LABOUR CO-OP LEADER GILL MITCHELL, has written to local train companies, Southern and First Capital Connect, urging them to keep planned fare rises “fair.” 
The Tory-led Government this week announced an increase in the annual fare rise from 1% above RPI to 3% above RPI. The planned rise takes effect from 1 January 2012 for the next three years, resulting in a rail fare rise of 8%. 
However, the Tory-led Government have also announced plans to allow train companies to ‘flex’ the prices of specific routes 5% up or down, as long as fare rises don’t increase by any more than 8% on average across all the company’s routes. This could see fares rise by a further 5% to a staggering 13%. 
Labour Co-op are concerned at the potential for rail fares to increase by a further 5% and Cllr Mitchell has written to both Southern and First Capital Connect urging them not to increase fares by anymore than the planned rise of 3% above RPI.
Brighton & Hove Labour & Co-operative Leader, Councillor Gill Mitchell, said:

 
“These fare rises will be deeply concerning to commuters in Brighton & Hove, especially those travellingin and out of London each day. Labour & Co-op are specifically concerned about the flexibility given to train operators by the Tory-led Government, which could see some fares rise by up to 13%.

 
“Any further increase has the potential to hit a huge number of commuters in Brighton & Hove hard, with potential knock-on effects impacting upon our local economy. I am also concerned that the steep increase in fares will only serve to encourage more car use.
“That’s why I’ve written to both Southern and First Capital Connect urging them to keep fares fair and not to increase Brighton & Hove commuter fares by up to 13%”