RAIL FARES

That this House notes that rail fares are at an all-time high, with some season tickets now costing over 5,000, or the equivalent of a fifth of the average UK salary; is concerned that such high fares will put rail travel out of reach for many people, restrict access to jobs and result in greater congestion and carbon emissions; therefore welcomes efforts to create a simpler, more affordable fare structure; further notes the Government's commitment to fair pricing for rail travel as set out in the Coalition Agreement; and calls on the Government to honour this commitment by reviewing its decision to increase fares by three per cent. above inflation from January 2012 in the light of the outcomes of the McNulty value for money study, which has already identified significant potential cost savings.