Kent rail passengers face huge fare increases
How much rail fares will
be increasing by on some Kent services
Kent commuters are facing one of the highest price rises in the
country for next year's season tickets, it has been revealed.
Details of how much annual passes will cost have been announced
today - with passengers travelling from Canterbury to London set to
pay 5.9% more from January.
The inflation-busting increase means the cost for hard-pressed
passengers will go up by £272 to £4,860.
It is among the biggest hikes in the country, with fares in
England, Scotland and Wales going up by 4.2% on average.
Other big increases will be felt by commuters elsewhere in Kent
on Southeastern services.
Season tickets from Tonbridge to London will rise by 5.2% to
£3,796, while annual passes from Gillingham to the capital go up by
4.2% to £3,672.
Commuters are facing big
increases in season tickets
Watchdog Passenger Focus encouraged commuters to renew tickets
now - before the hike comes into force.
Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Passengers will feel this
pain.
"After years of above-inflation fare rises, fresh increases are
piling pressure on already high fares.
"The government and the rail industry must now work together to
deliver on the welcome promise to get fare rises in line with
inflation."
In August,
Kent MPs spoke out about their own government's plan for
inflation-busting rail fare increases of an average of
6.2%.
One accused the government of exploiting commuters and using
fares as a disguised form of taxation.
But last month, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the
average rise for the next two years would be capped at an average
4.2%.
However, rail firms are able to raise some season tickets above
this so long as the average increase is not above that figure.
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28/11/12
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