Commuting from Thanet, including Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington and surrounding areas, to London can cost up to £100 a day. Even travelling just twice a week can add up to £6,000 to £9,000 per year.

At the same time, there are no flexible fares available on these routes, unlike in other parts of the country. This leaves many residents stuck between paying for a full season ticket they do not need or paying extremely high daily fares. In practice, travelling two days a week can cost almost as much as travelling five.

Most people no longer commute five days a week. The journey from Thanet to London can take up to four hours a day, making daily commuting unrealistic. However, rail pricing has not adapted to modern hybrid working patterns.

Advance tickets are often suggested as a solution, but they are not suitable for regular work travel. They are limited, must be booked in advance, and are only valid for specific trains. This lack of flexibility does not reflect how people work today.

This disproportionately affects coastal communities like Thanet, where local job opportunities are more limited and many residents rely on access to London. While other commuter areas benefit from more flexible options, residents here are effectively priced out of opportunity.

There is also a clear environmental impact. When rail travel becomes unaffordable, people are pushed towards using cars instead, increasing congestion and emissions. At a time when sustainable travel should be encouraged, the current pricing structure is having the opposite effect.

You cannot level up communities while pricing people out of getting to work.

We are calling for:

• flexible rail fares for hybrid workers on Thanet to London routes
• a review of pricing for long distance commuters
• fair and consistent treatment of coastal communities
• a transport system that supports both economic opportunity and environmental sustainability

This petition will be submitted to the Members of Parliament representing Thanet and surrounding areas to formally raise these concerns.

Add your name to support fair access to work and opportunity for our community.