Shocking plans to raise rail fares by a third prompt MP’s campaign (From Surrey Comet)

Shocking plans to raise rail fares by a third prompt MP’s campaign

10:32am Sunday 29th October 2006

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Kingston MP Edward Davey is calling for a city-wide campaign against plans to raise fares by more than a third for single and return rail tickets in Kingston.

Kingston and Surbiton MP Mr Davey, is furious about the proposed new zonal structure for London train travel in January 2007, and has demanded a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, to ask him to reconsider.

The new Department of Transport fares will be based on the same zones already used for Underground and Travelcard tickets.

Although prices for season ticket journeys will remain the same, some passengers in Kingston and zone six, particularly those without a travelcard or season ticket, will face significant fare increases.

Mr Davey said: "I'm absolutely shocked. Under the new structure, the people who travel by train maybe once or twice a week and who can't afford a Travelcard, will be hit hard. We are launching a huge campaign to have this scheme changed. It isn't a way of simplifying the ticket structure, it is just an excuse to raise prices."

Under the new structure, a peak single ticket from Kingston to zone one will rise by 33 per cent, a peak return will rise by 35 per cent and an off-peak return will go up by 36 per cent. The new structure will pave the way for the introduction of Oyster pay-as-you-go cards across national rail in London.

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