Labour fails to rule out Metro ticket price hikes until all new trains in service

Sunderland City Council's Labour leader was asked to vote against any increases in Metro ticket prices until all new trains were in service – but failed to do so, prompting fears of fresh fare hikes.

The Leader of Sunderland City Council has refused to commit to vetoing any increases in the cost of Metro tickets this year.

At a meeting of Sunderland Council this week [22 January] Lib Dem councillor for Millfield and Thornhill Andrew Wood asked the Leader of the Council Michael Mordey to rule out voting for increases to Metro ticket until all new Metro trains are in service.

Responding, Michael Mordey refused to commit to stopping any Metro price hikes when they are debated and voted on by regional council leaders at the North East Mayoral Cabinet next week [28 January].

Opposition Lib Dems on Wearside want a fare freeze until all new trains and in service, and also argue that passengers and commuters shouldn’t be footing the bill through higher ticket prices for the failure of the Mayor and council bosses over the Gateshead flyover.

Commenting, Councillor Andrew Wood said:

“It would be a betrayal of people in Sunderland if the Leader of the Council agreed to yet more price hikes for hard-pressed Metro passengers when we are still having to put up absolutely terrible service levels.

“Forcing people to pay more when hardly any trains run on time is a massive kick in the teeth. The Mayor’s Cabinet should insist on scrapping any fare increases until all the new trains are in service and we have a Metro that people can actually rely on.

"I urge Michael Mordey to think of the hard-pressed city of Sunderland Metro users rather than his own political ambitions."