to buy a pint. Nobody will be fooled by this political stunt."
Labour's shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said the increase cap was "too little too late" and of "cold comfort for commuters".