Performance of Thameslink service under scrutiny

 

The performance of First Capital Connect and Network Rail will be scrutinised by St Albans City and District Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 3 September.

Both companies are responsible for the Thameslink train service, with First Capital Connect running the service and Network Rail maintaining the track and signals.

Senior management from the companies will be questioned by Scrutiny Committee members about their performance as part of a regular six-monthly update on the service. They last appeared before the Committee on 5 March.

It was agreed that they will update the Committee on 3 September with answers to the following questions:

  • How much priority is being given to improvement in communications at times of disruption? How much further scope is there for improvement?
  • What progress is being made on the integration of buses and taxis with passenger services at Harpenden and St Albans stations? What is the specific outcome being aimed for, who is involved and what are the timescales?
  • What is Network Rail doing differently to ensure infrastructure incidents such as that which occurred at Radlett in March 2013 do not occur again?

In addition, the Committee will also raise the following issues and questions:

  • The failure of a train near New Cross station on the morning of 18 August. What was the cause of the power failure; what were the issues for on-board passengers; what lessons have been learned from this incident?
  • Continuing congestion for passengers, especially in peak hours. What is the latest position on providing more 12-coach trains?
  • Lack of seating for passengers from Harpenden and St Albans when travelling to London in peak hours. To help resolve this, is it possible for some fast train services to begin from either of the two stations?

Councillor David Poor, Vice-Chairman of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee, said: “The Committee aims to find out what is being done to improve the Thameslink Service for local commuters and passengers travelling to and from London. As a commuter, I am glad that the key issues we want to discuss include disruption to the service, passenger congestion, lack of seating and passenger communication.”

First Capital Connect condemned over plans to chop down trees in the St Albans Conservation area

Lib Dem councillors are strongly opposing FCC's plans

Lib Dem councillors are strongly opposing FCC’s plans

Councillors and residents have been horrified to learn that First Capital Connect intends to fell many of the trees alongside the car park on Ridgmont Road.

A letter was dropped to a small number of residents – but by no means all those who would be affected. Councillors were not consulted or informed.

Lib Dem District Councillor for St Peter’s Ward Michael Green said:

“These trees provide essential screening of the train station for nearby residents and add biodiversity to a heavily built up area.  Remedial work is fine but this simply appears to be vandalism.  FCC need to think again while the district council should place a Tree Preservation Order on these trees to protect them in the future.”

Bus pass chaos

Liberal Democrat County Councillors have been battling to make sure local people get the bus passes they are entitled to.

Local residents from across the County have faced long delays for bus pass renewals, with some facing lengthy waits and having to resubmit documents.

County Councillor Kareen Hastrick (Meriden Tudor) said, “I have had to intervene where local residents have had to wait so long their old passes have run out.  Fortunately bus companies have granted people a grace period, despite their passes having expired.

“I have raised this problem in County Hall repeatedly and asked why so many people are having to wait so long and not had a proper response.  This is yet another service at County Hall that the conservatives are mismanaging, although if people cannot get on buses at least they won’t be bounced around over the potholed roads that the Conservatives have also failed to deal with.”

“I have raised this with County Council staff several times now and have not had a satisfactory answer about what is going on, which I find all the more strange given how many of my fellow County Councillors have been helping local residents across the County with the same issue!”

No-one is safe from this problem, County Councillor Malcolm Cowan (Handside and Peartree) commented “I recently sent off my renewals for my passport and my bus pass, both on the same day.

“I was absolutely stunned when my passport returned first.  Are Herts County Council carrying out greater security checks on people who just want to get on a bus, than the government do for people flying, as I cannot think of why else it would quicker to renew a passport than a bus pass.  This is sheer madness and shows that the system is failing”

Network St Albans introduces improved BUSnet ticket

Network St Albans – the local transport partnership bringing together Hertfordshire County Council, bus operators and other partners – is introducing their improved BUSnet ticket, making it easier for bus users to travel in St Albans.

Devised and launched by Network St Albans in January 2012, the St Albans BUSnet ticket has proved popular with travellers. The ticket allows passengers to travel on any bus service, regardless of who operates it, within the zone or zones the ticket covers. Passengers can buy either a day or weekly ticket and prices for adults start at just £4.50.

The revised scheme will reduce the number of zones from three to two, extending the inner zone, and will provide better value for money for those who wish to travel beyond the city limits. ??To support the changes, Network St Albans has updated their pocket guide to bus services in the area, which contains helpful maps and information about BUSnet tickets and fares.

The guide can be found at the Civic Centre, Tourist Information Centres and Libraries throughout St Albans and the surrounding towns. All this information and more can also be found on the revamped Network St Albans website www.networkstalbans.co.uk.

 

New online journey planner to help parents find best route to school

An online school journey planner has been launched by Hertfordshire County Council to help parents and pupils find the best way to get to school, which should help to reduce congestion.

The Hertfordshire School Journey Planner will be a tool for parents of children starting school for the first time and for older pupils planning their journeys to new secondary schools.

By entering the home postcode and a child’s school into the journey planner, users will be able to compare a range of travel options so journeys can be planned.

The journey planner offers a range of routes either on foot, by bike, by public transport or by car. The planner also shows the approximate number of calories burned on each route and the amount of carbon emissions produced to help families to pick the best way to get to school.

Walking routes take into account unsafe sections of a journey and if possible these will be avoided. For cyclists there are three options to suit the levels of experience and confidence – fastest / quietest / balanced. Public transport options use the up-to-date information from the Traveline web services

The system is available at www.hertsdirect.org/mapit and there are also other useful online services such as the school locator to find the nearest schools to where you live by entering your postcode and the type of school you want to find.

Footbridge works at St Albans City Station

Note from First Capital Connect to councillors

I want to notify you of some upcoming improvement works on the footbridge at St Albans station.

From April we will be refurbishing the footbridge to provide better facilities for users of the station. Due to the nature of the works these will have to be undertaken overnight and as a result this may generate contact between yourselves and local residents if any perceived environmental nuisances are created.

It is also possible that these works will be undertaken without any undue disturbance reported. In either event I wanted to personally make you aware of this and to give you my contact details as someone who can help with any queries you may have about the works.

If you have concerns then please contact Chris.

County concerned at bus pass renewals failure

Note from the county council

The process to renew free bus passes across Hertfordshire began in June 2012 and involved sending postal reminders to households on a district basis. The mail out of reminders is now complete and over 90,000 passes have been renewed. However, we estimate there are approx 40,000 passes left to renew. We have started a communications campaign using print and digital media targeting bus pass users and their carers and relatives to encourage them to renew now.

We are aware that some applications received following 4th March may not be fulfilled before 31st. Therefore we have instructed bus companies to accept expired passes until 30th April by which time many passes will have been renewed. For those who have failed to renew their pass by 30th April they will be required to complete a new application. We will be communicating this to the public from 4th March.

People can apply online at www.hertdirect.org/buspass or collect a renewal form from their local library, district/borough council offices, tourist information offices and one-stop-shops.

New applicants or those who have has their pass lost, stolen, worn or damaged can collect application forms from their local library,district/borough council offices, tourist information offices and one-stop-shops.

New passes should arrive within 20 working days of a renewal form being received and it will be valid for up to five years from the date of issue. Pass holders will be able to use their old pass until the new one arrives. Whilst there have been a few issues and some delays at points in the renewal project we can confirm this timescale is currently being met.

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact either Jeff Tucker at jeff.tucker@hertfordshire.gov.uk  or myself using the details below.

TOP FOR PRICE, BOTTOM FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION – THE DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR ST ALBANS COMMUTERS

 

“Today’s ‘Which? ‘ survey putting First Capital Connect bottom of the UK league for rail passenger satisfaction is no surprise after months of wholly inadequate performance,” said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans.

“Yet mile for mile the London-St Albans commute is about the most expensive in the country.  Top for price, bottom for performance – it’s a double whammy for St Albans commuters.

“It is urgent that First Capital Connect start delivering a reliable service with adequate seating.  In the meantime, my campaign for a long overdue thorough overhaul of the compensation scheme for season ticket holders will continue.”

 

“THE TWO ‘C’s IN FCC SHOULD BE COMMUNICATION AND COMPENSATION”

“Following last night’s misery for thousands of St Albans commuters, FCC should be hanging its head in shame,” said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans.

“Time and again, they fall down on basic communication during these incidents.  And then compensation is made unnecessarily bureaucratic and inconvenient.

“They must prioritise getting good, clear information to stranded passengers.  And the whole rail industry needs to wake up and speed up the introduction of a fair and simple compensation scheme for commuters who are the railway’s cash cow.

“It’s quite simple.  Until they can guarantee a reliable service which is all that people want, the two ‘C’s in FCC should be Communication and Compensation,” Sandy concluded.