A Fare Deal for Rail Passengers ‘We are all in this together’ does not seem to apply to rail companies exploiting the travelling public, and those commuters who drive the engine of the economy. We face the prospect of worse services and higher fares, even though our transport system is one of the worst in the developed world. We therefore call upon the UK and devolved governments to do something about this, by: - imposing a profit cap or windfall tax on rail companies receiving public subsidy; - requiring the publication of all salary levels and bonuses payable to railway staff for both subsidy-receiving private companies, and public organisation such as Network Rail; - tightening performance standards which do not reflect actual delays and cancellations because of the generous thresholds and exemption...all actual delays from timetabled arrival time and all cancellations must be recorded; - including overcrowding in rigorous performance standards; - increasing compensation payable to passengers who suffer from delays, cancellations and overcrowding, also lowering the thresholds for compensation; - reviewing the confusing system of ticketing, including a stautory requirement for passengers to be supplied with the cheapest fare option for their journey; - restricting the use of ‘peak time’ fares for services which can be demonstrated to serve commuters in terms of frequency of service and capacity; - capping extortionate penalty fares for passengers who often make innocent mistakes or fall victim to deliberately confusing terms and conditions; and - removing the perks of reduced rail travel from rail staff, which are ultimately subsidised by taxpayers and commuters.