Southeastern accused of "ripping off" customers (From News Shopper)

Southeastern has been accused of "ripping off" customers with its parking charges

5:09pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 in News By Nina Massey

Southeastern accused of "ripping off"customers

SOUTHEASTERN has been accused of "ripping off" passengers by increasing its car parking fees.

Two weeks after ticket fares went up by an average of six per cent, the rail company has increased parking charges.

Daily peak car parking charges at Kidbrooke station have gone up from £3.50 to £4.50 - a 28.6 per cent rise.

Meanwhile, charges at Abbey Wood, Lee and New Eltham stations have gone up by 11, 12.5 and 10 per cent respectively.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA),the trade union for employees in the transport and travel industry, has long campaigned for station car parking charges to be covered by the same formula that applies to fare increases.

Union general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Southeastern is ripping off commuters who are now paying as much as £4,000 a year for their annual season tickets.

"Car parking increases of 30 per cent simply cannot be justified when inflation is five per cent and wages are only rising by two per cent."

He added: "Rail companies are now treating car parking charges as another revenue stream which they can simply turn on when they want extra cash.”

Nick Russell, a church worker who heads the Ferrier Residents Action Group in Kidbrooke said: "I know the parking charges are very steep.

"Up until recently people have been using the Ferrier for free parking and that has been restricted by the new development.

"It is really profiteering on the part of those who run the car park."

A Southeastern spokesman said the majority of station car parks have remained the same with some being reduced by £1 a day.

He added that there have been a small number which have seen a rise to bring them into line with the council and commercial car parks in the area.

He said: “Any increase is also to pay for the continued cost of running the car parks including CCTV, maintenance, rising utility bills and rental costs to Network Rail.”