Islwyn MP Chris Evans has called for train fares to be reduced after early January price rises meant that regulated fares have risen a further 1.1% on average.
The price rises have continued the trend of rising ticket costs, which have increased by 25% since 2010.
According to the TUC, average wages have not kept pace with increased rail fares after rising by just 9% over the same period.
Figures produced by the Office of Rail and Road show that over 179,000 rail journeys were started from stations in the Islwyn constituency, including 55,000 by season ticket holders, between 2014 and 2015.
Mr Evans said: “It is clear that many people in my constituency will be affected by this continued rise in rail fares. A vast number of these are just trying to get to work in Cardiff or elsewhere, but they have no choice but to pay high fares.
“The Government has the power to change this and to reduce the burden on commuters who are simply trying to get to work. Workers should not be forced to pay so much for train tickets.
“I worry that high rail fares may mean more people decide to commute by car, causing even greater traffic issues on the M4.”
I am not surprised. The cost of maintaining the old rolling stock, the terrible rails, and overpaying train drivers does push the prices up.
Britain should use the privatised bullet trains in Japan as an example.
Having moved to South Wales from a large city in England where local train and bus travel was quite reasonably priced I was staggered to find how much a short rail journey from Caerphilly into Cardiff cost, and when I got there I was forced to get a taxi home as public transport had shut down for the day, I learned my lesson and now use the car to get to Cardiff.
This is the problem. Until public transport is good enough and inexpensive enough to be a viable alternative to a person’s own transport then people will not use it.
I have not worked anywhere in the last thirty years where public transport could have enabled me to present myself in work at the specified time. Big cities like London and San Francisco have a viable transport system because massive amounts of money have been invested. There is not the slightest possibility of Wales getting an equivalent mass transit system. Therefore I shall continue to use my own transport for work and the railway only for occasional shopping jaunts in Cardiff.
I could not agree more. ATW is terrible. I do not know why, the privatised bullet trains in Japan are much better.