Press releases
- January 18 2008 - Commuters pledge their support for fare strike
Commuters along First Great Western’s (FGW) major train lines are to hold Britain’s second fare strike later this month in protest against the train company’s high fares and poor service.
Passengers travelling from Bath, Oxford, Frome, Yatton and Yate will take part in the fare strike during rush hour on Monday January 28.
All travellers will be urged to refuse to show a valid ticket and instead present the alternative FARE STRIKE ticket to First Great Western officials.
Commuters from passenger pressure groups More Trains Less Strain (Bath) and Ox Rail Action (Oxford) are calling on FGW’s chief operating officer Andrew Haines to improve the appalling service delivered each day by FGW and withdraw the unjustified fare increases introduced on January 2 2008.
Oxford commuter group Ox Rail Action spokesman Zahra Akkerhuys says: “The travelling public has had enough. We will no longer put up with expensive and late trains. “First Great Western has pushed passengers to the limit. We endure travelling misery day after day while FGW continues to cream off huge profits.
“Recent fare increases introduced at a time when the service is at an all-time low have added insult to injury; passengers have been left with no choice but to join together and stage a fare strike.”
MPs across the region have already pledged their support for the fare strike and are expected to turn up at train stations on January 28 to show their backing for the campaign.
While the service goes from bad to worse, FGW (controlled by First Group) continues to generate significant profits. Indeed, in the final quarter of 2007, FGW’s passenger revenues increased by a further 10 per cent. Moreover, First Group’s UK Rail operating profits were up 36.7 per cent to nearly £110m.
Commuters are calling on the Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly to take action and put pressure on First Great Western to improve its punctuality and reliability and deliver a better-value service.
Ms Akkerhuys says: “Not only have ticket prices risen outrageously but the service has declined dramatically – no wonder rail travellers are protesting in ever greater numbers. If First Great Western cannot run the franchise to the satisfaction of the travelling public, it should be re-negotiated and awarded to someone who can.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The FARE STRIKE tickets will be issued from outside Oxford station (between 6.30am and 8.30am), Bath station (between 7am and 08.30am), Frome station (between 7.30am and 8.30am) Yate station (between 7.30 and 9.30) and are intended for use by anyone travelling on First Great Western services
- For more information on the strike contact: Peter Andrews in Bath from More Train Less Strain (07817 967837); Tony Ambrose in Bath from More Train Less Strain on 07816 588287; Ox Rail Action member Zahra Akkerhuys, in Oxford, on 07974 313566
- The first fare strike took place a year ago on Monday 22nd January 2007 involving 2000 commuters travelling from Bath and Bristol
- .A jpg/,pdf of the Fare Strike ticket will be available from Monday 23th January upon request.
