The Tube 'Fare Scare' That Just Doesn't Work

Capital Transport Campaign (CTC) claims to be an organisation that supports public transport.

Well if "support" means constantly knocking the Tube, bus and rail companies with poorly researched, inaccurate and often irresponsible press releases then they are doing a great job.

But whether it is supportive of the 3 million passengers who travel on London's Tube every day.....? Well that's another matter.

Take CTC's latest press release for example which carries the headline "PPP will increase Tube Fares by at least 15%" and quotes that "whichever way you cut the figures, Tube users will pay higher fares as a result of PPP than they would have done had the Government borrowed the money to invest directly into the Tube".

This statement is nonsense. It makes wild assumptions about the state of the PPP contracts that simply are not true and could cause unfounded concern to Tube users.

So what is true?

· PPP plans have been developed on the basis that they will not require fares to rise faster than inflation - the current policy.

· Fares levels are a matter for the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone - not Government.

Come on Capital! We know you don't like PPP - but London's public transport users deserve a bit of truth and honesty - even from self-appointed bodies like yourselves who are responsible for nothing and accountable to no one.