§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Transport what are the new scales of charges which have been fixed by the Railway Rates Tribunal for workmen's tickets and ordinary season tickets which are to come into operation on the various railways on 1st January next?
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§ Colonel ASHLEYThe scale of charges fixed by the Railway Rates Tribunal for the conveyance of workmen between such points and hours as workmen's tickets are from time to time issued, is as follows:
For each return journey where the single journey does not exceed one mile 2d. For the next three miles or any part thereof (per mile) 1d. For the next six miles or any part thereof (per mile) ¾d. For the next 10 miles or any part thereof (per mile) ½d. For the remainder of the distance (per mile) ¼d. In calculating single journeys exceeding one mile, half-miles or fractions thereof shall be reckoned as half-miles, and fractions of a mile exceeding one-half shall be reckoned as one mile.
Fractions of one halfpenny to be charged as one halfpenny.
Weekly tickets to be issued at the price of six daily tickets.
I understand that the application of the standard charges as from 1st January next will result in some of the existing fares being reduced and others being increased. The railway companies have, however, given an undertaking that they will not increase any workmen's fares by more than Id. per day or 6d. per week, until the matter is again reviewed by the Tribunal.
The scale of charges fixed by the Tribunal for ordinary season tickets is too long to quote, but the hon. Member will find the scale as fixed by the Tribunal in the Schedules of Standard Charges which have been published as Statutory Rules and Orders, 1927, Nos. 848 to 851.
As in the case of workmen's fares, the application of the standard charges will involve some reductions and some increases in the existing charges.
The railway companies have given an undertaking that any increases in season ticket rates will not exceed 10 per cent. pending further review by the Tribunal.