MP slams railway parking charges (From Gazette & Herald)

MP slams railway parking charges

RYEDALE MP John Greenway, pictured, has condemned new car parking charges for rail commuters, saying they "don't make sense".

First Transpennine Express will impose car parking charges for rail season ticket holders at 16 northern stations, including Selby, Malton and Thirsk, with costs varying between £321 and £402 per year.

Under Arriva's previous management, car parking had been free at these stations for monthly and annual season ticket holders.

Mr Greenway said: "I have, in fact, already written to the Strategic Rail Auth-ority and the rail company questioning the introduction of the charges when we are trying to get more people to use the train and fewer cars.

"I think this is the wrong decision; this doesn't make sense to me."

Selby MP John Grogan yesterday tabled a motion in the House of Commons complaining about the new charges.

Mr Grogan said the charges would increase the cost of commuting by about a third for many hard-pressed commuters, deter rail travel and increase congestion on the roads. He called on First Transpennine Express to suspend the car parking charges and meet rail passenger groups to discuss a way forward.

Mr Grogan said: "Selby commuters have told me that they may drive to South Milford to get free parking or, in more than one case, move to Leeds."

A Transpennine Express spokesman said that National Car Parks was now managing all its car parks and the "nominal" charge being introduced was to bring in a "common standard" across its 30 stations.

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, January 11, 2005