Claire Perry in ‘bid to limit train fare rises’ – she tells The Sun

 

Claire Perry has told The Sun that talks are going on in government to find ways of helping commuters facing increases of up to 5.5 per cent next January.  Last year George Osborne limited the increases to inflation ‘plus zero’.

Mrs Perry is quoted in The Sun (Friday, August 29): “We are absolutely a government on the side of railway travellers.”

She had accepted a challenge from the newspaper’s deputy political editor, Steve Hawkes, to travel with him to check out complaints about high fares and overcrowding on some commuter trains.  

The challenge came after Mrs Perry was quoted – she claims misquoted – saying commuters had a ‘comfortable’ ride. In Sun-speak: “FARE RISE FURY AT RAIL MINISTER – WHO CHOO THINK YOUR’E KIDDING?”

Then The Sun found that 66 of the 68 journeys the Devizes MP had made from Wiltshire to London last year were by car.

Mrs Perry and Mr Hawkes joined the commuter train at Reading – a station through which two of Britain’s ten most crowded trains pass every day.  She did not have an easy journey with Mr Hawkes – as he reported: “Ms Perry faced passengers stood in train doorways or sat at each other’s feet.”

The caption to the report’s main photo said simply: “CRUSH HOUR…minister debates with commuters squeezed in carriage.”  

There were plenty of complaints voiced about the cost of fares.  One woman told the MP she had paid £96 for a single to London from Bristol – ‘more than a return flight to Madrid’ – despite booking a month ago.

“She gamely listened to every moan and bit of advice, pointing to the £40billion in planned investment and saying Britain has the most punctual rail service in Europe.  She also vowed to spend more time ‘mystery shopping’ train services.”

As background The Sun pointed out that train fares have risen 46.5 per cent since 2007 and average earnings have risen by ‘just’ 15.9 per cent in the same period.

In an adjacent editorial headed “Clear, Claire?”, The Sun said:  “We salute Rail Minister Claire Perry for finally seeing up close the misery of commuting on a packed rush-hour train.”

“Now she knows how far from reality her glib ambition to deliver ‘a comfortable commute’ really is.  We are pleased her government is looking to limit fare hikes next year.”

“Perhaps she can urge other ministers to experience the hardships of life outside the Westminster bubble. It might just help them connect with the voters they need.”