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Twitter action: Ask your MP to say ‘No’ to higher evening fares in Greater Manchester

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Earlier in August, Northern Rail made the surprise announcement that they are planning to introduce higher peak fares for the evening rush hour. From 8th September, passengers either leaving or entering most of the north’s main cities between 4.00pm and 6.30pm will have to pay for a peak-time ticket, costing up to double the off-peak equivalent currently available. All of Northern Rail’s train services in Greater Manchester will be affected.

The new evening peak fares will unfairly penalise passengers for Governmentโ€™s failure to invest in adequate train services to meet demand. Among those hardest hit will be some of the most disadvantaged and poorly paid in the labour market. Many part-time and shift workers will be travelling to or from their jobs at this time and will not able to change their travel habits to avoid the higher fares.

Rather than introducing evening peak tickets, the Department for Transport and Northern Rail should focus on improving services and on making Northern Rail’s services more attractive to potential passengers. This should include investing in better trains, stations and offering more flexible ticketing for part-time and shift workers.

As part of our work on sustainable transport, Manchester Friends of the Earth supports the Campaign for Better Transport “Fair Fares Now” campaign and would encourage every one to sign the petition calling on Patrick McLoughlin (Secretary of State for Transport) to Say ‘No’ to higher evening fares in the north of England.

We have also created this simple Twitter action to encourage Greater Manchester Members of Parliament (MPs) to add their voice to this campaign. If you have a Twitter acount, all you have to do is click on the “Tweet to” links below and a Twitter message will pop up ready to send to your MP.

The message reads: [@MPsname] Will you say NO to higher fares in Greater Manchester and scrap plans for evening peak tickets? http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/no-northern-fares-hike/

If you don’t know who your Member of Parliament is, then pop your postcode into the Write to Them website.

If you get a response (positive or negative) let us know @mcrfoe and we will update the table below. MPs are listed by Constituency (in alphabetical order).

Greater Manchester MPs Tweet link / already supporting the Petition
Altrincham & Sale West: David Brady MP
Ashton under Lyne: David Heyes MP
Blackley and Broughton: Graham Stringer MP
Bolton North East: David Crausby MP
Bolton South East: Yasmin Qureshi MP
Bolton West: Julie Hilling MP
Bury North: David Nuttall MP
Bury South: Ivan Lewis MP
Cheadle: Mark Hunter MP
Denton and Reddish: Andrew Gwynne MP
Hazel Grove: Andrew Stunnell MP
Heywood and Middleton: Jim Dobbin MP Labour MP Jim Dobbin has died at the age of 73, whilst on a trip to Poland organised by the Council of Europe.
Leigh: Andy Burnham MP
Manchester Central: Lucy Powell MP
Manchester Gorton: Gerald Kaufman MP
Manchester Withington: John Leech MP
Oldham East & Saddleworth: Debbie Abrahams MP
Oldham West and Royton: Michael Meacher MP
Rochdale: Simon Danczuk MP
Salford and Eccles: Hazel Blears MP
Stalybridge and Hyde: Jonathan Reynolds MP
Stockport: Ann Coffey MP
Stretford and Urmston: Kate Green MP
Wigan: Lisa Nandy MP
Worsley and Eccles South: Barbara Keeley MP
Wythenshawe and Sale East: Mike Kane MP

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