Rail firm Arriva Trains Wales has defended increases in fares after a meeting with two Labour councillors.
Penyrhoel ward councillor Huw Davies and Morgan Jones ward councillor James Pritchard met with rail bosses over concerns that increased ticket prices were pricing people out of using the train on the Rhymney Valley line.
The pair outlined their argument for a price freeze, citing the number of workers who use the train to commute to Cardiff.
Cllr Pritchard said the meeting went well and although no price freeze was agreed, the councillors would continue to keep the pressure on the company.
He said: “Recent figures released from the House of Commons Library indicate that average earnings are rising by only 0.8%. Since 2010 the price of a return ticket to Cardiff has risen by an average of 8.5%, some ten times more than current earnings.
“Fares on the Rhymney line have exceeded the Welsh average for some time now and I believe to help redress the balance – it is time for a freeze.”
Cllr Davies, whose Penyrheol ward is due to get a new train station at Energlyn, added: “Constituents of mine would welcome a fare freeze given the recent rises.
“Arriva have the power to do this and they recognised this fact. There are large numbers of Caerphilly basin residents commuting to Cardiff already and with increased capacity likely when the new station at Energlyn is up and running I’m concerned that local people are being disproportionately hit.”
The councillors said that they will be looking to meet with Arriva again over the coming months to press the case further.
An Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman said fares were reviewed on an annual basis and that Government regulated price rises were in line with the retail price index.
She said: “We continue to offer some of the cheapest rail fares in the UK for both daily and long distance journeys, and our average fare is still only £3.85. The price of season tickets also makes travelling to work daily by train exceptionally good value when compared to the cost of driving and parking. We also continue to offer great value fares for daily and long distance leisure journeys.”
What a bare-faced cheek Caerphilly Labour Councillors have to complain about fares rises on Arriva Trains Wales. Labour had 13 years in government to end the Tory rail privatisation scandal and bring our railways back under public control. They preferred instead to give Arriva a 15 year franchise and line the pockets of the fat cat privateers. In Cardiff Bay, the Labour run Assembly are happy to see the franchise subsidised by millions of pounds of taxpayers money as the Arriva shareholders rake in the dividends.
Crocodile tears from Labour councillors who are again shown to be happy to reward the top bosses then concoct an impression that they are looking after their constituents complaining abour fares increases they endorse in government.
Spot on with your comments Phil usual political whitewash from Labour.
Have to say though train or bus price vs car,fuel and parking prices and congestion, pollution etc there is no comparison.
I remember when these subsidies were given for the Vally`s Lines, The Leader at that time of Plaid Cymru, was the minister in the Welsh Assembly responsible for Transport and transport infrastructure issue in Wales.
Good work By Caerphilly Labour Councillors Jamie Prichard and Huw Davies in representing the views of their constituents to Arriva Trains and thinking `out of the box` on such representations, very proactive, and very much appreciated.
I also see that they have not finished with the issues yet and another meeting will be held to press home their concerns, good to see them doing ,and not just sitting on their hands, as can quite easily become the way elected some Councillors can transfophisise once elected and between elections.
Unfortunately as they are local councillors they can't really do much about what happens in Westminster or Cardiff Bay, they are only able to try and do things local to their respective wards. Also I don't think either of them were local councillors when Labour were in Government? At least they are trying to do something rather then nothing. I would appreciate a price freeze on the trains and don't care which party achieves this, if it is achieved at all. If one person is travelling, I agree it is still cheaper to take the train or bus, however when a family is travelling it is not! Hopefully something can be done!
I agree with Lucy, I don't care who fights on our behalf to get fares reduced. Well done to Cllr. Pritchard, he only took his seat in May 2012 and cannot be blamed for past failures, judge him on his efforts now.
Hopefully sustained pressure will result in a freeze of prices or even a reduction. This will be benefical both financially and environmentally to our town.
I think what Huw Davies and James Pritchard are trying to achieve is to be acknowledged and not criticised. I thought the whole idea of becoming a local councillor was to help residents in their own wards and Caerphilly. Maybe other parties could learn lesson or two!
People moan about expensive train costs but when people try to do something about it, still moan!
Proud I have a Labour councillor representing me in Penyrheol, who has the residents best interest at heart.