'Rip-Off' Fares

A special investigation carried out by the East Anglian Daily Times (EADT) has found that fares on National Express East Anglia are considerably higher than comparable journeys in other parts of the UK.  The EADT has worked out that NXEA customers pay pay 50p-per-mile at peak times on the Ipswich to Liverpool Street service, against South Eastern (33p), South West Trains (43p) and Chiltern Railways (45p) for comparable journeys into London.

For full details go to the EADT website.

ERUF Meets With Franchise Bidders

Members of the ERUF Committee are meeting with each of the three bidders for the new Greater Anglia franchise to discuss requirements for the rail service in Essex.  The three bidders are Abellio, Go Ahead and Stagecoach and the winner will replace National Express East Anglia as provider of rail services for the region.

Tube Strikes Cancelled

The RMT has announced that the tube strikes planned for the coming weeks have been cancelled.

Whilst again the cancellation of these strikes is to be welcomed this appears to be a tactic much used by the RMT now.  Cause disruption by threatening strikes only to call them off at the last moment, so the history books will show that no strike took place.

Tube Strikes Announced

The RMT has announced dates for intended stikes on the tube as follows:

• 16 to 17 May: 2101 - 1159
• 18 to 19 May: 1200 - 115
• 20 May: 1200 - 2100
• 13 to 14 June: 2101 - 1159
• 15 to 16 June: 1200 - 1159
• 17 June: 1200 - 2100 

The strikes are in reponse to two driver being sacked although the reasons for the sackings are unclear at the moment.


As is often the case with RMT industrial action, the decision to strike has been taken based on a majority of the 29% of tube drivers who actually voted.  It must be hoped therefore that as the vast majority of drivers didn't even bother to vote there may be a service of sorts running.