WANT TO PAY - BUT CAN'T! (Paul Harrod)

WANT TO PAY - BUT CAN'T!

January 27, 2010 9:51 PM

Across the UK rail network fare-dodging costs the tax payer millions of pounds.

Yet there is a problem of a different kind on the Severn Beach line - passengers wanting to pay for their journey, but ticket machines and inspectors nowhere to be seen!

Paul Harrod, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Bristol North West, says that he is getting an increasing number of complaints from residents that use the line regularly - particularly customers who board at Avonmouth and Sea Mills stations.

"We all welcome the extra investment the Council has put into the Severn Beach line so that a half-hourly service can be run. Yet no one wants to see a taxpayer subsidy continue indefinitely. First Great Western need to make every effort to collect fares - even when passengers are making journeys of just a few miles.

"It is a bizarre state of affairs when people are complaining about not being able to hand over money to a train company!"

Cllr Dr Jon Rogers, executive member for Transport on Bristol City Council said he had similar complaints from his ward members using the line from Montpelier.

"I am grateful to Paul and for local residents for raising this issue. It is something I have spoken to First Great Western about before and I shall do so again.

"The Council is pleased to invest in our local railway services, but First has a duty to maximise the collection of fares so that this tax payer subsidy is not wasted."