Power lines down between Radlett and St Albans. No trains for next two peaks.
For more information phone:
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/?gclid=CIHQzv65s7UCFZTHtAodNQ8AcA
County Council shamed into action over Ringway
In response to Liberal Democrat scrutiny of the Ringway contract and how it is letting down local council tax payers, Conservatives have been forced into action.
As a result of the open letter sent by Liberal Democrat Leader, Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Central Watford and Oxhey), senior Ringway officers are now being forced to answer for their actions, and in many cases, inaction. A report on Ringway performance has now been added to the Highways and Transport Panel agenda for February 5th where Ringway representatives will attend and face the music. Cllr Giles-Medhurst has also received assurances that extra resources will be applied in order to catch up with backlog maintenance that the contract failure has caused.
Cllr Giles-Medhurst said “At last we have had a breakthrough, I know several Liberal Democrats and very many individuals have been repeatedly complaining about the Ringway contract and getting stonewalled. By exposing the situation to the press we seem to have finally forced the Conservatives to start dealing with the problems. At the meeting on February 5th the Liberal Democrat team shall be demanding significant improvements in the service to local people.
“I have now been told that Ringway are adding additional resources to the contract, local residents can be assured that I shall be making sure that these extra resources are paid for by Ringway, not local people who are already paying over the odds for a second class service”.
LOCAL LIB DEMS JOIN CALLS FOR END TO ABOVE-INFLATION RAIL FARE INCREASES
Local Liberal Democrat campaigners Sandy Walkington and Chris White have joined calls for an end to above-inflation rail fare increases as further season ticket rises hit St Albans commuters.
“After ten years of above-inflation rises, it’s time to call a halt,” said Sandy Walkington. “Our previous research has shown that the St Albans-London commute mile for mile is just about the most expensive anywhere. The government-sponsored McNulty Review showed that costs can be taken out of the industry and overheads reduced – it’s time that travellers see those benefits.”
Cllr Chris White, as a regular commuter with First Capital Connect, said “Rises for users of the Thameslink route leave a particularly bitter taste in the mouth. We pay increasingly through the nose for a rail service which is increasingly unreliable. Trains fail on an all too regular basis. It’s time to get our rail services back on track and for a halt to these punitive fare increases.”
Commentary: First Capital Connect must get its act together
New free bus pass renewal system
Note from the county council
The process to renew free bus passes for disabled people countywide starts on 13th November. This has been brought forward from December. Residents will receive their reminders through the post during that week. They will be able to renew their passes using the new online system on Hertsdirect or using a paper form enclosed with their reminder.
If residents do not receive a reminder in the post within two weeks they need not delay, they can complete their renewal online or pick up a form from their local library, district/borough council offices, tourist information offices and one-stop-shops.
In order to manage the volume of renewals, we are renewing passes across Hertfordshire a district at a time.
Bus passes can be renewed in the following ways:
· By going online to www.hertsdirect.org/buspass from the comfort of home
· By going online at a local library-a computer with a scanner will need to be booked in order to upload photos
· By completing the paper form that will be sent with the renewal reminder and returning it by post
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.
First Capital Connect quizzed on performance improvements
The recent performance of First Capital Connect was reviewed by a St Albans City and District Council Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 27 September.
Senior management from FCC and Network Rail were questioned about progress made in improving the train service since they last met the Committee in January 2012.
Various issues raised at the meeting in January were revisited, including insufficient information during times of disruption, clarity of the compensation process, car parking provision and charges.
The Local Services Scrutiny Committee heard how Network Rail and FCC responded to recent service disruption caused by various incidents including cable theft in the Bedford area. Network Rail has set up a new response team to deal with the problem hotspot of Kentish Town where signal failure and overhead power problems also caused delays.
FCC apologised for the removal of a ticket machine at St Albans Station without giving notice earlier in the year. This incident had caused delays and frustration for passengers.
FCC also informed the Committee about improvements to passenger communication, including use of Twitter, new electronic screens, email alerts and real-time service information online. FCC is planning to introduce a free text service to update passengers and staff training on communication during the first 60 minutes of a disruption.
The train company also gave information about planned improvements at St Albans station, including new disabled parking bays, additional cycle parking and refurbishment of the footbridge flooring. Improvements are also scheduled for Harpenden Station, including a new single-decked car park offering an additional 200 spaces, resurfacing work and new 20 minute waiting bays. Lifts and a new footbridge are also being installed and additional cycle parking spaces are being made available.
Other issues were raised on behalf of passengers who had emailed the Council. These included an increase in graffiti on the sides of the trains and the number of four carriage trains rather than 12 carriages. The lack of pro-active customer care when passengers seek refunds and compensation after rail disruption was also raised.
Councillor Robert Donald, Chair of Local Services Scrutiny Committee, said: “Many of our residents are commuters who rely on the Thameslink Service to get them to and from work as efficiently and comfortably as possible. Disruption and delays to our rail service can cause understandable frustration and anger for travellers. On behalf of local passengers our Committee has been meeting regularly with First Capital Connect and Network Rail to scrutinise their performance, pass on rail users’ complaints and seek improvements to the train service.
“When we last met with FCC and Network Rail in January, the companies agreed to report back to us this month on several matters of concern. These included delays, communication with passengers during periods of disruption and parking issues. They informed us of the improvements they are making to the way that communications with passengers are handled when there are delays and to parking provision at stations. We expressed continuing concern about the lack of transparency, customer care and flexibility over FCC’s current ‘Delay Repay’ policy and we are expecting they will review this before our next meeting in 2013 and suggest improvements. The Committee thanked both companies for their excellent performance during the summer London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and lack of travel disruption
“We have scheduled another meeting with both companies next spring as we need to monitor whether the customer experience is any better as a result of these improvements and will be sustained.”
Response submitted to Thameslink franchise consultation
St Albans City and District Council has submitted its formal response to the government consultation on the future of the Thameslink franchise.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing to combine the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises. It has been consulting on the specification for the combined franchise which is due to start in September 2013 and run for a minimum of seven years. The franchise will be responsible for delivering rail services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Surrey and Sussex.
The Council’s response comments on the specification for the combined franchise in the following areas:
In particular, the response says that improvements need to be made to the service to improve customer satisfaction levels and passenger communication during times of disruption.
It refers to a letter sent by the Council, with the backing of five other local councils, in response to the consultation. The letter proposes that a significant part of the income of the new franchise operator and Network Rail should be linked to improvements in customer satisfaction levels. It also requests that bidders develop a comprehensive approach to provide effective passenger communication during periods of disruption.
In addition, the full response calls for franchise bidders to demonstrate how their bids provide additional value to residents in clear terms. For example, this may be through new services or the use of economies of scale to produce lower fares.
First Capital Connect’s performance to come under further scrutiny
The performance of First Capital Connect (FCC) is to be scrutinised by St Albans City and District Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee on 27 September 2012.
Senior management from FCC and Network Rail will be questioned at the meeting on the progress they have made since they met the Committee in January 2012.
At that meeting in January, the Committee raised with management of both companies a number of issues relating to the Thameslink Service and local stations. It was particularly concerned about delays to the service, the level of information provided to passengers during periods of disruption and the clarity of the compensation policy. The Committee also raised the issue of car park charges at St Albans City and Harpenden Stations.
The Committee asked FCC and Network Rail to return in six months time to review progress on these issues on 27 September.
Since then a number of other issues have arisen which the Committee will also be reviewing with senior management from FCC and Network Rail. These include parking provision for people with disabilities at Harpenden and St Albans City Stations and road safety at Harpenden Station. Problems with car parking ticket machines and disruption to services caused by cable theft in the Bedford area will also be addressed.
Councillor Robert Donald, Chair of Local Services Scrutiny Committee, said: “The Committee agreed with FFC and Network Rail at its last meeting in January that they would report back to us on several matters of concern in September. These included a transparent and consistent public compensation policy, further communication improvements with passengers when there are delays and car parking charges at St Albans City and Harpenden stations.
“Many of our residents are commuters and they rely on the Thameslink Service to get them to and from work daily in London as efficiently, speedily and comfortably as possible. They pay ever increasing fares and expect and deserve better customer care when there are delays and clarity over their compensation rights.
“Our committee is part of the Council’s ongoing scrutiny of both FCC and Network Rail’s service, management and infrastructure performance. We are trying to improve local rail services through our regular meetings with them and by consistently following up the issues raised each time.
“We will, however, be asking for a report from the train operators as well on other issues that have occurred during the year to date, particularly, the removal of a car park ticket machine at St Albans City Station and disruptions caused by cable theft in the Bedford area recently.
“If any residents have any points they wish to make on these issues or any other concerns about the Thameslink Service or local rail stations in the last six months, please contact the Scrutiny Officer, Catherine Comfort.
“The Committee will then be able to take these issues into account when we quiz senior management from FCC and Network Rail at this meeting.”
The Committee would like to hear from local residents with their views about the service provided by both companies by 10 September. Anyone who wishes to raise any issues can email scrutiny@stalbans.gov.uk or write to Catherine Comfort, Scrutiny Support Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Council Offices, Civic Centre. Questions will either be addressed at the meeting or receive a written response.
The meeting on 27 September will be open to the public. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can view a webcast of the meeting live or at a later date on the Council’s website at: http://www.stalbans.ukcouncil.net/site/ .
The agenda for the meeting will be available shortly on the Council’s website at: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=389
Commentary: ‘Britain deserves an affordable railway’ (from Lib Dem Voice)
Julian Huppert writes:
Our rail fares are among the most expensive in Europe, and they keep going up. Between 1997 and 2010 rail fares went up by an astonishing 66% – well above inflation.
If next year’s planned rail fare rises go ahead, some passengers will hand over up to 15% of their wages for the pleasure of travelling to work.
Since the Labour party introduced above inflation fare rises in 2003, these increases have become a yearly occurrence. Indeed, Labour Party policy is still to have above-inflation rail fare increases every year.
We say that rail fares are already too high. We would cap rail fare increases by RPI-1%, lowering rail fares in real terms. Rail travel is an efficient and sustainable form of transport which should be available to all – and we should be trying to encourage rail use over other transport modes. Fares should reflect that.
Coalition with the Conservatives has meant compromise. This past year saw a rail fare increase of RPI+1%, which is between our position of RPI-1%, and the Conservative proposal of RPI+3%.
But next year, unless we can keep the pressure up on the Chancellor, rail fares are set to rise by the higher rate of RPI+3%.
There is still time for Osborne to see sense. The lower rate for 2012 was announced at last year’s Autumn Statement, after intense pressure from Liberal Democrats in Government and outside, and some Tories, such as the Secretary of State for Transport.
In my role as Co-Chair of the Lib Dem Transport Committee, I’ve kept the pressure up on rail fares the whole time, talking to Ministers and advisors: Lord Bradshaw (the other co-chair) and I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport earlier this summer to remind her of Liberal Democrat policy, and highlight our opposition to the RPI+3% rate.
We will continue to campaign hard for the Treasury to abandon the RPI+3% rate, and now have the support of several commuter belt Tory MPs – as well, of course, as Lib Dems across the country.
It’s important to remember that part of the reason the fare rises began in the first place is because our railways are very inefficient, and successive Governments have failed to invest when our network required it. Indeed, the McNulty review of the railways, which this Government commissioned, found that they are up to 40% less efficient than our European counterparts.
I’m very pleased that this Government is both implementing the efficiency savings which the review recommended, and investing heavily in our infrastructure to bring down costs in the long-term. £9.4 billion of investment was announced earlier this year. And the Government has committed to electrifying over 800 miles of railway, when Labour managed just 9 miles in 13 years – a shocking failure.
This investment will bring down running costs, and ultimately fares. We’re not making the same mistake that the last Government made; burdening future generations through political short-termism.
But we cannot ask fare-payers to bear the entire cost of this investment, fares are too high already. As the excellent Campaign for Better Transport has highlighted, we risk turning our railways into a rich man’s toy.
I hope that, come Autumn, we will get some movement. Britain deserves an efficient railway, but it must be one which is affordable for all.
* Julian Huppert is Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge.
You don’t have to be mad to work here…more First Capital Connect incompetence
Queues build up at St Albans station because of missing machine – and it’s only August!
Local county councillor Chris White (St Peter’s and Clarence wards) has tracked down the mysterious disappearing ticket machine that used until a few weeks ago to service First Capital Connect passengers using the City Station from the Ridgmont Road side.
‘I asked FCC what on earth had happened to it. After much deliberation they told me – they’ve moved it to Radlett!
‘Apparently Radlett passengers had been complaining about a lack of ticket machines and so they supplied them with an extra one. No doubt the complaints were justified.
‘What cannot be justified is sorting a problem at one station by creating a problem at another. There has been very obvious extra queueing at St Albans – which is anyway notorious for its peak time queues on both sides of the tracks.
‘Yet again, the mentality of First Capital Connect management leaves one speechless.’