Rail Cuts Have Affected Service To Acton Residents (Ealing Borough Liberal Democrats)

Ealing Borough Liberal Democrats <info@ealinglibdems.org.uk>

Rail Cuts Have Affected Service To Acton Residents

January 22, 2005 12:00 AM

Lib Dem councillor Gary Malcolm, an Acton resident, has shown that the First Great Western Link rail cuts at Acton Main Line station has caused rail users a vast array of problems.

Rail Cuts Have Affected Service To Acton Residents

These include:

· Less peak trains per hour (2 instead of four)

· More congested trains

· Almost all the trains this week had only 2 carriages - they used to have more 3 carriage trains.

· A worsening in reliability of trains (62% of trains late - previously it was around 50% late)

· More people observed leaving the station especially after delays

· More negative verbal comments from passengers when delays occur because they now have a greater time between trains.

The rail survey took place 17-21st January to measure the affects of the 12th December rail cuts. These results were compared with rail surveys conducted at Acton Main Line station in November.

Cllr Gary Malcolm said: "As a rail user who lives near the station I saw many people who showed disgust that the trains are so infrequent. People often needed to be lucky to get on, in one piece - each carriage was so full."

Gary added: "First Great Western should reverse the timetable cuts straight away before people are forced to use their cars to get to work or decide to leave Acton!"