Letter to Transport Secretary regarding price increases and ticket offices

Monday 18^th September 2023

The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road,
London
SW1P 4DR

Dear Mr Harper,

We write on behalf of the many residents and businesses located within our town who regularly rely upon the rail network for their transport needs.

Since 2010, the Department for Transport has permitted increases in ticket prices which have seen the cost of a season ticket from Three Bridges to London grow by £1,623 in just 13 years, vastly outpacing inflation.

Despite this hefty increase in transport costs, over the same period of time rail-users have experienced consistent reductions in both service levels and the quality of facilities, including the proposed loss of ticket offices.

We note that this year fare caps were increased by your department in-line with average earnings from the previous July. If the same process is followed next year, our residents will face a further 8% increase in the price of fares, bringing the cost of a season ticket to London up to £4,462.56.

At the same time, the proposed withdrawal of the day travelcard will see the cost of occasional travel to London increase roughly by £2.67 per visit. While this decision is formally within the remit of the Mayor of London, we are aware that this proposal has emerged directly as a result of the financial conditions imposed by the Department for Transport’s Long-Term Funding Settlement with Transport for London.

As the elected representative of Greater London, it is inevitable that the Mayor will prioritise the needs of his residents, much as our residents expect us to prioritise their needs. However, as the Secretary of State for Transport, you hold a responsibility for transport which extends far beyond the city and it is the failure of your department which has directly led to the situation we now face.

On behalf of the needs of rail-users within our community we call upon you to:

Make it clear to rail operators that the Department for Transport will not permit the nation-wide closure of ticket offices.
Ensure that next year’s decision on rail fare caps recognises that the cost of rail travel has increased significantly above inflation since 2010 and limits the burden it places on commuters already struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
Agree a new Long-Term Funding Settlement with Transport for London which restores the funding necessary for the retention of the day travelcard and introduces lasting protections.
Come to the table with representatives of the rail unions to agree an equitable end to the industrial action which prevents the effective operation of the railways.

The railways are a fundamental public service which tens of thousands of Crawley residents rely upon every week, a service which is continuing to become more costly and less effective with every passing year. As the Secretary of State for Transport you bear ultimate responsibility for rail provision within England. We urge you to act to bring an end to the continued decline of this essential service.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Michael Jones
Leader, Crawley Borough Council On behalf of Crawley Borough Council Labour Group

Peter Lamb
Labour candidate for Crawley