A candidate to become the first elected mayor of Bristol has said bringing down rail fares has to be a priority for whoever gets the job.
Labour’s candidate Marvin Rees was speaking after it emerged yesterday that fares in the region could rise by as much as 10%, after higher than expected inflation levels were recorded.
Rail operators are allowed to set average rises up to 3% above July’s inflation rate of 3.2%. But some tickets could go up by more than 10%, as long as prices on other routes are kept low.
If the 6.2% rise was applied to Bristol to Bath season tickets, commuters would see costs rise from £1,400 to £1,486 in January. A peak-time return ticket from Temple Meads to Paddington would rise from £179 to £190.
Mr Rees said he would work to reduce fares if elected, but did not give any details as to how he may be able to achieve that.
“Transport costs in Bristol are already far too expensive. We have some of the highest charges in the country on both trains and buses and this is the worst possible news for local commuters,” he said.
“The elected Mayor has to view our high transport costs as a priority and use the powers of the office to bring those costs down.
“When many working people are seeing their wages held down an increase of at least treble inflation is just unfair. I am committed to finding a way to reduce the costs of local transport that will boost Bristol’s economy, ease the pressure on our roads, and put public transport at the centre of a modern city.”
Campaigners from several groups gathered at Bristol Temple Meads for a protest against the potential price rises, joining other protests across the UK.
Passenger groups said the increase was too steep.
“This is another inflation-busting increase – there is only so much you can squeeze passengers,” said Mike Hewitson from watchdog Passenger Focus.
“The government needs to think again about the plus 3% [formula].”
If any of these candidates have a plan to give Bristol and Integrated Transport Authority I'd be tempted to vote for them. If they don't, they are mere decoration & completely superfluous to the political system.
Being a barrister is a much more intellectual job than being a nurse, but who contributes more to society?
You don't have to be an intellectual to figure that one out.
Medicine, law and and politics, experts on the matters I am not.
What is true is that physicians heal, care for ill and vulnerable people.
Law is about two parties, the injured and the injurer. Lawyers have a vested interest in prolonging a conflict and many make huge amounts of money through human misery to paraphrase Harry Mount.
Profit from human misery, a socialist value never.
Another gem from KBillies. Pseudo intellectualism is so in this season.
Being a barrister is a much more intellectual job than being a nurse, but who contributes more to society?
You don't have to be an intellectual to figure that one out
Funny that you should say so, aren't you the one polluting twitter with a constant stream of lies about George Ferguson?
'Missed new Dallas like me? Want to see the machinations of an IMO arrogant plutocrat? You're in luck! #ff @GeorgeFergusonX'
How do you possibly think that you are helping any debate?
If anybody knows what powers the new Mayor will have, will he please share the knowledge with the rest of us. Do the candidates themselves know? Who was it that said, "A vote gained with a false promise, is like money gained by deception". Worth baring in mind me thinks!
Dr Jon Rogers is a better candidate on most indicators.
One of the most sincere and able men in the local authority.
If anyone wants to read more of KBillies cracking Lib Dem pearls of wisdom search for him in the comments section of the Evening Post. Great comedy value
Still haven't hear Marvin Rees' "Master Plan", is it coming soon? Or was that just a convenient re-direct to cover his back? Marvin isn't a philosopher, we're not dead keen on what he thinks, we want to know what he will do!
We will be announcing our policies in September and there will be more detail then.
I am assured that all the candidates have promised that if they are elected they will work towards world peace and will eradicate hunger.
They will also promote the development of free energy with no carbon emissions, will solve Bristol's transport problems at a stroke without upsetting anybody, will create full employment in meaningful and well paid jobs, will guarantee premiership football in the city, cure cancer, and turn base metal into gold.
However, details of how all these things will achieved cannot be published until after you have cast your vote to elect them for four years.
In the meantime, here's a free lollipop.
And not one of them ever mentions the cuts that they will make next year nor what will be cut.
Well the Tory and Lib Dem Government moved fare increases from Retail Price Index (inflation) +1% to RPI +3% and gave train companies the right to add an extra 5% (which Labour had prevented them from doing)
So I think its reasonable to assume Cllr Gollop and Cllr Rogers won't or can't credibly pledge to be against it. George Ferguson was still a member of the Lib Dem party whilst these changes were pushed through. He only resigned to stand for Mayor so it may well be the case he supports the increases too.
Labour on the other hand have stated very clearly that at a time when money is short we oppose these huge increases and that they harm the economy
Yes I'm aware that you are opposed to it, but has Marvin got any specific plans? I need an affordable train service because I don't have the money to use a car and coaches are no good for me. It's all very well saying that 'Labour will do better', but what will you actually do? What change will you deliver?
Has he got a strategy? I face expensive train journeys on a regular basis, dominated by a series of monopolies. A newly elected mayor with a clean slate has the ability and opportunity to sit down with these companies and demand action, does Marvin have that gutsy attitude? If he continues to talk in platitudes, without telling us what he plans to do then I can't see him doing anything. Who is Marvin Rees and what will he do for me?
This is hardly a story, is it? – 'Mr Rees said he would work to reduce fares if elected, but did not give any details as to how he may be able to achieve that.'
Talk is cheap, and I for one am fed up with politicians making all manner of 'promises' that effectively just say what they think people want to hear. No one would disagree that public transport costs too much in Bristol, and I'm sure EVERY mayoral candidate worth their salt has this on the radar – and if they haven't, they should.
People of Bristol, for god's sake don't get sucked in – this will be the first of many 'promises' that can't necessarily by any one of the mayoral candidates.
As with so many things in life, actions speak louder than words – all this demonstrates is that Marvin has the resources behind him to quickly respond to ANYTHING in the media that might be topical to voters…..