Good news for the incredulous.
Geoff Hoon is again trying to shift the blame for above inflation fares increases onto TOCs
This from today's Times:
Mr Hoon said that he had urged the main train companies “to bear in mind the difficult economic circumstances when setting their fares”.
A source at the Department for Transport said Mr Hoon was disappointed that most companies had chosen to ignore him.
If only we could Buff, if only we could.
Let's be clear.
It is Government policy that regulated fares rise annually by RPI+1.
Unregulated fare increases are notionally at the discretion of TOC's.
But they are set in line with Government policy which seeks to reduce taxpayer support to the railway by increasing passenger contributions.
If Geoff Hoon were really serious about curtailing increases to unregulated fares he could instruct his Civil Servents to issue appropriate directions and guidance to TOCs; the same TOC's whose franchises are let and managed by his own Department.
In the meantime Hoon's continued pretence that this has nothing to do with him is beginning to look more and more craven.
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