Long-suffering commuters here in Newport East and across the country are right to feel angry about the latest unjustified rail fare hike which comes into place today.

Over recent years fares have risen nearly three times faster than wages, while at the same time commuter services – including key cross-border services from Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction – have been plagued by reliability problems and overcrowding. I’ll continue to raise these issues with Ministers.

The amount by which train companies can raise regulated fares is the responsibility of the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. He has the power to enforce this but he’s choosing not to. Labour would keep fares down, and bring our railways back into public ownership so they are run in the interests of passengers, not private profit.