Trains are a rich man's toy, says transport secretary
Britain's rail fares are now so high that trains have become a "rich man's toy", Transport Secretary Richard Hammond has said.
He told the Commons transport committee it was an "uncomfortable fact" that customers had "significantly higher incomes" than the general population.
Mr Hammond added that some fares on the West Coast Mainline were "eye-wateringly expensive".
Commuter season tickets are set to rise by about 8% on average next year.
The above-inflation increase is part of the government's agenda to reduce the cost to the public purse of running the rail network.
But the Campaign for Better Transport described the change as a "disaster for people already struggling with rising costs".
Appearing before the MPs, Mr Hammond said: "Uncomfortable fact number one is that the railway is already relatively a rich man's toy
"People who use the railway on average have significantly higher incomes than the population as a whole - simple fact."
However, while commenting on the high price of some West Coast Mainline fares, he said that some advance ticket prices were "really quite reasonable".
BBC
Admittedly nothing new here but thought it might be worth a mention.