Fighting for fair fares


Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party

Socialist Party members campaigned with transport union RMT against rail fare increases on Monday 8 September.

The protest outside Leeds train station took place on the day of the fare hikes.

Off-peak fares will no longer be valid on a whole series of Northern Rail routes. This includes Leeds to Bradford, which went up 20% from £4.60 to £6.50. It also includes Leeds to Harrogate, and many other routes across the north of England.

The protest was part of a series across the North, and follows previous protests over the government’s new franchise plans for the Northern and TransPennine Express transport firms.

This now includes not replacing the ancient Pacer trains. Made from old bus frames, they were due to have a lifespan of no more than 20 years when introduced in the mid-80s.

The “Rail North” group supports these plans. Rail North is a shadowy collection of mostly Labour local authorities whose composition and accountability is unclear.

RMT members and transport campaigners must stand widely against Labour councillors prepared to cut jobs and services while making us pay more.