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13 September 2011
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Philip Hammond says trains have become a "rich man's toy"
Britain's rail fares are now so high that trains have become a "rich man's toy", Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said.
He told the Commons transport committee it was an "uncomfortable fact" that customers had "significantly higher incomes" than the general population.
Mr Hammond added that some fares on the West Coast Mainline were "eye-wateringly expensive".
Commuter season tickets are set to rise by about 8% on average next year.
The above-inflation increase is part of the government's agenda to reduce the cost to the public purse of running the rail network.
But the Campaign for Better Transport described the change as a "disaster for people already struggling with rising costs".
'Ripple effect' Mr Hammond was appearing before the transport committee to answer questions on High Speed 2 (HS2) - the planned line between London and Birmingham with a possible future extension to northern England and Scotland.
He was asked by Labour MP Julie Hilling whether it would become a "rich person's toy" unavailable to "people of low or moderate means".
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Mr Hammond replied: "Uncomfortable fact number one is that the railway is already relatively a rich man's toy - the whole railway.
"People who use the railway on average have significantly higher incomes than the population as a whole - simple fact."
He added: "The assumptions underlying the patterns of use of HS2 assume similar pricing to the West Coast Mainline, which I have said before ranges from eye-wateringly expensive to really quite reasonable, if you dig around and use the advance purchase ticket options that are available.
"And therefore the assumption is that the socio-economic mix of passengers will be broadly similar to those using the West Coast Mainline."
However, Mr Hammond also said: "If you are a factory worker from Manchester you might never get on HS2 but you will certainly be benefiting from it, if the sales director of your company is routinely hopping on it to meet customers, to jet round the world from Heathrow in a way that brings in orders to keep you employed."
He told the MPs that the "ripple effects" of High Speed 2 would spread across the economy.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Philip Hammond says trains have become a "rich man's toy"
Britain's rail fares are now so high that trains have become a "rich man's toy", Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said.
He told the Commons transport committee it was an "uncomfortable fact" that customers had "significantly higher incomes" than the general population.
Mr Hammond added that some fares on the West Coast Mainline were "eye-wateringly expensive".
Commuter season tickets are set to rise by about 8% on average next year.
The above-inflation increase is part of the government's agenda to reduce the cost to the public purse of running the rail network.
But the Campaign for Better Transport described the change as a "disaster for people already struggling with rising costs".
'Ripple effect' Mr Hammond was appearing before the transport committee to answer questions on High Speed 2 (HS2) - the planned line between London and Birmingham with a possible future extension to northern England and Scotland.
He was asked by Labour MP Julie Hilling whether it would become a "rich person's toy" unavailable to "people of low or moderate means".
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
People who use the railway on average have significantly higher incomes than the population as a whole - simple fact”
End Quote
Philip Hammond
Transport Secretary
Mr Hammond replied: "Uncomfortable fact number one is that the railway is already relatively a rich man's toy - the whole railway.
"People who use the railway on average have significantly higher incomes than the population as a whole - simple fact."
He added: "The assumptions underlying the patterns of use of HS2 assume similar pricing to the West Coast Mainline, which I have said before ranges from eye-wateringly expensive to really quite reasonable, if you dig around and use the advance purchase ticket options that are available.
"And therefore the assumption is that the socio-economic mix of passengers will be broadly similar to those using the West Coast Mainline."
However, Mr Hammond also said: "If you are a factory worker from Manchester you might never get on HS2 but you will certainly be benefiting from it, if the sales director of your company is routinely hopping on it to meet customers, to jet round the world from Heathrow in a way that brings in orders to keep you employed."
He told the MPs that the "ripple effects" of High Speed 2 would spread across the economy.
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