SIR – Re the proposed rail fares increase for the elderly.
The cheap fares are excellent value. Combined with the Senior Railcard, offering 33 per cent off rail fares outside West Yorkshire, it is possible to travel throughout the north of England, East coast and West coast easily and relatively cheaply. The free travel by bus is available, but the train is faster and more comfortable.
Those who pay the full fares are having to bear the cost of a significant number of fare-dodgers using trains throughout the Metro area.
On a recent return journey between Bradford Forster Square and Saltaire, I observed some typical fare-dodging tactics. I overhead the conductor commenting to a passenger how difficult it was to deal with them.
Other larger stations, like Halifax, Keighley and Shipley, make boarding a train without a ticket very easy. Preventing this loss of revenue will help keep fare increases to a minimum for those who have to pay full fares.
Finally, the fare-dodger who gets on a train with two conductors really has to use his/her wits!
Ted Harris, Ormonde Drive, Allerton, Bradford
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