IT’S no wonder that passengers are increasingly frustrated by poor rail service, cancelled trains, rising fares and increased overcrowding.

Last week the SNJ highlighted the issues with its report on rising cancellations of train services on the Cheltenham and Swindon line.

The SNJ’s report came in the week of Labour’s National Rail Campaign Day on Monday which aimed to highlight the issues, listen to passengers and raise awareness of solutions.

Latest data reveals worrying trends.

Across the UK, the proportion of passenger trains across the country that were cancelled or significantly late has risen by 50 per cent since 2010.

Overcrowding has increased by over 25 per cent on the top ten most overcrowded peak time routes, which are now on average 187 per cent in excess of capacity.

I am meeting with senior management from Great Western Rail later this week in Westminster to discuss concerns and seek reassurance that services will improve.

But in the longer term, we need to look at bringing our rail network back into public ownership, so that the railways are run in the interests of passengers and taxpayers not private profit.

As a regular train-user myself, I know how frustrating delays and cancellations are to daily life, and the impact these can have on employers and people trying to run businesses.

We are seeing quite clearly that privatised rail is fragmented, and drives up costs, making the system difficult for passengers to navigate and for governments to reform.

Passengers, our economy and our environment need affordable fares and reliable services, which the government is failing to deliver.

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