MPs raise concerns about rail fares with Southeastern

MPs representing constituencies along the Hastings Line, including Greg, wrote the following letter to the Managing Director of Southeastern to raise concerns about rail fare increases:

01 November 2011

Charles Horton

Managing Director

Southeastern

Friars Bridge Court

41-45 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8PG

Dear Charles

We are writing on behalf of the A21 Reference Group to raise concerns about fare increases for rail passengers using the Hastings to London line. The A21 Reference Group comprises all the Kent and East Sussex MPs covering the A21 between the M25 and Hastings, Council Leaders and Chief Executives.

Rail passengers in our area have suffered substantial increases in their rail fares over the last few years, the cumulative effect of which has been crippling.

We are sure you will have seen the petition and campaign that the local newspaper, The Kent & Sussex Courier, has been running demonstrating just how important this issue is to local people.

Our constituents have told us that after this year's double digit fare increases for many, a further round next year, at a time when many commuters have their pay frozen or reduced, brings them to breaking point.

We are aware that your franchise agreement allows you to increase any particular fare by an extra 5% above the average, but we ask you to exercise your discretion not to penalise in such an excessive way commuters at this difficult time.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells

Gregory Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle

Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks

Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings & Rye

Rt Hon Sir John Stanley, MP for Tonbridge & Malling

The A21 Reference Group also comprises representatives from:

East Sussex County Council

Kent County Council

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Rother District Council

Hastings Borough Council

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Sevenoaks District Council

Wealden District Council

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

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