Greens have pledged a 33% cut in rail fares as part of a £5 billion package to help make UK rail “truly world class and affordable”.

It was announced at the Green Party’s spring conference in London this weekend that the party’s general election manifesto will include a pledge to cut one-third off rail fares in a bid to boost public transport use, create thousands of jobs in the transport sector, help tackle economic inequality and cut CO2 emissions.

Under the Green Party’s proposals, all current rail prices would be slashed. The price of season tickets from Brighton to London terminals would fall dramatically, with a weekly ticket costing £59.27 rather than the current £88.90, and a monthly ticket falling from £341.40 to just £227.60.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party general election candidate for Brighton Pavilion constituency, said:
“Time and again I hear on the doorstep in Brighton that residents would like to leave their cars at home, but are put off by the prohibitive prices. And although many already use trains to get to work and back, they are often spending huge amounts of money - and time - in the process.

"Greens would create a public investment package to kill off the recession by creating jobs, while moving the economy onto a more stable, sustainable footing. The package would include direct investment to improve rail services and also a subsidy to cut rail fares. We estimate that the combined package would create 20,000 new railway jobs in the UK, from coach-fitters and engineers to train managers and station workers.

“Under Labour we have the highest rail fares in Europe. Under the Conservatives we had the highest rail fares in Europe. The Lib Dems are promising a freeze in rail fares – at the highest level in Europe. If you vote Green, you’re sending a powerful message to the other parties that they need to get on the right track and give Britain a truly world-class affordable rail network.”

The package to be proposed by the Greens would involve about £2 billion immediate direct investment in rail improvements, beyond existing commitments, and £3 billion in fare subsidies for the first year, with further investments and subsidies envisaged for future years. The £5 billion would be part of a proposed investment package of £44 billion.

For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonhovegreens.org