Commuters to London could have to pay £8,000 a year for season tickets by 2015 if government plans to ease the cap on fare rises go ahead.
That was the warning from shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle during a visit to the town as part of the run-up to tomorrow’s local elections.
And she insisted that a Labour government would impose a firm cap on privatised companies to ensure that regulated prices – both season tickets and “anytime” tickets for one-off journeys – should not rise significantly above the inflation rate.
The rail industry is subsidised by the government to the tune of about £4 billion nationally – but Ms Eagle said that was necessary to ensure a coherent national network was maintained.
She joined Labour campaigners in Ipswich on the last full day of campaigning before tomorrow’s county council elections.
Polling stations are open tomorrow until 10pm. Counting of votes will take place on Friday – details will be published online at www.ipswichstar.co.uk with results due from lunchtime.
Ms Eagle was joined by Ipswich parliamentary Labour candidate David Ellesmere and other party supporters. One issue that was near the top of her agenda was the county’s support for unprofitable bus routes.
She said: “That is a decision for the county council.
“The way to ensure that the county council puts more support into a public transport network for the whole county is by voting Labour in the local elections.”
Should bus and train services be subsidised by the government? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk
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