Off-peak parking axed at Coventry Railway Station

[dutchman]

Virgin Trains has confirmed the rate has been scrapped and replaced with a new flat £12 fee



Virgin Trains have confirmed that off peak weekday parking charges have been abolished at Coventry Railway Station - meaning some passengers could face price hikes of 140 per cent.

It’s currently only £5 to park during off-peak hours but the train company is now set to charge a flat rate of £12 a day.

At weekends the price will remain £5 a day.

This morning the Telegraph reported that peak car parking charges are going up from £9 a day to £12.

Virgin Trains say its car parks have been heavily discounted for many years and that non-rail users are parking at Coventry station.

That’s because more people are visiting the city, and some are working near the station at the Friargate development.

The rise in car parking charges comes just days after it was announced there will be another increase in the price of train ticket fares.

In January the fares will rise 1.9 per cent, due to the level of inflation.

Michael Tombs, from Coventry Rail Action Group, said: “Was anyone consulted in the decision to abolish the off peak charge resulting in a 140 per cent increase?

“How can that be justified – the 33 per cent hike in peak hour charges is bad enough along with the huge increases for season ticket holders. Are Virgin suggesting we all use the bus or cycle to the station?”

A spokesman for Virgin Trains on the west coast said: “To increase the capacity available for rail passengers we have decided to change our pricing structure. Monthly and three-monthly car park tickets will only be available to rail passengers and annual passes will be significantly cheaper for them than non-rail users.”

[dutchman]

Coventry railway station car park among most expensive in UK



The car park at Coventry railway station has been revealed as the sixth most expensive commuter station car park in the UK.

The railway station car park used by commuters travelling north to Birmingham and south to Londo n, as well as other destinations, charges £12 a day.

That put it on a par with Macclesfield, placing it equal sixth on a list of the ten most expensive commuter town and city train station car parks in the UK.

The list was compiled by complaint service Resolver, which identified the top ten most expensive car parks from 100 commuter towns and cities across the country.

Coventry’s £12 daily charge was dwarfed by Reading though, which charges a whopping £23.70 a day.

It was followed by Southampton Airport Parkway at £15, Guildford at £14.50, Brighton at £13.10 and Ebbsfleet at £12.50.

The final three places on the top ten after Coventry and Macclesfield were occupied by Milton Keynes (£10.80), Billericay (£10.60) and Woking (£10.50).