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Burstow slams increase in Thameslink journey times
April 29, 2003 3:00 PM
Burstow slams Thameslink for increase in journey times to reduce fines for lateness.
Local MP Paul Burstow today expressed his outrage on behalf of passengers from Sutton at the proposals put forward by Thameslink to increase journey times on their trains to improve reliability statistics and reduce the number of late trains, consequently the number of fines on their routes.
Mr Burstow has written to the rail operating company expressing his disappointment that passengers will be forced to stand on overcrowded trains for longer to save the Thameslink franchise money on fines. He has also tabled Parliamentary Questions to discover if Ministers are planning on making train operating companies stop the practice.
According to the most recent figures available, Thameslink performed the worst of all the train operating companies in the South East.
Paul Burstow MP said:
"Rail companies are fined for every train that arrives at its final destination five minutes later than advertised by the company. "
"Thameslink passenger have to put up with some of the most overcrowded and unreliable services on the network. Instead of improving the service Thameslink are moving the goal posts; on paper performance improves, in practice for the passenger nothing changes."
"Ministers must not accept this slight of hand if passengers are to have any confidence in targets for delivering a fast dependable and efficient rail service."
"ENDS"
"Notes to editors"
"On their website, Thameslink set out their reasons for the 4 minute increase in journey times by saying:"
"Thameslink is making a number of changes to its train operating summer timetable. The new timetable will come into effect on Sunday 18th May 2003 and will run until Saturday 29th September 2003. "
"Virtually all changes made only effect train times by a few minutes, but the intention in making such changes is to help improve punctuality and reliability of the service wherever possible."
"Yet according to reports in the Times on Saturday:"
"Up to four minutes has been added to the summer timetable for trips in the peak period, when Thameslink is liable for the highest penalties for running late trains."
"The company was fined Pounds 2.2 million for running late trains last year and recorded the worst performance among operators in the South East, with only 64 per cent of trains on time in the final quarter."
"Mr Burstow has tabled the following questions to the Department of Transport:-"
"What assessment has he made of the announcement by Thameslink to increase the journey times on its routes by up to four minutes to reduce the fines it is having levied on it for late services"
"What plans his department has to stop train companies adding minutes to their summer timetables in order to reduce the fines paid for late trains."
"A copy of the letter to Thameslink is available on request
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