British Railways Most Expensive In Europe - Brake

3.20.00pm GMT Tue 24th Jan 2006

British Railways Most Expensive In Europe

In response to reports that the Department for Transport may be considering abolishing many 'saver' tickets, figures released by Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington and the Liberal Democrats' Transport Spokesman have confirmed that Britain's railways are already the most expensive in Europe.

For ten pounds you can travel over 300 miles in Slovakia, over 200 in Italy, but a measly 38 miles in Britain. Passengers can travel over three times the distance in France as in Britain.

Commenting, Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, said:

"Ten pounds in Britain will barely take you from one county to the next, whereas in Europe it takes you to the next country.

"The Government's transport policy is failing. It is creating ever more prohibitively expensive rail fares and we can hardly be surprised that people are not choosing to get out of their cars and let the train take the strain.

"If fares continue to rise at this rate, only Euro lottery winners will be able to travel by train in Britain."