Shock tax on local rail tickets revealed

12.02.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Sep 2006

Malcolm Cowan shown urges petition against tax on tickets.

Local Liberal Democrats have highlighted a punitive 'tax' on rail fares on this line. The latest franchise agreement with First Capital Connect requires massive and increasing amounts to be paid to the government each year. Next year, for example, it will amount to £44million, out of expected revenue (the amount received in fares) of about £350m.

'This means that nearly 13% of fares will go straight to the government -so that of a cheap day return fare to London of £12.50, about £1.50 will head to Gordon Brown. On a yearly season from WGC to London zone 1, over £350 will be taken' says LibDem county transport spokesman Malcolm Cowan, county councillor for Handside and Peartree.

'And it gets worse - 3 years later, the amount taken by government will be about £100m - just from this one franchise. This is an outrageous system of taxation. It was introduced to cream off some of the excess amounts that InterCity routes can make, with their large numbers of expense-account first class tickets. But it has been applied to our commuter and leisure route. This is the background to First Capital Connect's attempt to withdraw use of cheap day tickets in the evening rush hour, which was partly withdrawn. More and more schemes will come in to force up fares so this tax can be collected and passed on.

'We have launched a Herts-wide online petition on the special website notaxontickets.co.uk, and we urge all rail users, whether regular or occasional to sign up. We are going to fight this. It makes nonsense of government claims to want people to use public transport if they then levy this ridiculous tax on rail tickets. Public transport is supposed to be free of tax' he concluded.

For further information, contact Malcolm Cowan on 01707-324723.

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Follow the No Tax on Tickets link to show support and sign up for updates.