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MP predicts a riot over surge in rail fares
Dick Murray, Transport Editor25 Nov 2008
AN MP today warned of riots by rail passengers after fares were increased by more than twice the rate of inflation.
Roger Gale, Tory member for North Thanet, described the increases, due to come into force in January, as "intolerable" and said that with people already suffering the effects of the credit crunch they could "lead to civil disobedience".
His constituents, who travel by Southeastern, face the highest increases in the UK as Southeastern has been given government permission to increase fares by an average of eight per cent. It says the increase is needed to pay for high-speed commuter services due to operate on the Channel Tunnel link between Ashford and St Pancras International at the end of next year.
But some fares will rise far more than average; an annual season from Gillingham to London goes up by £280 to £3,020 (10.2 per cent), from Tonbridge by £260 to £3,000 (9.5 per cent) and from Canterbury by £300 to £3780 (8.6 per cent).
Mr Gale has written to Charles Horton, Southeastern's managing director, saying that commuters are being forced to pay for a new service which they will not use because they do not want to travel into St Pancras. Southeastern's routes currently serve Charing Cross, Cannon Street, London Bridge and Victoria.
Mr Gale called on Southeastern to limit the increases to 3.3 per cent or below. "My constituents cannot bear yet another unrealistic burden," he added.
However, Mike Gibson, public affairs manager for Southeastern, said in a reply to Mr Gale: "The high-speed services to St Pancras will reduce journey times from some stations and provide more choice for customers in parts of Kent and Thames Gateway area.
"Our research suggests that they will be popular services."
Reader views (14)
So South Eastern's justification for the increase is the funding of a new service from which they presumably hope to make additional profits and attract new customers. Why don't they borrow the money for their new venture and then recoup their investment by charging approptriately higher fares to the customers who choose to use it rather than asking existing customers to prepay for something that they may not require.
The answer of course is because they have those existing commuters over a barrel and they have no choice but to pay for it because the government affords them no protection from the profiteering scumbags who run this 'service'.
I'd like to know which idiot in the government gave that permission so that we can raise a petition to have them removed.
- Simon Walker, Chatham, Kent, 27/11/2008 11:06
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Jon, London, i have never heard such a ridiculous comment. The idea should be to have an economical public transport system run efficiently and cheaply in order to get people out of their cars. Cars cause more environmental impact. Penalising both motorists and train users is illogical. Why do people in the uk accept what is wholesale robbery? Being charged to either sit in a roasting sweatbox or freezing cold cattle truck for 2 hours each day, no wonder english people are so stressed and aggressive. And all this when people have no more money to part with!!
- Patrick, Singapore, 26/11/2008 06:41
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As a shareholder with Southeastern this really is good news.
- Marcus Hamilton Snade, Bagshot Surrey, 25/11/2008 22:45
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With a privatised service,fares will always increase greater than inflation,so investors make money over,and above,inflation.
Public services need to be nationalised.Much more useful than throwing good money,after bad,at banks.
- Steve, Portsmouth U.K., 25/11/2008 18:02
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Maybe Gale should have a very stern word with his stupid Major Disaster who, as one of his spiteful acts against the British train users, split British Rail up. This is a Conservative Party mess, don't forget that.
And as private companies, they should not receive any taxpayer money.
- Ralph, GB, 25/11/2008 17:46
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this article is interesting for a number of reasons. one of the most interesting is that - according to this article - charles horton the managing director of southeastern - is not only supremely arrogant but is totally incapable of writing a letter. i recently wrote to horton, copying in local mp, the chairman of the transport select committee and others, and the response came from southeastern's "customer services". not only is this ironic - southeastern's "customer services" is diabolical - but it raises important questions as to what exactly horton does as MD of southeastern. Southeastern customers should also remember that along with having to pay amongst the highest fare increases in the country, southeastern's subsidy from the government is rising by almost £30million next year. so where is all the money going?
- Josh, london, 25/11/2008 14:06
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I predict that we will soon see mass civil disobedience by middle class white collar workers, who will travel without paying en masse as a well-organised political protest. Bringing large numbers of commuters to trial will be an unattractive proposition for the rail companies.
- Danny, London, 25/11/2008 13:33
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There is no god-given right to commute long distances every day. High fairs promote local employment and produce less climate change.
- Jon, London, 25/11/2008 13:12
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That's like saying if you travel to Portsmouth you have to pay for some new ferries we've got that go to Jersey! What do we have so many idiots in this country? I travel on South Eastern Railways, the service never gets any better, the trains are always overcrowded. Why should I have to pay more for the same hellish journey. I may riot in January.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 25/11/2008 13:11
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It is ironic and self-defeating that at a time when the government is desparate to implemement a fiscal stimulus with one hand, by shaving 2.5% off of VAT and other marginal measures, with the other it is tolerating inflation busting excessive charges for state sponsored monopoly services in energy and transport.
- Blackstone Coke, London, 25/11/2008 11:56
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I can understand that fares in areas which one day will be served by the new service should, once the service is in place, pay extra for it but why should other users of SouthEastern trains, who will not get any improved service or benefit from the new service, have to pay for it?
- Ian, Maidstone, UK, 25/11/2008 11:30
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Every January for as long as I can remember, fares have risen between 5% and 12% to "pay for improvements in services". At what point will commuters start to see these "improvements in services"?
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 25/11/2008 11:16
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As a Southeastern commuter what outrages me is that not only are we paying huge fare increases now, but when the new trains start running they'll be charged at premium fares of 35% on top of the hugely-increased normal fares.
So Southeastern get to charge us extra for these new trains, which don't go where most of us want to go, twice over!
- Roy, Gillingham, Kent, 25/11/2008 10:29
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"However, Mike Gibson, public affairs manager for Southeastern, said in a reply to Mr Gale: "The high-speed services to St Pancras will reduce journey times from some stations and provide more choice for customers in parts of Kent and Thames Gateway area.
"Our research suggests that they will be popular services.""
If so popular, then make the users of those serivces pay. It's not rocket science. Idiot.
- Md, London, UK, 25/11/2008 10:19
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