Baths’s MP Wera Hobhouse, who also happens to be Lib Dem spokesperson for transport, has grilled the government on government on their plans to bring rail fares down for commuters in Bath.
She slammed the “terrible” transport legacy the former Conservative government had left, driving travel fares sky-high and putting enormous pressure on families and commuters who were already grappling with the cost of living.
Mrs Hobhouse demanded that the new government outline a clear strategy to bring down fare prices, suggesting that they were lacking a plan to alleviate the costs of travelling by rail.
The Liberal Democrats have called for a freeze on rail fares and a simplified ticketing system to ensure that passengers get a fair and affordable deal. Wera Hobhouse also pushed the government on their plans for greening the transport sector as she asked them to set out a long-term strategy for rail electrification, warning that the failure to do so would be a dereliction of duty.
The party has also strongly supported empowering local authorities to franchise bus services and as such, Mrs Hobhouse said it was reassuring to see this ambition shared by the new government. However, she warned that local authorities must be afforded sufficient resources to expand and improve bus services for passengers. Indeed, Wera Hobhouse has long led the calls to fix the bus system for residents in Bath, as the city has lost more than half of its bus services since 2010.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented:
“The former Conservative government has left a terrible legacy behind them when it comes to transport. Their incompetence has caused rail fares to rocket, while services worsen. It’s staggering that passengers are paying more, but getting less.
“Passengers deserve a government that is willing to put them first. We need an immediate freeze on rail fares alongside a simplified ticket system to make sure passengers are getting a fair and affordable deal. Anything but would be a dereliction of duty.”
