Two years of rail chaos – Southern’s fare rise must be scrapped
Croydon North MP Steve Reed has demanded ministers scrap the planned rise in fares on Southern Rail.
Speaking in Parliament, Steve said rail passengers from Croydon had ‘suffered enough after two years of rail chaos’ and urged the Government to rule out a fare rise in 2017.
Rail Minister Paul Maynard refused to act, meaning despite the Government’s compensation package, passengers will lose out when hit by the 1.8% fares rise in January.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Steve Reed said:
Commuters in Croydon and elsewhere have suffered enough, and after two years of rail chaos they certainly should not be expected to pay any more for the services they use.
Will the Minister now show that he recognises the extent of the failure and rule out any fare rises on Southern rail services next year?
Steven Reed is Labour MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Children and Families. In 2018 his private member’s bill on reducing violent mental health restraint became law. In June 2019 he launched Labour’s civil society strategy outlining radical plans to empower citizens and communities.
Steve chairs the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network, co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, was Leader of Lambeth Council 2006-12 where he led the council’s children’s services to become best-rated in the country and pioneered the public-health approach to tackling violent youth crime. He worked in publishing for 16 years and was an elected trade union branch secretary.