A Dover man has contacted the Transport Secretary in his latest bid to lower train fares linking Dover and Deal to London.

Alan Sencicle, of Danes Court, is passionate about pressuring companies such as Southeastern to make prices more appealing to transport users.
This comes after the Tories welcomed the New Year in by increasing rail season ticket prices by 3.1%.

Mr Sencicle’s voice has been heard, as he was invited to a Southeastern stakeholders meeting in Gillingham last year where he spoke about the amount it costs to travel to the south-east in comparison to other areas of the country.

Mr Sencicle believes that the high rail prices linking Dover to London stop people from coming to Dover and the south-east altogether.

He said: "The Bournemouth advance fare from Waterloo at £11 each way, Brighton £5 each way both illustrate why potential tourists might stay away from Dover, Deal and Sandwich."

Previously, the Southeastern stakeholder representative for the Dover Society and the White Cliffs Country Tourism Alliance said that Southeastern’s rail offers were “a joke” when they reduced costs to certain lines by 60p.

Alan Sencicle, of Danes Court, has since put pen to paper, forwarding his latest view to parliament.

In his letter, he said: “The Virgin Pendolino advance fare from Euston to Birmingham priced at £10 each way, is exactly half the price of the St.Pancras to Dover, Deal and Sandwich monthly return priced at £40.

“The cheapest Virgin Pendolino advance single fare is priced at £12. These trains cover the 130 mile journey, non-stop, in only 75 minutes.

“The London Midland advance single fare is priced at £6 for the slower 109 minute journey with 7 intermediate station calls.

“This slower option is offered at a very attractive price.

“By comparison, the much slower Southeastern option from Charing Cross to Dover, Deal and Sandwich is particularly poor value for money.”

His letter concluded: "Is it not possible for pressure to be applied to the management of Southeastern to force them to offer an advanced fare structure without further delay?"

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mercury, out on January 9.