Conservative transport minister Theresa Villiers (see far right) has made it clear that the government supported by Mark Reckless, Tracey Crouch and Rehman Chisthi has no intention of approaching SouthEastern boss Charles Horton about fare increases and is relaxed.
Proof that despite the self-agrandizing statements by Medway MPs that they have been totally and utterly ignored in the corridors of power.
In what is a snub to Conservative voters and thousands of commuters in Medway the Tory minister stated that the massive price hike was well within the rights of SouthEastern trains.
In a letter to a senior Tory backbencher, Ms Villiers said the train company was allowed to increase fares by inflation plus three per cent rather than the normal one per cent to cover improvements made to the network.
Clearly the minister is not up to her brief because South Eastern trains already operated a 3% RPI policy before she took office.
And she stressed that Southeastern was in fact free to increase prices by as much as five per cent plus inflation, so long as the average remained at three per cent plus RPI across the county.
That is why Medway Commuters have seen a 9% increase this year in fares.
What a total disgrace.
She said:
"I am fully aware of constituents’ concern about the higher than average price cap that applies for Southeastern passengers.
"I am afraid the fare increases Southeastern is introducing are within the terms of the franchise agreement. I therefore have no standing to intervene with Charles Horton."
This makes an absolute mockery out of residents as it is now clear they deceived the public of Medway about fares.
In some parts of Kent, season ticket holders saw fares rise to well above £5,000 as the train company introduced its new price list for 2011.
The cat is out of the bag. The Conservative Party supports 5% + RPI or more increases in fares.
Shame on them. Shame on them all.
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