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Trade union says companies have increased charges in attempt to offset decreases in regulated rail fare prices

Rail companies were accused today of increasing station parking charges by up to 50% in an attempt to offset decreases in regulated rail fare prices due in January.

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), a trade union, said ... First Great Western had increased its parking fees by as much as 30%.

According to the union, prices at Reading station, in prime commuter country on First Great Western's line running from Bristol to London, had risen by up to 30%. Annual prices had gone up from ^1,265 to ^1,644.

TSSA's general secretary, Gerry Doherty, said: "It is outrageous that passengers have to pay huge increases in car parking fees just so the rail companies can offset the tiny 0.4% cut in regulated fares that they will be forced to make in January. Passengers are paying now for the tiny benefit they will get in the new year. This is in effect a back door fares increase which is not covered by the regulated fares formula. The rail companies are picking the pockets of millions of passengers simply because they can get away with it."

Doherty called on Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, to include car parking charges in the annual rail fares formula, which limits price increases to 1% above inflation. "This is the only way we will stop the rail companies ripping off their captive audience," he said.

A spokesman for First Great Western defended its price increases: "For the past three years we have absorbed increasing costs of car park maintenance. However, given the current climate, this is no longer sustainable in the long term."

He added: "We have been working with local authorities to make sure our prices remain less than town and city centre car parks. So for example, if you were to park your car at Reading Station for nine hours you would pay ^18.40, which is ^1.60 cheaper than other car parks nearby, where you would pay at least ^20."