GOVERNMENT WASHES ITS HANDS OF PASSENGERS

9.46.21am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Jul 2007

Passengers on the Winchester and Southampton routes into London are experiencing swingeing increases in fares because the Government refuses to intervene in South West Trains pricing policy.

In exchanges in the House of Commons earlier today Romsey MP Sandra Gidley asked the Minister what he could do to prevent South West Trains fleecing passengers on routes where they have a monopoly.

This follows on from a price hike of 20% for those travelling on routes into London between 10 and 12 in the morning from Southampton and Winchester, while no such price hike was introduced on the Basingstoke or Reading line where there is competition with First Great Western

Commenting afterwards Sandra Gidley said:

"The Government talks about being green but how is it encouraging people to use public transport when, even outside of commuter times there is a huge price hike of such proportions.

"The Minister claimed that intervening in fare setting would cause an increased burden on the tax payer. He does not seem to appreciate the impact on the passengers

"It is disappointing that such opportunistic price rises have been introduced shortly after the new franchise was signed, sealed and delivered. The future franchises must include restrictions on new price bandings which are effectively a tax on travel.