In brief... - Union slams rail fares hike

Dec 14 2007

Rail union leaders have launched a fresh attack on the level of train fares after discovering it is cheaper to fly to the Caribbean and back than a return trip by rail from London to Scotland.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union attacked the deal under which National Express will take over the running of services on the East Coast mainline from GNER .

Increases of more than two per cent above inflation have been built into unregulated fares for the next eight years, under which the Treasury hopes National Express will pay more than £1.4billion in premiums, said the union.