Faversham commuters face season-ticket hammering

Faversham train travellers will be hit with crippling ticket-price rises over the next few years, spelt out in figures produced by the Campaign for Better Transport.

Fares to rise above inflation rate

In October's spending review, the Government announced that regulated rail fares would increase by up to three per cent above the RPI inflation rate for three years from January 2012.

Faversham season-ticket holders taking the high-speed line to Town currently pay £4,788 a year. The campaign's number-crunchers predict this will rise to £5,175.83 in 2012, and £6,146.36 by 2015. 

Tickets to cost a quarter of salary

Based on wage and inflation forecasts from The Office for Budget Responsibility, the campaign says that an annual ticket already represents 23.76 per cent of the average Faversham commuter's salary, but will take up 25.14 per cent of the rail-traveller's pay in 2012.

"Cost-of-living crisis"

Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle, visiting Chatham on Wednesday, took up the cudgel on behalf of commuters. She said: "The Tory-led government is totally out of touch with the cost-of-living crisis facing commuters and fails to understand how these eye-watering rail-fare rises will add to the burden on families. For many, the cost of getting to work is now the biggest single item in the monthly budget, bigger even than rent or mortgage payments."

According to the Government, the purpose of the increases to the cap on regulated rail fares is to support investment in new rolling stock. Will this be of any comfort to Faversham commuters? Will you be able to afford to go to work?

Tell Faversham People in the comment box.