Rail fares have once again increased above CPI inflation, meaning that prices have risen by 40% since 2010. Despite price hikes and an overall poorer service, rail bosses are still receiving above-inflation pay increases of up to 18%.

Many train companies nationally have also missed the government deadline to make their trains accessible for all.

Labour calls for rail services to be nationalised, so that profits can be invested in improving the service.

Cllr Vince Maple, Medway Labour Group Leader and Councillor for Chatham Central said, ‘Customers are once again paying more for less under the Tories with less than two thirds of trains arriving on time in 2019. In most professions it’s difficult to be rewarded for failure, but the heads of all the major rail companies have enjoyed huge pay rises over the past 12 months.

‘Rail companies are clearly not using revenue from year-on-year above inflation ticket price increases to fulfil their accessibility obligations. Train companies up and down the country have missed the government’s deadline to make trains accessible to everyone, despite having an entire decade to prepare.

‘Public transport needs to be truly public and be accessible to everyone.’

Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Chatham Central said, ‘Like many Medway residents I returned to work and my daily commute. Like clockwork fares are increased while we are expected to put up with overcrowding due to a chronic lack of investment.

‘Bringing natural monopolies like rail back in-house and publically owned is the only way to get a better deal for passengers.’

Rail fare increases are nearly twice the latest consumer price index (CPI), which in November was 1.5 per cent: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/latest

Rail bosses have seen huge pay rises: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/big-pay-rises-for-rail-bosses-behind-soaring-fares-and-delays-99s29lgfx