ORR wants department to publish a justification of its policy on rail fares

ORR Chief Bill Emery argues that falling costs should reduce any upward pressure on fares

ORR Chief Bill Emery argues that falling costs should reduce any upward pressure on fares

The rail regulator has told Department for Transport rail director general Mike Mitchell that he should publicly justify the 20% fare rises introduced at South West Trains this summer, and other inflation-busting hikes which he has sanctioned in new franchise agreements.

In correspondence between the DfT, passenger watchdogs and the Office of Rail Regulation, released by Passenger Focus last week, ORR chief executive Bill Emery argues that falling rail industry costs should reduce upward...