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Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
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Beith attacks "stealth tax" on rail users
May 13, 2009 1:30 PM
Alan has condemned the charge for seat reservations as a "stealth tax on public transport users".
National Express has been slammed by Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith after the company introduced a charge of £2.50 for passengers making a seat reservation in standard class.
Speaking after news of the charge was made public, Sir Alan said
"The fact that some seat reservations are not taken up is no excuse for imposing another charge. It is likely to lead to more people boarding the train without any assurance that they will get a seat.
"This is like putting a stealth tax on public transport users and I am taking this up with National Express."
According to news reports, National Express have introduced the charge in a bid to end the situation where seats with reservations are not occupied while at the same time people are having to stand. However, many train users know that if a reserved seat is not occupied then it can be used by another passenger, as long as it is vacated if the person who booked it turns up.
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