大象传媒

Are Kent's rail fares a rip off?

Can you afford to keep commuting? We find out this morning how much extra you will have to pay for your train ticket next year. The government says Southeastern can increase season tickets by three
per cent above the rate of inflation. That will mean hundreds of pounds extra this year and probably every year until at least 2015. The Campaign for Better Transport says at that rate some commuters will pay an extra 拢1,000 for a season ticket to London by 2015. If you travel from Tunbridge Wells they say your season ticket will probably go up from 拢3,968 this year to 拢4,677 pounds in 2015 - an extra 拢1,149 pounds - if you travel from Canterbury the season ticket this year is 拢4,588 pounds but it could be nearly 拢5,500 by 2015?

How are you going to find the extra money? What will you have to give up? Are you considering a different way of getting to work?

It is not just season tickets - an individual fare can rise by much more than the rate of inflation - a daily peak day return from Tunbridge Wells is 拢32.00 - a six per cent rise would see you paying 拢36.00 - four years ago it was nearly 拢10.00 less.

Were you shocked by the cost of your ticket last time you travelled by train?

How does cost of rail travel compare to other countries you've visited?

Do you remember being taugh Pi at school? 3.14 squared?

Maths is everywhere - it is on the shelves in the supermarket, on the pump at the petrol garage, and on the gas bill at the end of month.

In fact numbers are at the centre of the day's biggest news stories. On the phone-in we have been talking about rail prices and inflation and this morning the lucky couple who scooped 拢148m on the lottery go public!

We speak to Daniel Tammet, he sees numbers in a slightly different way to the rest of us. Hailed as the real life rain man, he believes numbers are beautiful and illuminate our everyday thoughts and lives.

We hear your views and stories.

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