Rail Fares

Iain Stewart Excerpts

Wednesday 5th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

It sounds as if the hon. Lady knows more about Benidorm than I do. I think there are a number of anomalies in ticket fares. I see them on the train service I use, in that it can cost £170 to use one train, but a train 20 minutes later is a lot cheaper. We need seriously to try to address a number of these problems and to look at how the fares and fare structures used by the rail industry are implemented. I do not accept that everything is fine and fair. In certain areas, consumers have strong cases to make; we should look at them, and I will do so.

[Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

[Mr McLoughlin]

Yes, I give way to a member of the Transport Select Committee.

[Iain Stewart]

I, too, congratulate my right hon. Friend. He makes an important point about reviewing the whole ticketing strategy. His predecessor announced a consultation on reviewing ticketing, and one proposal that will directly benefit my constituents is a plan to introduce a discounted ticket for passengers who travel frequently but not often enough to warrant a season ticket. There are proposals like this that will cut the cost of using the railways for many of our constituents.

[Mr McLoughlin]

I look forward to working closely with my hon. Friend and to discussing that issue with him.