Anne Main MP has expressed her concerns over rail timetable changes coming into force in May 2018. Changes to the timetable have resulted in East Midland Trains (EMT) reducing services from Bedford and Luton into London from May. This could add even more passengers onto the already crowded Thameslink service that runs from Bedford, through St Albans, into London.
Anne said, 'I am very concerned about the potential impact this change could have on St Albans commuters. St Albans passengers pay some of the highest rail fares in the country and they should expect a high level of service. To add even more pressure to this already crowded line would be unacceptable.'
Mrs Main wrote to the rail minister, Jo Johnson, expressing her concerns last month. His response confirmed that Thameslink will add services to accommodate for the loss of EMT.
Mr Johnson said, '[these changes] will affect 2,000 passengers per day who use EMT services. Thameslink will amend 2 trains per hour and will make wider changes to their timetable. This will add 2,000 extra seats at Bedford and 3,000 at Luton at peak times, off-setting the extra demand from EMT passengers.'
Thameslink and the Department for Transport hope there will be no impact on passenger services at St Albans due to these changes.
The St Albans MP said, 'Whilst I am pleased with the minister's response, passenger services will speak for themselves when the changes come into place. I have also written to Thameslink to outline the importance of achieving high levels of services for St Albans commuters throughout these changes.
'Passengers need longer trains and more frequent services. It cannot be acceptable for high paying passengers to endure even worse service from May onwards. I will be keeping a close eye on these changes and I will be requesting regular meetings with the rail minister to monitor any changes in passenger service.'
Watch: Anne Main, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, talks about the Rohingya crisis and urges support for @DECappeal pic.twitter.com/FFL0lq8O0A
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