Value for money is essential to London’s rail passengers as it affects directly the level of fares and the quality of service, says London TravelWatch in its response to Sir Roy McNulty’s review of the railways.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch, said: “Value for money is vital to London’s passengers. Travellers in London and the south east consistently regard their travel poor value for money. Fewer than half of those questioned say they get good value for money from their ticket. London’s passengers and commuters often have no alternative to rail and are more dependent on rail than other regions: they should not be exploited as a captive market.”

London TravelWatch has called for a strategic fares review from the Government, so we can ensure that passengers get best value for money and that the system is fair across London.

Sharon Grant continued: “We know that fares will increase well above inflation and London’s passengers pay higher fares than elsewhere in Europe and within the UK, as well as a higher proportion of tax than other part of the UK.”

As part of its response to the Value for Money review, London TravelWatch has also said:

• The rail industry could reduce its cost by becoming more efficien
• We welcome franchisees having more control over their businesses, but there must be clear responsibilities to genuinely involve passengers and passenger representatives in decision-making
• Longer franchises cannot be seen as an excuse to ‘cherry-pick’ lucrative longer distance routes at the expense of necessary suburban/local services
• The rail industry needs to get smarter at capturing revenue: reducing fare evasion, better marketing and attracting new business

Download London TravelWatch response to Sir Roy McNulty's review of the railways (August 2010)

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For media enquiries, please call London TravelWatch's press office on 020 7726 9953.