Wouldn't it be nice if commuters could face each new year without the customary hike in rail fares announced by the Rail Delivery Group.This year fares in England and Scotland have risen by 2.7%, with many areas facing the same poor standard of service and incidence of cancellation for up to £100 more per year, slightly lower than the rate of inflation for the third year running. Not happy? move to Wales where fares are a modest 1% lower.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is stripping Northern rail of its franchise due to unacceptable performance, which sends out a very clear message to other railway franchise operators with high late and cancellation stats.

Commuters feel very hard done by paying higher and higher prices for substandard service, just to get to work year in year out and have no real belief that things will change.