COMMUTERS FROM WOKINGHAM AND READING AMONG WORST HIT BY PRICE RISES IN SOUTH EAST

6.00.00pm GMT Mon 7th Jan 2008

The Liberal Democrats have released figures highlighting the worst price hikes for London commutes - and passengers from Reading and Wokingham are among those hit hardest.

Fares from Wokingham and Reading were already among the highest mile for mile - and the increase of 9.54% does nothing to help that. The cost of the journey into London is now 37p per mile from Wokingham and 38p per mile from Reading. By contrast, the commute from Maidenhead into London went up by just 4.94% and costs 29p per mile, while for journeys from Slough the increase was only 4%, at 31p per mile.

To add to commuters' misery, First Great Western and South West Trains were the two train operators with the worst overcrowding in the South East (8.2% and 5.8% in 2006, the last available figures).

Commenting on the figures, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Wokingham Prue Bray said "Commuters are returning to work only to face massive fare hikes and overcrowding. We already have the most expensive rail fares in Europe with rail travellers facing further inflation-busting price rises. Passengers are being forced off the railways because of hugely expensive tickets. This is yet another sign that the Government's rail policy is failing.

"Public transport is the green option but the cost of using the trains has gone through the roof - and commuters from Wokingham are among those worst hit this year."