Thurrock Gazette 28.1.05

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RAIL PRICE ROW GOES ON

The fall out continues from rail company c2c's decision to hike up its train fares well beyond the rate of inflation.

Commuters who travel to London from Tilbury Town, Grays, Chafford Hundred, Ockendon and Purfleet, have had to face increases of up to 8.8 per cent this year, much to the disgust of local MP Andrew Mackinlay.

c2c akkegedly defended the increases by saying that, mile for milke, it's cheaper to travel from Thurrock to London than it is from Southend.

However, Mr Mackinlay has accused c2c of trying to mislead the public to justify their huge rises, saying: "c2c has said it's cheaper to travel from Thurrock than Southend to London, however the facts are that, based in the standard day return fare, mile for mile it can cost three pence a mile more to travel to London from Thurrock.

"c2c have been found out trying to mislead the public to justify the huge fare increases specifically targetted at my constituents.

"This revelation will further heighten my constituents' real sense of injustice over this round of fare increases. c2c's rationale for such a big increase was that my constituents' fares were 'too cheap'. This has been shown to be seriously flawed and I very much hope c2c will come clean, apologise for their error and reduce my constituents' 2005 increase."

A c2c spokesperson said "I think there has been a misunderstanding. Prior to the fare increase it was cheaper mile for mile to travel from Thurrock to London than it was for those travelling from Southend to London.

"However, to bring the fares in line with the national ratiom where the longer the distance the cheaper per mile it becomes, we had to increase fares this year so it is no longer cheaper to travel to London from Thurrock."

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