This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29566377
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Southeastern train service 'not good value for money' | Southeastern train service 'not good value for money' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nearly half of commuters believe that Southeastern trains does not offer "good value for money", a BBC survey has found. | Nearly half of commuters believe that Southeastern trains does not offer "good value for money", a BBC survey has found. |
The survey, carried out on behalf of the BBC by polling company Populus, marks the start of the first day of the company's renewed four-year franchise. | The survey, carried out on behalf of the BBC by polling company Populus, marks the start of the first day of the company's renewed four-year franchise. |
The franchise, run by Govia, covers Kent, and parts of Sussex and London. | The franchise, run by Govia, covers Kent, and parts of Sussex and London. |
Neville James, who commutes from Ebbsfleet, said it was costing him £2 a minute to use the service. | Neville James, who commutes from Ebbsfleet, said it was costing him £2 a minute to use the service. |
"I have to stand on the train... frequently they're cancelled," he told BBC Radio Kent. | "I have to stand on the train... frequently they're cancelled," he told BBC Radio Kent. |
'Paying a fortune' | |
The survey also found 70% of people were satisfied with the experience of using Southeastern. | The survey also found 70% of people were satisfied with the experience of using Southeastern. |
It was carried out by Populus and sampled 1,000 commuters. It found: | It was carried out by Populus and sampled 1,000 commuters. It found: |
Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark said: "Across the whole region... people feel the biggest problem is the sheer value for money. | Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark said: "Across the whole region... people feel the biggest problem is the sheer value for money. |
"If you're paying £4,000 a year that is a huge sum of money and you quite rightly expect a good service for that. | "If you're paying £4,000 a year that is a huge sum of money and you quite rightly expect a good service for that. |
"People are right to be critical when they're paying a fortune and things go wrong." | "People are right to be critical when they're paying a fortune and things go wrong." |
David Statham, managing director of Southeastern, said: "It's important we address those things that have come up through your survey and the national passenger survey and we start to deliver on things that passengers think are really important - better information, better train services, better punctuality and an upgrade of our stations and our train fleet." | |
'Low profit' | |
Annual season ticket prices to London terminals vary, depending on which part of Kent a commuter is travelling from, and whether they choose to use the high-speed service. | |
From Deal it could cost up to £5,996, while from Sevenoaks a passenger would have to pay up to £3,252. The prices would be higher if travel on the underground was required. | From Deal it could cost up to £5,996, while from Sevenoaks a passenger would have to pay up to £3,252. The prices would be higher if travel on the underground was required. |
Richard Dean, Southeastern's train service director, said fares were mandated by the Department for Transport, and it would be unaffordable to set them any lower. | Richard Dean, Southeastern's train service director, said fares were mandated by the Department for Transport, and it would be unaffordable to set them any lower. |
He said: "The reality is that the profit that Govia can make out of the franchise is capped. | He said: "The reality is that the profit that Govia can make out of the franchise is capped. |
"Obviously if we make more profit we give it back to the government, if we make less profit then we effectively go out of business... we are capped at a very low level of profit." | "Obviously if we make more profit we give it back to the government, if we make less profit then we effectively go out of business... we are capped at a very low level of profit." |
Mr Dean explained that the government's objective was "to get taxpayers to pay less and fare-payers to pay more for using the trains, and it does mean that fares have gone up". | Mr Dean explained that the government's objective was "to get taxpayers to pay less and fare-payers to pay more for using the trains, and it does mean that fares have gone up". |
Previous version
1
Next version