'Can we agree it's daylight robbery?': Andy Burnham continues to wage war on rail fares after flight comparison debate

Mayor Andy Burnham has doubled down on his comments comparing rail faires between Manchester and London to flights to Brazil after his attack on exortionate train travel launched a big debate. Launching a three-pronged defence of his initial takedown of the Transport Secretary's 'Great British Rail Sale', he asked everyone to agree that train fares are in fact 'daylight robbery'.

It all began this week when the Mayor was scornful of the rail fare 'bonanza' advertised by Grant Shapps as a way to offset the cost of living crisis. Mr Burnham said in fact the promotions was an admission from the government that ‘rail fares in this country are way too high’.

Mr Burnham claimed that, based on today’s prices, it is ‘cheaper to book a return flight from Manchester to India, Jamaica, Brazil or the Ivory Cost than it is to take a two-hour return rail journey to our capital city’. “It is often cheaper to get a flight between Manchester and London if you need to travel at peak times,” he added. "For as long as train tickets cost more than plane tickets, the economics of transport in the UK will be in entirely the wrong place when it comes to facing up to the climate crisis. But the truth is it’s unlikely to change any time soon.”

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Slamming the rail sale as an 'election gimmick' that excludes daily commuters, Mr Burnham called for a complete public takeover of he railways, and a 'massive reduction' in fares. Mr Burnham's was certainly not the sole voice of outcry following the launch of the sale. Fellow critics variously branded it a 'meaningless soundbite' and a 'stunt.

It follows a rise in regulated rail fares, which are set by