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Southend: Rail fares up
Brought to you by the Evening Echo
Rail services are improving but need to be better value for money to persuade people to leave their cars at home, according to Rochford and Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor.

c2c fares from Southend rose four and a half per cent in the new year, angering many commuters, but Sir Teddy said he believed the service was improving.

But the veteran MP - who plans to step down at the General Election - added: "My own feelings are if we want to encourage more people to use trains, they need to be more reasonable."

Sir Teddy, who regularly uses rail services, added: "I believe the service is getting better so I do believe we shouldn't complain too much.

"But I would like to make sure they are long enough so when you get to Benfleet we don't have so many people standing."

Southend got off relatively lightly with c2c's new fares as those in Thurrock and Basildon face some hefty increases, as much as eight per cent on annual season tickets.

Peter Slattery, chairman of Southend rail Travellers Association, said: "The trains are getting there on time but passengers aren't because they can't get on the trains.

"We have got shorter trains. There was a fight at Benfleet station last week when people couldn't get on. They actually came to blows.

"It's getting more stressful."

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