Bedford Borough commuters hit with £200 hike in rail fares
Liberal Democrats call for fare freeze as cost of living crisis worsens
- The cheapest annual season ticket for Bedford Borough commuters to London is forecast to hit £5,293 next year - an increase of £193
- This comes after Bedford Borough commuters were left with a worse service by the Government after they removed Bedford Station from the Intercity route
- This has led to the loss of almost all direct links north beyond Kettering and loss of the fastest trains to London
The cost of an annual season ticket for Bedford Borough commuters will rise by the most in a decade on 1st March despite the cost of living crisis worsening.
By 2026, the annual season ticket price for commuters is forecast to be £5,842 if the Government does not freeze rail fares. The rise comes despite the downgrading of services for Bedford Borough residents, meaning thousands of passengers will be paying more for less.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for rail fares to be frozen for five years and for intercity timetables to be restored.
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rail, Councillor Michael Headley said "It is outrageous to hike rail fares in the middle of a cost of living crisis, especially when Bedford services have been downgraded in recent years. This Conservative Government is completely out of touch. The National Insurance rise is coming, energy bills are skyrocketing and now rail fares are set to rise.
"We are calling for a fair deal for people in Bedford Borough and that includes a fare freeze and for the Government to cancel the increase in National Insurance. The cost of living crisis is getting worse by the week and Boris Johnson is too busy trying to save his own job. We should be making more sustainable forms of transport like rail more affordable, yet this Conservative Government is determined to make rail more expensive than ever before."
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are continuing to campaign for the full restoration of our intercity links north and for faster trains into London, you can sign the petition at https://bedfordlibdems.org.uk/rail