Complaints over rail timetable pour in

7:30am Wednesday 20th December 2006

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THE battle to reinstate key commuter trains from Oxfordshire to London has reached Parliament as rail managers launch a review of timetable changes that have caused overcrowding on peak services.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons asking fellow MPs to back his call for urgent changes to First Great Western's new timetable, which came into force last week.

Commuters who use Didcot Parkway station have deluged their MP with letters and emails complaining about overcrowding on services into London and problems even getting on board trains that are packed before they call at Didcot.

FGW admitted it was aware of overcrowding problems and said it was carrying out a review to see if it could tackle the problem in the New Year.

Mr Vaizey is to meet FGW managers after Christmas to outline his constituents' concerns. He said: "It's been an unbelievable mess-up and First Great Western deserve a good kicking.

"The changes have led to hell on earth for commuters and the company has a lot of explaining to do.

"This has easily been the biggest issue in my mailbag since I became an MP."

Mr Vaizey's motion notes the "travel chaos" caused by the new timetable and "condemns the resulting overcrowding caused by the reduction in services and the use of the smaller capacity Adelante trains instead of the usual High Speed Trains".

Oxford commuters last week demanded the reinstatement of axed 6.45am and 7.25am expresses to London.

FGW spokesman Adrian Ruck said the firm was aware of overcrowding on morning peak trains from the county to London and was now monitoring the situation.

He added: "We're aware of the Oxford issues and can confirm that a small-scale review is being carried out.

"Over the next few weeks we will monitor services very closely and, if necessary and possible, will make further modifications in the future.

"We have had lots of feedback, and one issue we note is that some of our customers are unaware of the available capacity on our local services - the Turbo trains - to London Paddington and our High Speed Trains. There are often many seats available on these trains."

Passenger Chris Balfour has been commuting between Didcot and London for the past seven years but said he had been forced to stand throughout the journey for the first time last week.

He said: "This has happened every day and after paying £3,500 for a year to travel on this I think I deserve a bit better."

Garry Bloom, of Oxford Chamber of Commerce, said: "The predicted growth of Didcot shows there should be more rather than fewer trains. With fewer trains it will put more stress on the already busy road system."

A protest petition launched by Oxford commuters is at www.petitionthem.com - search for 7.25 Oxford train.