The government’s transport spokesman in the House of Lords has admitted that travelling by train was too expensive for him, reports said.
Earl John Attlee said he had to scrap a trip to a motor show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham because the buy-on-the-day fare from Euston was too pricey.
The Conservative hereditary peer, a grandson of 1945-1951 prime minister Clement Attlee, was under pressure at the House of Lords on Thursday as he defended inflation-busting fare rises.
“When we look at just walking up to Euston and buying a ticket it is very expensive and we don’t compare well with our continental partners,” he said.
“But when we look at advanced purchases we do compare quite well.
“In my case, one day I wanted to go to the NEC to visit the motor show and I could not afford the walk-up fare.
“Just too expensive for me.”
Attlee is paid more than £63,537 ($100,000, 74,000 euros) a year in his role as a government whip, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.
This year’s overall average rail ticket price rise was 3.9 percent, the 10th successive above-inflation annual rise.
Train too pricey – government transport spokesman
