{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/9475d117-fcd4-4915-a6f3-923941e7aa0d/638a1b78fe901d00118ede38?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Train ticket hacks and ‘passenger power’","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba05fc1a8cbed4343cf0e6/5883ea1e-0ebe-4d27-9746-2bf0605b19e6.jpg?height=200","description":"<p>Never mind the 12 days of Christmas, Britain’s facing eight days of rail strikes.</p><p>The government’s urging the RMT union to suspend industrial action, saying it will cost the UK economy in excess of £1.7 billion.</p><p>Now, the Elizabeth line could also be hit by its first strike as the TSSA union balloted members on Friday in a dispute over pay.</p><p>At the same time, MPs are probing the decision by Southeastern to axe more than 700 trains a week on rail services crucial for commuters.</p><p>The New Year will also heap misery on to passengers with annual ticket rises.</p><p>While on the Tube, TfL bosses are looking to fill a financial chasm by pumping up fares by 40 per cent in the next three-and-a-half years.</p><p>To analyse the latest on strikes, Christmas travel, fare increases and - hopefully - how to save a few pounds on train tickets, the Leader’s joined by Dr Tom Haines-Doran, author of Derailed: How to Fix Britain’s Broken Railways, and Evening Standard transport editor Ross Lydall.</p>","author_name":"The Evening Standard"}