EU rail regs could raise UK train fares by 50 percent

Monday, August 15 2011

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass has this week warned that UK rail fares could soar by as much as 50 per cent if new EU regulations are given the green light.

The UKIP MEP, who is a member of the EU’s Transport & Tourism Committee, says new rules proposed by the European Commission would lead to colossal increases in rail fares.

New regulations from Brussels would lead to the creation of a ‘user pays’ system where passengers would be forced to incur the full cost of rail travel.

Government subsidy of rail travel would come to an end as a result of the proposed rules which would plunge our railways into crisis.

Mr Nattrass says the rules would lead to more congestion on British roads and more pollution.

He said: “These new EU rules would force more cars onto our already congested roads.

“More and more people would stop using our railways and the Government still wants to waste billions of pounds on High Speed Rail 2 (HS2).

“The EU also wants to introduce more tolls and pay-as-you-go travel on British roads. So there would be no escape. It would be a catch 22 situation – pay high rail fares or pay excessive toll charges.

“Britain would be further on the road and further along the track to ruin. These latest proposals are yet another example of unwanted EU interference in our affairs.

“We should control our own roads and railways and not be bullied by Brussels,” added Mr Nattass.