'Our town’s commuters are now paying more for less' say Lib Dems, as Medway commuters are hit with hike in rail fares

image/graphic by Stuart Bourne

Medway Liberal Democrats believe that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis it is completely unfair to hike rail fares like this. Between 7-10% of Medway people commute, (Chatham & Aylesford - 7%, Rochester - 9% and Gillingham and Rainham - 10%) tax rises are coming, energy bills are skyrocketing and now rail fares are set to increase by hundreds of pounds. This Conservative Government is out of touch and needs to get a grip of this cost-of-living crisis, instead its increasing tax, doing nothing to help with heating bills and now hiking rail fares to record levels.

Medway commuters are already coping with the unbearable cost of living and will be hit hard by unprecedented fare hikes. Nationally, Liberal Democrats are calling for rail fares to be frozen for five years, which could save some commuters into London up to £800 a year. The Government needs to finally introduce simpler fares to stop passengers paying too much for their ticket. The current fare system is a mess and leaves too many passengers paying too much. These fare increases make no environmental sense - in the same year as cutting the cost of internal flights, the Government has increased the cost of green transportation such as rail.

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a fair deal for people commuting by train and calling for a five-year fare freeze as well as simpler ticket pricing, as well as calling for a fare freeze as the cost-of-living crisis worsens. The cost of an annual season ticket for Medway commuters will rise by the most in a decade on 1st March despite the cost-of-living crisis worsening. By 2026, the annual season ticket price for Medway commuters is forecasted to rise by £600, if the Government does not freeze rail fares. The rise comes despite reduced services compared to pre-pandemic timetables.

John Castle, Chair of Medway Liberal Democrats said: "It is outrageous to hike rail fares in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. This Conservative Government is completely out of touch.

I am calling for a fair deal for people in Medway with a fare freeze and the Government to cancel all tax hikes. The cost-of-living crisis is getting worse by the week and Boris Johnson is too busy trying to save his own job. It is a hammer blow for Medway commuters who are already coping with reduced services and operators planning on cutting peak services. Our town's commuters are now paying more for less.

We should be making green forms of transport cheaper, yet this Conservative Government is determined to make rail more expensive than ever before."

ENDS

The Liberal Democrats want to get commuters a fair deal by freezing rail fares for five years.

On 1st March rail fares will rise by the biggest increase in a decade

Fares on national rail services will increase by 3.8%, in line with inflation figures

Annual season tickets will increase by over £200 a year for many of our target seats

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a five year fare freeze and a new simpler ticket pricing to be introduced which will save money and avoid passengers being confused which ticket is best for them

The Mayor has also announced an end to London travelcards for those travelling into the City on national rail fares, which impacts the casual commuter and leisure traveller the most

Some national rail operators, such as South Western Trains, are planning to cut off peak services by half and on peak services by a quarter.