Dominic Hannigan warns that rail fare rises will damage the environment.

5.45.51pm GMT Tue 2nd Jan 2007

Cardiff South and Penarth Liberal Democrat campaigner Dominic Hannigan has hit out at the rail fare rises announced today. By allowing fares to rise beyond inflation, the government will encourage more people off the railways and into their cars, further damaging the planet.

Dominic Hannigan said, "This is more bad news for rail passengers, many people want to travel by train for environmental reasons, but by allowing repeated fare increases like this the government will simply encourage more people to drive."

"At a time when services seem to be getting more and more overcrowded, the way to make train travel more appealing to people is to encourage a railway network that we can be proud of. Labour must recognise that by allowing people to be priced off the railways, all we will get is more road congestion, more pollution and train services for the few and not for everyone."