The performance of the Thameslink rail service will be discussed by St Albans City and District Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee at a meeting on Thursday 6 March.

Senior management from First Capital Connect (FCC) and Network Rail will be questioned by committee members about various issues with the service. These include recent disruption to the service and the extent of communication to passengers about the resulting delays.

Services to and from the District were severely disrupted last December due to storm damage and debris and on 17 January due to overhead line damage at Hendon. The latest significant disruption occurred on Monday 17 February when there was flooding and consequent damage to signalling equipment at Patcham Tunnel, between Hassocks and Brighton. FCC decided to operate a reduced service as a result.

Cllr Chris White, Chair of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee, said: “This is just one of a number of recent disruptions to the service. On this occasion, little information was provided to passengers at St Albans station about the reasons behind the disruption. The Committee will be keen to hear what improvements can be made to help communicate to passengers the reasons behind the delays and any resulting reduced service. This is important as First Capital Connect has just been given a six-month contract extension and will need to plan for any future disruption.” (more…)

Note the way the FCC spokesperson completely misses the point about the way they failed to reorganise drivers’ rosters:

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/11016400._The_whole_day_has_been_completely_wrecked____anger_at_FCC_flood_delays/?ref=eb

“Today’s Which? Survey of rail passenger satisfaction yet again shows that First Capital Connect is the bottom rail company in terms of customer satisfaction, and on cue we have another day of massive rail disruption,” says Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans.

“Of course we understand that flooding has affected the southernmost part of the Thameslink route.

“But the question all weary St Albans commuters will ask when they went to a station which had to be shut because of the congestion and no emergency buses till 9.15 is whether this could have been anticipated and whether Brighton-based rolling stock should have been moved north by First Capital Connect to maintain the bulk of the service, with Brighton-based drivers if necessary being taxied or bussed to their trains.

“Why does there always seem a lack of initiative and anticipation from First Capital Connect? It looks like going the extra mile over the weekend could have paid huge dividends and not let down so many Herts and Beds commuters,” Sandy concluded.

 
Our Thameslink route is severely disrupted today. This is due to flooding and consequent damage to signalling equipment at Patcham Tunnel (between Hassocks and Brighton). First Capital Connect have major Drivers’ Depots at Brighton and Bedfordand a smaller one at Blackfriars. As a result of the current infrastructure problems, the majority of Brighton-based drivers (who would normally drive trains to and from St Albans / Luton / Bedford) are unavailable.

We are working closely Network Rail, whose engineers are on site and are doing everything possible to resolve the current infrastructure problems as swiftly as possible. FCC are operating the following services:

• 2 trains per hour northbound from Hassocks to Bedford. Passengers travelling from Brighton are advised to use Southern services, routed via Lewes
• 2 trains per hour from Bedford to Hassocks. Passengers wishing to travel to Brighton should change at Haywards Heath for Southern services to Brighton via Lewes
• 2 trains per hour from Bedford to Blackfriars and vice versa calling at all stations
• 2 trains per hour from Blackfriars towards Sutton via Mitcham Junction and Sutton towards Blackfriars via Wimbledon

Today’s Thameslink services are very busy and passengers are advised to seek alternative routes where possible. Tickets are being accepted on FCC’s Great Northern route services, on London Underground services and on services run by other train operators on all reasonable routes. Car park Season Tickets covering FCC stations on the Thameslink route are valid at FCC operated car parks on the Great Northern route. (Note that the car parks at Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City are operated by the Local Authority and not by FCC).

For the most up to date information please visit our website at www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk

If you require further information please get in touch.

Hertfordshire Conservatives are under fire for going back on a pledge made two years ago not to cut bus routes again after they proposed a further reduction in funding that will bring the total cuts to a total of £1.5m.

At the HCC Highways and Waste Panel last week the Conservatives voted through a budget cut of £200,000 in the coming financial year, rising to £700,000 in a full year from 2015. This will reduce the current budget subsidy for bus routes from £3.9m to £3.2m. Two years ago the Conservatives cut £800,000 from this budget – axing half a dozen routes and reducing others to very limited hours. At the time the then Conservative Cabinet Member responsible for Highways (Stuart Pile) said no further reductions would be made.
(more…)

Questions about Thameslink rail service’s performance will be raised by St Albans City and District Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee at a meeting on Thursday 6 March.

Committee members will quiz senior management from First Capital Connect (FCC) and Network Rail about the service, including the disruptions that took place on Friday, 17 January.

Cllr Chris White, Chair of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee, said: “The Committee is keen to hear from residents and commuters with any concerns they have about the Thameslink service. Please send details of any issues to scrutiny@stalbans.gov.uk by Friday 14 February so that we can consider them ahead of the meeting. Alternatively, you can call the Scrutiny Support Officer on 01727 819529. The Committee will be asking First Capital Connect and Network Rail about the severe delays on January 17 as well as a number of other issues.” (more…)

The performance of the Uno bus service was put under scrutiny by St Albans City and District Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 7 January.

At the meeting, Philip Waters, Chairman of Uno, responded to councillors’ questions and addressed issues raised by local bus passengers about the bus service in the District.

In particular, passengers are concerned about the punctuality of the 653 service from Jersey Farm to St Albans city centre in the early morning. They are also concerned that Uno buses have not been leaving St Albans City station between 6pm and 7.30pm and from 8.30pm onwards, as scheduled.

Mr Waters explained that Uno has just introduced a new time-table for the 653 service with the aim of improving reliability. The changes build on the introduction of the 653 service in September last year linking Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield with Jersey Farm and St Albans city centre. Mr Waters offered to share performance monitoring data on bus times, breakdowns, staff sickness and attendance levels with Councillors. (more…)

Note from Network Rail

West Coast Mainline: Major Engineering Work in 2014/15

Next year, Network Rail will begin work on their £81m scheme to tackle the most common causes of delay at the south end of the West Coast Mainline. This much-needed infrastructure upgrade is scheduled to take place in five blocks as train operators agree with Network Rail that five long closures at holiday periods is preferable to the alternative of 54 complete weekend closures of the line.

During the works; 175km of new lineside fencing will be installed to stop farm animals getting onto the line, discouraging trespass and helping to reduce instances of cable theft.  All signalling between Kings Langley & Bushey will be renewed and more than 15km of new track will be laid.  There will be an upgrade of the overhead line equipment and new junctions to link the West Coast Mainline to London Overground lines between Watford and Euston to allow future maintenance to take place while keeping train services running.  Platform 10 at Watford Junction will be modified to allow longer trains to be stabled. (more…)

With the potential for disruption to services due to extreme winds and debris on the track, third rail or overhead lines, we are considering implementing a revised timetable on Sunday and Monday.  Information about this timetable will be available online at FirstCapitalConnect.co.uk, via Twitter @FirstCC and through station information screens and announcements.  

We will be increasing the number of engineering staff on duty around our network and carrying out additional checks to ensure that train pantographs are free of debris. We will also have additional staff in place to provide passenger information both online and at stations. Network Rail will have teams available across the south-east to help clear debris quickly.

While the weather warnings are in effect, we are asking all passengers to check their journey before they travel. We have included a warning message on the home page of our website as well as on the information screens at stations, and have scheduled twitter message updates.