Rail company "one" should be called "zero" say rail users at Manningtree (South Suffolk Liberal Democrats)

South Suffolk Liberal Democrats <southsuffolklibdems@googlemail.com>

Rail company "one" should be called "zero" say rail users at Manningtree

January 17, 2005 5:33 PM

Liberal Democrats with rail surveys at Manningtree station

Left to right: Dave Wood, Kathy Pollard, Laurie Mayer, Adi Lavender, David Grutchfield and Rosemary Smith

South Suffolk and North Essex Liberal Democrats have carried out a survey of commuters at Manningtree Station in response to many complaints about the new timetable introduced in December. The overwhelming view was that trains are now late, dirty and overcrowded.

Kathy Pollard, an Executive member of Suffolk County Council, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk said:

"Commuters are clearly angry about the deterioration in service. They feel it is a poor return for the annual expenditure of nearly £4000 for a season ticket plus parking."

Initial survey results show that rail users are overwhelmingly critical of the new timetable, with 4 out of 5 of commuters finding it less convenient than before. People commented that it was harder to find a seat with trains going into London arriving at Manningtree full, and passengers often having to stand all the way to London. Three quarters of those surveyed said that it has now become more difficult to find a seat. One commuter, who has a painful hip condition, frequently has to get off at Colchester and get on another train in order to find a seat. Students complained that the new timetable was not convenient for return journeys from Colchester.

An overwhelming majority of commuters called for the car park to be extended. Many people suggested that the temporary car park should have been kept open or at the very least access improvements made to the existing car park. Other complaints included: broken car park ticket machines; over zealous wheel clamping and high charges for the car parking which now includes Saturdays and Sundays.

Surprisingly, of those who expressed an opinion, more people felt that the service should be taken back into public ownership, when the franchise is next up for renewal. Nearly two-thirds felt that the franchise should not have changed hands and particularly regretted the loss of the First Great Eastern services.

Two-thirds of those surveyed said that trains either run late most of the time or that they frequently run late, with only 16% saying that they mostly run on time. Rail passengers who have applied for compensation or written to complain have not even received an acknowledgement of their correspondence.

Laurie Mayer said, "It is vital that "one" listens to rail passengers' complaints. We will continue campaigning until we get improvements to Mainline services to and from London Liverpool Street."