Colchester MP's rail criticism
May 16, 2009 12:00 AM
Colchester MP Bob Russell has used a Parliamentary news service to criticise National Express East Anglia over its announcement of bringing in a booking fee for people who wish to reserve seats.
His message, posted on "Gallery News", reads:
TRANSPORT: Rail line 'fining' elderly and infirm, says MP
National Express East Anglia are 'fining' the elderly and infirm by forcing them to pay a booking fee for seats, Colchester Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell said today.
Mr Russell said, " I am the MP for Colchester, which is on the main line from London to Norwich. I am appalled at this decision by National Express East Anglia. It comes hard on the heels of this company announcing the loss of some 300 jobs and the closure of the restaurant car service.
" This represents a 'fine' on those travellers for whom reserving a seat is of importance to them, in some cases because they are frail or for other personal reasons they need the guarantee of a seat. While no doubt the loose wording of the Franchise allows National
Express to do this, it is clearly contrary to the spirit of what they promised customers when they won the contract for this part of the country - we were promised a better service, but a charge such as this is not an improvement."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats