I fully understand the concerns that rail passengers have with the cost of train fares, and their impact on household budgets. However, I think it is important to consider that wages are growing faster than train ticket prices thanks to action by the Government, including the commitment to cap regulated rail fares in line with inflation, which will save annual season ticket holders £425 on average in the five years to 2020.
As you suggest, passengers want reliable journeys in comfort and with better facilities. That is why the Government is investing record amounts in our railways, delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century, providing more seats, more services, wifi and air conditioning. The Government is investing in the electrification of the London to Bristol line which runs through Bath. This will speed up journeys.
I accept that any increase in regulated fares is regrettable, but record amounts are being invested to achieve better train services. Fares revenue is crucial to funding day-to-day railway operations, as well as the massive upgrade programme which Ministers have driven forward, with around £40 billion being invested to the end of 2019. This will mean new state-of-the-art trains, better stations and hundreds of miles of electrified track which will help cut journey times, provide better connections, and stimulate growth across the country.