This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20675280
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| South East protests held over rail fare increases | South East protests held over rail fare increases |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Campaigners have held demonstrations across south-east England against planned rail fare increases in January. | |
| Members of Action for Rail handed out Christmas cards with a message for MPs at Southampton Central, Canterbury West and Brighton stations. | Members of Action for Rail handed out Christmas cards with a message for MPs at Southampton Central, Canterbury West and Brighton stations. |
| In November train firms confirmed many South East season tickets would go up by more than the 4.2% UK average. | In November train firms confirmed many South East season tickets would go up by more than the 4.2% UK average. |
| A group of Kent MPs also plan to meet Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin on Wednesday to discuss the issue. | A group of Kent MPs also plan to meet Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin on Wednesday to discuss the issue. |
| Commuters travelling from Ramsgate, Dover Priory and Deal to London will see their season tickets go up 6.46% to £4,940 on 2 January. | Commuters travelling from Ramsgate, Dover Priory and Deal to London will see their season tickets go up 6.46% to £4,940 on 2 January. |
| Passengers travelling from Folkestone will see an increase of 5.98% to £4,888 and the cost for those making the journey from Tonbridge will rise 5.2% to £ £3,796. | Passengers travelling from Folkestone will see an increase of 5.98% to £4,888 and the cost for those making the journey from Tonbridge will rise 5.2% to £ £3,796. |
| Rail firms that operate across the region said it was the government that set the annual fare increases. | Rail firms that operate across the region said it was the government that set the annual fare increases. |
| The Aslef, RMT, TSSA and Unite unions and the TUC have backed the Action for Rail's national campaign. | The Aslef, RMT, TSSA and Unite unions and the TUC have backed the Action for Rail's national campaign. |
| It encourages commuters to send the Christmas cards which call for more investment, cheaper fares and a publicly-owned railway, to their local MPs. | It encourages commuters to send the Christmas cards which call for more investment, cheaper fares and a publicly-owned railway, to their local MPs. |
| 'Squeeze on incomes' | 'Squeeze on incomes' |
| Matt Dykes from the TUC in the South East said: "Travel costs are making up a larger and larger slice of people's income, they're almost up there with housing costs now. | Matt Dykes from the TUC in the South East said: "Travel costs are making up a larger and larger slice of people's income, they're almost up there with housing costs now. |
| "It's just adding to the squeeze on people's incomes." | "It's just adding to the squeeze on people's incomes." |
| The government announced in October it would allow train firms to raise the average price of regulated fares by the retail prices index (RPI) inflation plus 1% for the next two years rather than the intended RPI plus 3%. | The government announced in October it would allow train firms to raise the average price of regulated fares by the retail prices index (RPI) inflation plus 1% for the next two years rather than the intended RPI plus 3%. |
| Operators are allowed to increase some fares by more and some fares by less than RPI plus 1%. | Operators are allowed to increase some fares by more and some fares by less than RPI plus 1%. |
| Alison Nolan of Southeastern said: "This year, like many years for the past eight years, they've instructed train companies to rise fares by the rate of inflation plus another 1%. | Alison Nolan of Southeastern said: "This year, like many years for the past eight years, they've instructed train companies to rise fares by the rate of inflation plus another 1%. |
| "So it is the government's policy to shift the cost of running the railways away from the taxpayer and more to the fare-payer - those people that use the rail services. | "So it is the government's policy to shift the cost of running the railways away from the taxpayer and more to the fare-payer - those people that use the rail services. |
| "Certainly fare increases will be channelled back into investment in the railways. | "Certainly fare increases will be channelled back into investment in the railways. |
| "We'll see improvements in stations, better equipment on our stations and ultimately it will be re-invested into the railways." | "We'll see improvements in stations, better equipment on our stations and ultimately it will be re-invested into the railways." |