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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/913/23427
From The Socialist newspaper, 24 August 2016
Train fares to rise again - nationalise railways now!
Network Rail overground railway train Train Photos (Creative Commons), photo Train Photos (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Alex Gounelas
Sick of getting into work feeling like a two-day-old used face wipe? Well soon you will have to pay an extra 1.9% for the privilege. Regulated rail fares will rise again next year in line with this year's 'RPI' inflation figures.
On the Birmingham to London line a season ticket will cost an extra £190 on all available routes.
While Southern Rail boss David Brown swans around with notes from his £2.16 million wage packet spilling out of his pocket, the rest of us have to jangle our coins and learn to live in a stranger's armpit on a daily basis.
Infographic: nationalise rail and public transport! September 2015, photo Laurel Fogarty for the Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
The UK has the highest transport prices in Europe. Fares have increased at twice the rate of average wages since 2010 - 25% versus 12%, according to the TUC. At the same time, shareholders have had a 21% increase in their dividends. Meanwhile there are less ticket offices, major station understaffing, and driver-only trains.
The problem of fares, of course, goes hand in hand with the housing crisis, as workers have to travel ever longer commutes. For part-time workers, mainly women, it's even worse: season tickets are only cheaper if you commute - and earn - five or more days a week.
Jeremy Corbyn calls for nationalisation, which he estimates would take 10% off fares. This is welcome. But Jeremy needs to go further.
His plan is to take over firms as their franchises run out. We say nationalise immediately - and pay compensation to shareholders only on the basis of proven need. Nationalise the buses at the same time, and invest in a fully staffed and integrated, cheap, green public transport network.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
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In The Socialist 24 August 2016:
#KeepCorbyn
#KeepCorbyn: Answer right's attacks with firm socialist programme
Corbyn union nominations round-up and view from the workplace
#KeepCorbyn: huge support at rallies and among Labour rank and file
Socialist Party news and analysis
Black footballer's taser death: stop police racism now
Pay still below pre-crisis levels
Train fares to rise again - nationalise railways now!
£500m on civil service redundancies in two years
International socialist news and analysis
Trump in trouble - political polarisation deepens
Socialist readers' comments
Readers respond to Trotskyist red scare smears by capitalist media
Would you call G4S for help over discrimination?
Workplace news and analysis
Deliveroo strike action forces bosses to back down
Junior doctors set for further strike action
A day in the life of a call centre worker
Save our NHS
The threat of private health insurance
Organise against secretive NHS cuts plans
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Greenwich council tenants: We won't pay! We won't move!
Local estate agents back Butterfields tenants
Nottinghamshire Pride makes history
Immingham residents' housing battle
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