RISING rail fares have been condemned by Llanelli MP Nia Griffith.
She said fares between Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea and Cardiff had gone up between 4.2 per cent and 6 per cent on January 2.
The changes will have a massive impact on commuters and the local economy, the MP claimed.
"How can we encourage people to get out and look for job opportunities around the area when we are seeing local fares go up?" Ms Griffith added.
"The official figure of an average 4.2 per cent rise is a smokescreen, masking much higher rises which are hitting hard-pressed commuters just at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet with inflation and standstill wages.
"The peak time fare from Llanelli to Cardiff is up by 6 per cent, so are daily fares to Swansea and Carmarthen, and the 5.4 per cent rise in the Llanelli to Swansea season ticket hit national news, as one of the highest season ticket increases."