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| TSGN rail passengers to experience 'stealth fare rises', says Labour | TSGN rail passengers to experience 'stealth fare rises', says Labour |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Passengers on services in the new mega franchise of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) face "stealth fare rises", with some season tickets going up 18%, according to Labour. | |
| The new franchise means that First Capital Connect (FCC) and Southern services are merging. Labour said on Mondaythat where two existing franchises currently compete – for example, Brighton to London where FCC and Southern both operate – eliminating the cheaper fare is a condition of the new franchise. | |
| Labour said it had received confirmation that the cheaper FCC fares will be phased out, but "ministers have failed to state when and how that will happen". | Labour said it had received confirmation that the cheaper FCC fares will be phased out, but "ministers have failed to state when and how that will happen". |
| Under the new franchise some commuters from Brighton to London will pay 18%, or £664 a year, more for their season ticket. Day fares on other routes will rise by up to 74%. Last week some off-peak fares were axed on some Northern Rail routes. | |
| The shadow transport secretary, Mary Creagh, said: "Just one week after George Osborne and Nick Clegg hammered their constituents in the north with huge stealth fare increases, the Tories and Lib Dems are at it again. | The shadow transport secretary, Mary Creagh, said: "Just one week after George Osborne and Nick Clegg hammered their constituents in the north with huge stealth fare increases, the Tories and Lib Dems are at it again. |
| "David Cameron has allowed rail companies to hit commuters with inflation-busting fare hikes of more than 20% since 2010, and his government's plans for secret fare rises in the south-east will leave commuters hundreds of pounds out of pocket." | "David Cameron has allowed rail companies to hit commuters with inflation-busting fare hikes of more than 20% since 2010, and his government's plans for secret fare rises in the south-east will leave commuters hundreds of pounds out of pocket." |
| She added: "Labour's plan for the railways would tackle the cost-of-living crisis and drive the biggest reform of the railways since privatisation. | |
| "Labour will cap rail fares, legislate for a public sector operator, devolve the running of regional and local services and deliver a railway which puts passengers first, not profits." | "Labour will cap rail fares, legislate for a public sector operator, devolve the running of regional and local services and deliver a railway which puts passengers first, not profits." |
| According to Labour, these fares are going up | According to Labour, these fares are going up |
| Brighton to London season tickets will rise from £3,640 to £4,304 – up £664 (18%); a season ticket from Three Bridges (Crawley) to London will rise from £2,956 to £3,392 – up £436 (15%). An off-peak day return from Brighton to London will rise from £16.40 to £28.50 – up £12.10 (74%); from Three Bridges to London it rises from £11.30 to £17.60 – up £6.30 (56%) and an anytime day return from South Tottenham to Gatwick rises from £20.80 to £31.50 – up £10.70 (51%). |