Not content with providing a miserable, overcrowded and expensive service, FCC have now found a new way of fleecing passengers: a surcharge of 1.8% will be applied to credit card transactions.
Chris comments: ‘This is little short of theft but typical of this robber baron company. It is time yet again that their franchise was removed.’
From Aslef’s website (mid-November):
ASLEF’s executive committee has set in motion a ballot for strike action of its 550-plus members working in First Capital Connect. The ballot result will be known on 9 December and industrial action could commence a week after that date.
At the root of the problem is the pay offer made by the company which consists of nothing this year, and 3% (or one percent over inflation if that is more) next year.
‘Last year the company was awarded the Evening Standard’s ‘award’ for the company which combined the worst service and the biggest profits,’ says union general secretary Keith Norman. ‘Our members want to improve the service – but they are also entitled to a reasonable share of any surplus they have created.’
Keith has informed First Capital Connect that ‘the company’s failure to satisfactorily resolve the 2009 Pay Review and its failure to resolve our concerns relating to a breakdown of industrial relations is totally unacceptable to ASLEF’, and given statutory notice of the union’s intention to ballot its members in First Capital Connect for strike action.
This is the list of news topics from their website. Meanwhile commuters struggle on with worse journeys, delays and additional cancellations.
It is time the Government took their franchise away and swept away the current management team.
What’s New
FCC fares will remain the same or reduce next year
Using Oyster on National Rail
Our new timetable starts on 13 December
Line2line bus service linking Hatfield and St Albans stations
New King’s Cross Underground ticket hall
Premier Parking: you can choose your bay when you buy online
Travel tools help you get travel information on the move
Certain morning peak trains will leave earlier during the Leaf Fall period
Our Park & Pay by Phone service has been replaced by RingGo cashless parking
Season ticket recurring payment scheme
Seats for you
The news that National Express has lost its East Anglian franchise is good news for embattled commuters in St Albans and Hertfordshire who are continuing to suffer appalling mistreatment at the hands of First Capital Connect.
Last night the District Council condemned the way local people were being treated and there were calls for the franchise to be withdrawn.
Michael’s emergency motion to council:
That this Council notes:
• The importance of rail links in the district with 6.3 million journeys starting or finishing at St Albans City alone every year and a further 2.9 million at Harpenden.
• The dispute between First Capital Connect (FCC) and its drivers which has lead to the imposition of a reduced emergency timetable, severely overcrowded trains and very poor punctuality.
• The reliance of FCC on the goodwill of drivers to work overtime and on rest days to provide the service to which it had committed when winning its franchise.
• The cost savings presumably accruing to FCC through reduced payments to drivers and Network Rail.
• The severe and detrimental impact on the district’s rail users, who pay some of the highest fares in the country.
This Council calls for:
• The Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to write to FCC requesting immediate action to resolve this situation and the attendance of a representative of FCC at the next meeting of the Oversee and Scrutiny (Public Services) Committee to explain how the situation arose and the steps that have been taken to resolve it and to ensure that it cannot arise again.
• FCC to ensure that any windfall cost savings are returned to those that have been most affected by service disruption through fare reductions or other measures.
• In the absence or inability of FCC to provide appropriate assurances that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Transport recommending that First Capital Connect be stripped of its franchise due its failure to provide agreed service levels.”
The County Council’s urban transport plan is now up on the web.
The Liberal Democrats at County Hall have reported the county council
to the Information Commissioner as a result of intrusive survey
methods.
Lib Dem Leader Chris White said: ‘We understand that the council is
doing surveys about traffic movements into car parks. These use both
number plate recognition software installed in order to catch
criminals and face to face surveys. In both cases the number plates of
innocent motorists are being recorded.
‘We believe that this is potentially unlawful and in any case
unethical. Hertfordshire citizens have the right to go about their
business without being spied on by the county council. These surveys
could easily be done without recording number plates. The automatic
systems were installed in good faith in crime fighting partnerships
and should not be applied to other uses.’
FCC Excuses to Passengers page (and they will still keep downgrading us to mere ‘customers’ rather than stakeholders or passengers – after all we pay the taxes which subsidise company profits on top of the outrageous ticket prices).
Customer information: Thursday 12 November 2009
Revised service on the Thameslink route
We are extremely sorry that a shortage of train drivers has forced us to cancel a large number of services on the Thameslink route between Bedford, Luton, central London, Sutton,Wimbledon and Brighton. To allow us to operate as consistent a timetable as possible over the coming days, we have introduced an amended timetable.
We will endevour to adhere to this timetable as much as possible, however it may be necessary to further amend it. We will advise you of any further alterations here as soon as we can.
Further alterations for Thursday 12 November
06:05 Streatham to Bedford due 07:54 is cancelled.
Please continue to check back as services may be subject to further alteration.
What we’re doing to try and ease the situation
We are in ongoing pay talks with the drivers’ union, ASLEF. Read more about this.
Thameslink route Season Tickets will be valid for the equivalent journey on First Capital Connect’s Great Northern route (Please note that tickets will not be valid on National Express East Coast trains between Stevenage and London King’s Cross).
In addition car park permits valid at stations on the Thameslink route may be used in the following car parks operated by First Capital Connect on the Great Northern route providing they are clearly displayed on the windscreen: Huntingdon, St Neots, Biggleswade, Welwyn North, Hatfield (limited space), Welham Green, Brookmans Park, Potters Bar (limited space).
Valid First Capital Connect tickets will be accepted on London Underground and London buses on all reasonable routes.
We apologise for the delays and disruption to your journey.
For up-to-the-minute information check our live train updates or call National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
