Last week Anne Main met with Thameslink to seek assurances for St Albans commuters ahead of the rail timetable changes in May 2018. Changes to the service prompted Mrs Main to write to the government and to Thameslink to get guarantees for commuters.

During the meeting, Thameslink guaranteed that from May St Albans commuters will be served by more 12-car trains in both the morning and evening peak. In the morning there will be 17 12-car trains compared to 9 now and an additional 3,464 seats. In the evening peak there will be 18 12-car trains compared to 8 now and an additional 3,160 seats.

Larry Heyman, Local Development Manager and Phil Hutchinson, Head of Strategic Planning at Thameslink provided assurances that St Albans commuters should not be negatively impacted by the timetable change and they should see an improved and more frequent service going forward.

‘Any changes of this scale will of course bring about concerns for commuters. However, I am pleased that continued pressure on Thameslink and the government has resulted in firm guarantees for passenger services from St Albans’, said Mrs Main.

The St Albans MP continued, ‘The assurances I have been given are encouraging but ultimately, passenger services will speak for themselves. St Albans commuters pay some of the highest prices in the country and they should expect a service that matches that. The changes in May should be an improvement for our commuters and I will be monitoring those changes closely.’