http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool...00252-31617770/

I'm normally a reader and not a poster but I'm interested to hear what Wirralites think of the current rail travel price issues.

They've had the go ahead from our wonderful government to raise prices by 3% more than inflation.

Just what we need when the majority aren't getting pay increases, not even in line with inflation. So, inflation + further price increases + no more pay = people even worse off.

Do you get the train to work? Do you struggle to pay for it? What % of your pay goes on getting to and from work?

Discuss...

I've heard the name 'rich man's toy' quoted when talking about the increased costs. There's a danger the railways will become just that if ticket prices keep rising at the rate they are.

For me, New Brighton to Liverpool isn't bad for the odd shopping trip but I sometimes get the train to Manchester for work and am gobsmacked it costs circa £19 return.

Railways will always be on the back foot relative to cars. They're often less convenient if the station's not nearby and they take longer (excepting some of the long distance services like London etc). Adding to this by making them more expensive just gives people another reason to avoid. That said, passenger numbers are up and rush hours are crowded so it's obviously not putting people off yet!

The laugh is nothing is nationalised anymore, these franchises are all run by private companies so the fare increase is only going to increase their profits. cutting jobs is another way for these firms to do things on the cheap and further drive up their profits.

It is ridiculous that fares are going up by such a large amount, it is just more money out of the pockets of working people which makes it harder to pay their bills. So the euphoria of the Olympics are over and it's back to the harsh reality of the working man being fleeced by over the top fare increases.

How about the commuters into London. £7,000 per year.Those who decided to move out of the capitol,finding somewhere cheaper to live, could be paying more.

All the commuting MP's will be claiming more. Bless!!

We will all be house bound soon, unable to afford to go to work, and to buy a new pair of shoes to walk to the local shop....out of the question!

Where do they expect everyone will end up? They don't seem to be in the real world , there is only so much people can pay out,if they don't have it, they can't pay it.

Then it will be like the utilities. Gas for example, because everyone cut down the usage, the companies didn't make so much profit. So, they put the prices up! Absolute A.H's

The chap in charge of privatising the railways was a young man named Tom Winsor. Anyone recognise his name? No? He's the same Tom Winsor that intends to do the same thing he did to the railways to the Police! The chosen replacement firm is <insert drum roll here> G4S!!

After them it will be the Ambulance service, Fire Brigade, NHS....you get the picture!

Oh, mustn't forget the Coastguard that's going, going, gone!

Oh, and Search & Rescue.

And you think you pay a lot for these services now via Council Tax!

Here we go!

First Group taken the West Coast line London to Glasgow off Virgin and also North Wales to London line. As there are 28 different rail operating companies ,it makes sense to reduce them but I thought Virgin were good. Another multi national company will only become another monopoly. (I think they are American but not too sure) Just getting sold out in this country .

http://www.whoownswho.org/first_group.htm