Tories to freeze rail fares
 

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...res-five-years

Isn't this intervening in the market though :D

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Especially when they constantly say "We won't interfere in the free market".

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Still a good idea however. Although I would rather they get to the roots of the problem with is the ridiculous franchising system we have in this country. Privatisation in a industry where you cannot have real competition? What's the point? They're just temporary monopolies.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

That's the big problem though as Privatisation has simply not worked in the interests for the vast majority of commuters and l can't see that changing sadly.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

It's already a regulated market. In post-privatisation UK, regulation of prices is common in areas where there is no competition. Season tickets for use on a single private operator's rail service are a classic example of this. Water bills are another.

---------- Post added at 10:32 ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 ----------

Really? 20 years ago I could just about justify the cost of using the train for a long journey by using a YP railcard. Now, thanks to the initiative of private companies which are required to innovate in order to make a profit, it's a no-brainer. I can get a return trip for less than the petrol cost of half the journey, even though my railcard days are long gone.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

We don't have a free market. The railways are still state subsidised to an extent and they're a hell of a lot better now than they were when I was commuting regularly on ancient rolling stock. It was the persistent lack of investment by various govts. during the bad old days which stored up so many of the problems we've subsequently faced.

I think a dose of pre-privatisation 'service' from the likes of BR, the various utilities, GPO etc. would remind people just how bad things were in the days when there was no competition and we were at the mercy of heavily unionised organisations with a vested interest in perpetuating archaic working practices.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

The British railway network is owned and maintained by an arms-length, state-owned company (Network Rail). All its essential services are determined by a state regulator. Those services are operated by private companies who are chosen by the department of transport, for a limited time, when they are then re-franchised.

The only part of the national rail network that is actually owned by the private sector is the rolling stock.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Pay all that money and still cant get a seat! a big improvement.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Good to see them saying they're considering intervening to keep prices down. A pleasant contrast to their housing policy.

Obviously though it's pap; taxpayers will pick up the bill to subsidise this just as we do their various other vote-winning scams.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

I thought this was the accusation that gets leveled at Labour most of the time. ;)

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Some politicians are worse than others. I just wish they'd stop handing out bribes and do what's best for UK PLC but there are far too many people who vote purely in their own interests for that to be anything other than political suicide.

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Exactly! I'm now waiting for Arthur to slag this policy off. :D

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

They should freeze MP wages & abolish MPs expenses (except travel and food to london)

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

But if I am working away for my job, accommodation expenses are paid - shouldn't that be the same for MPs with constituencies outside London?

Re: Tories to freeze rail fares
 

Ok but it shouldn't be 5* hotels, a simple B&B style hotel should be enough.

MPs take us all for a ride on their expenses (and I've had to redact information on them).

I mean claiming 19p for a bath plug, it should have been rejected FFS.