"WE must take back control of the railways." That is the message from Labour's candidate in the General Election Rebecca Jenkins.

Her comments come as the annual rail hike has been announced, and an average of 2.7 per cent increase in rail fares next January.

The rise, announced by industry body the Rail Delivery Group, is lower than the 3.1 per cent increase at the start of 2019.

Train companies say this is the third year in a row that average fares have been held below the benchmark inflation measure on which rises are based.

But many commuters will still face an increase of more than £100 in the annual cost of getting to work.

The increase also affects regulated fares, about 40 per cent of the total, including most commuter season tickets as well as some long distance off-peak fares and peak urban trips.

Rebecca Jenkins said: “A Labour Government would immediately reduce the price of season tickets and other regulated fares by a third, and introduce a wider simplification of the ticketing system.”

She went on to explain this is part of Labour’s plans to renationalise the rail system over the long term, that would cut these fares by 33per cent from January.

For part-time workers, changes to the fare system would ensure they would not pay more on the trains per day than commuters with all-week season tickets, while those aged 16 and under would travel for free.

Rebecca Jenkins said: “I have spent the last two years along with Redditch Labour Party, talking to commuters at Redditch Station who are fed up to the back teeth of fare rises with little improvement in the services and where the profits go into overseas shareholders.

"For too long there has been a fragmented and privatised rail system that has ripped off passengers.”

She added: “Taking back control of our railways is the only way to bring down fares and create a railway network that is fit for the future.

"Labour will bring about real change on the railways because we are on the side of passengers and not the profit makers."