London TravelWatch has called on London’s Mayor to protect London’s overburdened commuters, as new research shows that they bear the brunt of current policy of funding the railways.

Passenger Focus, the national rail watchdog, has issued research into value for money on rail fares across Europe.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said: “It is now official. Londoners pay more to travel than anyone else in Europe.”

“This research shows that British travellers pay more than their counterparts in Europe, and London commuter fares are the most expensive of all. Services may well be faster and more frequent than in Europe ??\" however, there is a limit on what the fare-paying public can bear. The Mayor would do well to use his powers to protect the travelling public in the London region. Unless he does so, fares are set to rise and rise costs are shifted from the taxpayer to the fare-payer. ”


For media enquiries, please contact Jo deBank in the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or out of hours on 07734 055494.

The voice of London's transport users
16 February 2009