FURY has erupted at another hike in rail fares on the Airedale line.

Beleaguered passengers are having to fork out an extra three-plus per cent for their journeys.

Campaigners have hit out at the latest annual rise, which comes in the wake of a difficult year for operator Northern.

The company was recently criticised in Parliament by Keighley Labour MP John Grogan, who said its performance levels had “sunk abysmally low” – with delays to services, cancellations and overcrowding.

Labour Party members have leafleted passengers at Keighley, Ilkley and Steeton and Silsden stations following the fares increase.

Mr Grogan said a season ticket from Keighley to Leeds now cost £1,252, an increase of £36.

He added: “About half of all fares – such as season tickets and standard returns – are regulated by the Government and go up by the rise in the retail price index, which this year is about 3.1 per cent.

“This measure of inflation includes council tax and mortgage interest payment rises and in recent years has increased at a much greater rate than the alternative consumer prices index, which the Labour Party favours as a guide to fare increases.

“Regulated fares have now risen by 36 per cent since 2010, more than twice the level at which average wages have increased in the same period.

“Given the very poor performance of Northern in recent months, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald has suggested a 12-month fares freeze on all lines operated by the company – financed by a tax on its profits.”

Bradford-district Green Party has also hit out at the soaring fares, and is urging passengers to ensure they claim compensation when affected by late-running services.

Green councillor and rail commuter, Kevin Warnes, said: “Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown that the British public knows the railway network isn’t fit for purpose and something urgently needs to happen.

“However that doesn’t help rail users here in Bradford district when they are stood on the platform waiting for a late – or worse still, cancelled – train.

“Passengers must make the rail companies pay for their incompetence – literally. The Delay Repay scheme lets passengers claim compensation for a late-running service.

“It doesn’t make up for being late for work, or missing an important meeting, but it is only right that we are fully compensated for a service that does not get to the destination on time.”

Northern says it is “truly sorry” for any inconvenience caused by disruption to rail services and adds that since last summer it has paid out special compensation to more than 11,000 passengers.

Richard Allan, deputy managing director, said: “Following the launch of Delay Repay 15, those customers who experience day-to-day delays can claim the compensation they want and deserve.

“Our team works hard to deliver a consistent, punctual service but delays do happen and extending compensation is the right thing to do for our customers.”