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Press release 18th August 2015

"Smoke and mirrors" over rail fare increases



"The government is using smoke and mirrors to disguise the fact that the real cost of rail travel will again be going up" said Bruce Williamson from the campaign group Railfuture. "The Conservatives promised in their manifesto that there would be a "freeze" on rail fares in England for the lifetime of the parliament, but the real cost of rail travel continues to rise. People's incomes are virtually stagnant, but because the government insists on using RPI instead of CPI, rail fares will go up by about 1%. Add to that the fact that George Osborne has repeatedly frozen fuel duty for motorists, and that the cost of oil is falling, and it looks like the government are trying to drive people off the railways and onto the roads.  So much for "the greenest government ever"!"

Notes to editors:

Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.

Railfuture's website can be found at: www.railfuture.org.uk

Follow Railfuture on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Railfuture

For further information and comment please contact:

Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954 Mobile: 07759 557389
media at railfuture.org.uk