Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Commuters are fuming because they have been been hit with above-inflation increases in rail fares this year.

Travellers with First Great Western Link - which operates from Paddington to Maidenhead -will face increases of up to 3.9 per cent.

Maidenhead station is understood to be the second highest generator of incomes from fares in the First Great Western Link area which covers Slough, Maidenhead and Oxford. The highest is beleived to be Reading.

Shila Mohgul, 26, who regularly travels from Slough to Maidenhead, said: "I have just come from Slough and I have been waiting for a train for 20 minutes. There frequently seem to be delays. I have also been on trains where there has been nowhere to sit.

I think it is disgusting to put the fares up so much. There is never anywhere to sit. I dont think they should have the right to put them up so much."

Commuter Rani Smith, 30, from Maidenhead, said: "I dont think the rise can be justified because it is not a very good service. There always seem to be delays. Sometimes the trains are delayed for as much as 20 minutes, which can get you down if you just want to get home at the end of the day."

Another commuter, Reading College student Lucy Kest, 18, also from Maidenhead said: "They are very often late, sometimes as much as 15 minutes, which means I can be late for lectures."

Commuters were backed by Maidenhead MP Theresa May who also spoke out against the increases.

She said: "These inflation-busting increases are a disappointing Christmas present for local commuters and will be seen as a kick in the teeth by those who have to endure standing in overcrowded carriages that persistently fail to run on time.

"Year after year it seems as though commuters are charged more and more while being provided with less and less."

She now plans to meet with Transport Minister Derek Twigg, and write to Alison Forster,the managing director of First Great Western Link.

Mrs May added: "Maidenhead is an important and highly profitable part of the Great Western franchise. It is unacceptable that local commuters be charged more and more for a second-rate service, and I am determined to ensure that real improvements are introduced as soon as possible."

Regulated fares, which cover season tickets and saver tickets, are going up by 3.9 per cent.

Unregulated fares, including cheap day returns, are rising by an average of 4.5 per cent.

A spokesman for First Great Western Link confirmed Maidenhead to be the fourth busiest out of the 71 stations the company operates.

He said: "We recognise that it is very important to commuters. That is why it has the fastest journey time - the 727 service which takes 18 minutes to Paddington. We are also planning to extend the platforms here."

The fares were announced by the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Director general George Muir said the increases were needed to pay for "big improvements", such a new trains and better facilities on the railways.

ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead