Why are Welwyn Hatfield commuters paying over the odds in annual rail fare increases asks Lib Dem Councillor MALCOLM COWAN?

12.00.00am GMT Mon 12th Jan 2009

Lib Dem Councillor Malcolm Cowan goes to Welwyn Garden City station to investigate rail charges.

Lib Dem Councillor Malcolm Cowan points out the expensive fares

WGC rail commuters are having to pay increases in fares significantly higher than the average 6 percent increase in "regulated" fares and 8% in unregulated fares announced in November 2008 by First Capital Connect (FCC). The increase in the peak fare to London has turned out to be a whopping 8%, and the off-peak fare goes up by 12.3% when overall price inflation is plunging towards zero. These shocking figures have been calculated by Malcolm Cowan, Liberal Democrat county and borough councillor.

"Apparently FCC claim that they "average" their regulated fare increases at 6% across their whole route network. Yet with WGC to London being a major journey, and an identical 8% rise from St Albans to London, one wonders where the below-average rises occur that would balance this out. And off-peak, WGC to Cambridge goes up by an eye-watering 15.3%" Malcolm said.

"At a time when everyone is financially harder-pressed than they have been for a generation, when we are supposed to be encouraging green modes of travel, FCC and the government, who have allowed these rises, have some serious questions to answer," Malcolm said. "It is not as if local rail travellers are being subsidised by the taxpayer, unlike in some areas. Local rail services are already hugely profitable with First Capital Connect set to pay the Government nearly one billion pounds in premium over the lifetime of their franchise. So these fare increases are simply another stealth tax on local residents, when on pure economics there is no reason for any fare increase at all."

Lib Dem councillor Malcolm Cowan exposes rail fares scandal.

"At least WGC commuters will be pleased to know that the Prime Minister looks after his own. Burntisland in Fife in the Prime Minister's Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath constituency is exactly the same distance from Edinburgh as WGC is from London Kings Cross - yet fares from Burntisland for Scottish commuters are more than 40 percent cheaper than the equivalent fares from WGC. It is clearly one law for them, a different one for Hertfordshire," Malcolm concluded.

ENDS

For more information, please call Malcolm Cowan on 01707 324723