Off the rails?

Medway commuters and residents are fed up with the utterly useless representation on transport and train fares from our current MPs, who have once again failed to have any leverage over the Department for Transport on matters which impact thousands of residents.

The Tory ineffectiveness on transport comes after VAT increases in petrol, the prospect of a Cliffe Airport (after three years of suggesting there were no plans), pot-holed streets and perceived gerrymandering of road budgets into Conservative wards, a million pound overspend on the Chatham Bus station and regeneration works and the Dartford Toll increase and threat to Medway Tunnel. Medway residents are left wondering; what the hell is going on. It is transport incompetence at an altogether different level.

Local MPs have resorted to soothing words and toothless EDMs which have received little support amongst colleagues. The Mark Reckless EDM wasnt even signed by fellow-Medway constituency MP Rehman Chisthi, which makes a mockery of the entire process.

Mark Reckless MP even had the audacity to claim that because everyone has to pay 3% RPI fares that this is a win for Medway residents. Simply off the rails...

Meanwhile local Tories can not bring themselves to accept the facts that despite jumping on the proverbial trainwaggon before May 2010, that these fare increases stink of right-wing hypocrisy of the highest order. They have hit the buffers.

Medway Conservatives campaigned to scrap the 3% RPI settlement and not keep it. Medway Conservatives campaigned to cut fares, not raise them by 13% annualised. We had surrogate campaigns managed by now Tory Councillors who waxed lyrical about train fare rises under Labour, but who have cut the chat despite it being even more necessary now with inflation being so high.

Medway Conservatives have failed miserably on fares trying to pin blame on everyone else but themselves. If you could not deliver on this promise then tell people prior to the election; dont go into the General Election on a pledge to cut fares whilst then doing an abrupt turn.

Once again the tired old excuses are trotted out about it being 'Labour Policy' - they have been in government now since 2010; they could have changed the train fares policy and the franchise arrangements. Not an excuse which washes now we are further into the government; people can smell Tory hypocrisy even more than last year on fares.

The simple fact is the local Tories have played another bandwaggon, like the Dartford Toll campaign, only to be caught with absolutely no authority what-so-ever to do anything about it.

The fact is stabbing Medway commuters in the back will carry "economic and political consequences" for the government as all polling suggests these traditional floating voters will snub Conservative candidates and representatives in future elections.

Across the UK, from next year season tickets will rise by the rate of retail price index inflation plus 3% until 2014, with room for a further 5% increase on some services. With the RPI due to hit 5% next week, commuters face a 13% increase on certain routes – to the dismay of passenger groups, environmental lobbyists and trade unions.

In addition, Theresa Villiers fibbed on the investment argument claimig this was because of rail investment; which is an argument local Tories spent time attacking prior to May 2010. The difference though is that the Rail Grant is being cut just as fares go up. Therefore there is no extra money going into rail just a change in where the income is sourced. Instead investment in rail will go down in real terms so meaning even worse conditions for rail users.

If you cant trust her on rail. What about Cliffe Airport?

In addition the Department for Transport has confirmed that it will retain the so-called flex system, which allows rail companies to average out fare increases across a basket of tickets instead of applying uniform price increases. Under this framework, a further 5% can be added to the RPI + 3% hike on certain fares, provided that the total increase within that batch of fares is in line with the official limit.

Medway commuters need only remember this Tory fare increase. From because of ineffective representation from MPs Mark Reckless, Tracey Crouch and Rehman Chisthi you could pay an extra £445.41 with a combined bill of £3,769 for your annual commute.

The same MPs who sit amongst Conservatives in Kent who are fleecing the tax-payer of huge sums of money on subsidised rail and car transport.

As that debit card goes into the slot; just remember what you are paying for and why