COMMUTERS could pay less for their train fares next year because the performance of rail companies has not been up to speed.

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) announced its capping levels for train fares today.

It told Thameslink it must slash its regulated fares by 0.3 per cent from January, 2000, because of its poor performance in changing timetables, running short trains, cancellations and punctuality.

Connex South Central has been given permission to increase its fares, but only by 0.9 per cent, still less than the rate of inflation.

Shelley Atlas, chairwoman of Brighton Line Commuters, said: "I am pleased to see that they have recognised the poor performance in the fare increases.

"It recognises the fact that the service is not up

t we expect, we shouldn't have to have exorbitant fares passed on to us.

"We need to make sure they give a good service, even if the fares are not going to go up as much as they could have done.

Martin Walter, communications manager for Thameslink, which runs services from Brighton to Bedford via London Bridge, said the actual prices for next year would not be set for two or three weeks. Although some fares would drop, others could still rise.

He said: "Thameslink is probably the most popular train set in the country and has seen a growth of passengers by 12 per cent in the last year.

"We are trying to run a very effective train service but because people have to get on and off at a number of stations on our service, and we have a longer time at platforms, punctuality suffers at the destination."

He said Thameslink was striving to improve its service and had already reduced many fares over the past few years.

Connex South Central spokesman David Ewart said the company, the main commuter service provider in Sussex, was glad its performance had been acknowledged. Fare prices for the next year would be decided over the next month.

He said: "I think it acknowledges an improved performance by Connex."

Current Connex season tickets from Brighton to London cost £2,640 a year or £66 a week.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.