NATIONAL Express’s decision to charge for seat reservations – £2.50 for single and £5 for return journeys – is another scandalous indirect tax on rail travellers.
As the rail company apparently levying the highest such charge it is another example of naked greed and ripping off the rail customer.
Add this to the appalling rolling stock (surely National Express should have sussed that GNER would seek to sell its stock when it lost the franchise) and National Express is giving a very poor service to customers.
The rail unions are right to raise concerns (Echo, May 13).
Yet again, hard-working staff on the trains will be at the frontline of a stupid managerial decision, no doubt designed to penny-pinch National Express’s way back to paying for the franchise costs and in so doing probably boost the opulent bonuses of its non-executive directors.
How has this company been allowed to get a franchise, such as the East Coast Main Line, if it is seeking to rip off customers, while giving them 1980s’ carriages?
Maybe the Parliamentarians who travel first class can show some empathy for the ordinary traveller and try to do something about National Express’s latest wheeze. I won’t hold my breath.
Chris Jukes, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.
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