Eagle eyes a fare deal

LABOUR’S shadow transport secretary is calling for more regulation of the buses to ensure Oldham passengers get a fairer price.

Maria Eagle told the Labour Party conference in Manchester: “Bus fares in Oldham are going up higher than in other parts of the region because of bus deregulation - even though wages are lower in Oldham and north Manchester than other parts of the area.”

Ms Eagle said in south Manchester a bus ticket was £12 a week under Stagecoach, but £18 a week in north Manchester under First.

Ms Eagle vowed to get tough with private rail and bus companies if Labour wins power in 2015.

She said: “Bus and train companies make a fortune out of a subsidised industry, but — after 2015 — I am not going to be able to write a cheque and throw money at it. They are going to have to put their hands in their pockets and help, rather than take all that money from farepayers and taxpayers.”


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