Press Releases for 2004
RAIL BUSTERS: HIGHER FARES, BUT NOT BETTER SERVICES
2nd December 2004Kent Green Party has condemned above average rail fare increases being permitted by the Strategic Rail Authority. The Party judges that the Government is not serious about addressing the problems associated with climate change, caused by emissions from road vehicles, aircraft and shipping particularly. As further evidence is published on the expected long-term effects of climate change (1), adding to significant research evidence in the last twelve months (2), rail fares are announced to be increased above the rate of inflation (3). Steve Dawe comments:
"It would make sense to cap fare increases or freeze them in an effort to push passenger levels up. Kent's burgeoning traffic congestion is a reflection of comparatively poor quality trains and slow train services. While we welcome the introduction of the new 375 trains, why should rail users be paying more when services remain erratic and some lines need upgrading (4). Kent's MPs should condemn the increases and demand exemption for Kent given a long history of poor services and low quality lines. Increasing rail usage must include a more sensible structure of fares and a national railcard, to encourage more travel by rail." ENDS c198 words
FURTHER INFORMATION: Steve Dawe, Press Officer, Kent Green Party, on 01233 645167 or 07747 036192. Contact address as above.
NOTES:
1. Owen Bowcott Why Heatwave Threat has doubled The Guardian, 2nd December 2004. reporting on a new major study published in the leading scientific journal Nature.
2. See for example: European Environment Agency Impacts of Europe's changing climate: an indicator-based assessment EEA report no 2/2004 www.eea.eu.int; World Wide Fund for Nature Living Planet Report 2004 www.wwf-uk.org ; Caroline Lucas Global Warming, Local Warning: a study of the likely impacts of climate change upon South East England www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk ; Owen Bowcott Dire Warnings from global warming report: financial and environmental impacts of rising UK emissions projected report of a new publication by the Government's Energy Saving Trust The Guardian, 25th October 2004; Steve Dawe Trade, Climate Change and the Euro Europe section: www.kentgreenparty.org.uk ; The Working Group on Climate Change and Development Up in Smoke: threats from and responses to the impact of global warming on human development October 2004 - www.neweconomics.org 18 organisations including Oxfam, Greenpeace, FoE, RSPB, Action Aid.
3. Press Release Rail Passengers Committee - Ref: 11/05 - 1 December 2004 - RAIL FARES INCREASES ANNOUNCED TO BE ABOVE INFLATION BUT DOOR TO DOOR TRAVEL TO WORK COSTS FOR MANY COMMUTERS WILL BE EVEN HIGHER.
4. Examples include: Ashford-Hastings, Sittingbourne-Sheppey, Paddock Wood-Strood, Dover-Ramsgate, re-opening of Ports of Ramsgate and Dover to rail, improvements to services into Surrey and East Sussex.
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