Colchester Labour Party

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Labour slams 'out of touch' Minister

Colchester Labour Party Chairman Jordan Newell has slammed claims by a LibDem Transport Minister that a journey on Colchester’s main rail line “compares favourably” to other networks.

Responding to the Minister’s comments, Jordan Newell said:

"Norman Baker’s comments during his visit to Colchester have shown just how out of touch his Government is with the ordinary travelling public.”

While Mr Baker praised his journey time to Colchester, he was one of the lucky ones. Many Colchester commuters are forced to endure regular delays and rail replacement bus services on the main line.

“The Minister seems to believe that £52.50 to travel to London, standard class and often with no seats available, is perfectly reasonable. Well, I am sure it is for some one on a ministerial salary, but not for ordinary commuters who are now forced to spend almost 50% of their household income on rail fares to travel to work,” Jordan Newell added.

After commuting to London for 10 years, Jordan knows only to well the terrible experiences endured by many rail users and remains a champion for Colchester’s commuters and local public transport users.

“Mr Baker's visit was about promoting cycling - a wise move, given that cuts to bus subsidies, rising petrol prices and rising rail fares leave ordinary travellers with no other option but to cycle”, Mr Newell concluded.

Only last month, Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle visited Colchester to meet local commuters to talk about local rail services and the impact of increased tickets fares on rail users.