There have been calls for 2018 to be the “year of communication” between train companies in light of above inflation ticket price rises as passengers head back to work knowing they face being hit in the pocket.
But the chairman of the Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum, George Scott, said the situation would be improved if Network Rail, which owns the infrastructure, and train companies had better lines of communication.
“Every year the prices go up and every year we are told that things will improve, but they never seem to,” he said after the rises were announced.
Regulated fares rose nationally by 3.6 per cent from Tuesday, the highest rise in five years.
“We are a rural service and the hike will hit users here who have to travel further,” said Mr Scott. “We don’t even have a seven day service. We live in a seven day working world, but not from Spalding as there is no service at all on Sunday and it’s not that good on a Saturday.
“Year-on-year we are paying above inflation and it’s always ‘for improvements’ which we are yet to see,” he added. “You still can’t use the trains on Sunday which impacts business and tourism as well as those who use the service for work.”
The East Midlands franchise is due to be replaced in 2019 with bidders vying to take over the line.
“It needs to change – you can only get to Lincoln after 10am but you need to leave at 4pm so no-one from there works here, or the other way around.
“With around 5,000 new homes planned for the area, the trains have to be looked to as a viable, alternative method because the roads will be choked,” Mr Scott added.
The Forum would welcome new members and further information can be found online at the website www.spaldingtransportforum.co.uk
