Harris raises Oxford train chaos in Parliament

2.32.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Dec 2006

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon today in Parliament asked Government Ministers what they were planning to do about the train chaos facing commuters from Oxford to London since the introduction of the new timetable.

Dr Harris pointed out to ministers and MPs that what were previously four fast services running from Oxford to London Paddington between 6:30 and 7:30 (which enabled people to get to work by 9 o'clock) had been cut to just two, and that the result was severe overcrowding, late arrival and anger & frustration for commuters. He demanded to know whether the Department of Transport were in any way responsible through the setting of requirements on First Great Western, and what the Government were going to do to solve this unacceptable problem.

Responding for the Government, Transport Minister Tom Harris said that he was aware of the problem, and that there was some work ongoing to plug the 07:25 gap. Dr Harris has since spoken to the minister and asked for further details of this work. Until this month, four fast, direct trains ran to London for 9 o'clock starters, the 06:31, 06:45, 06:58 and the 07:25, this has been reduced to just two, the 06:38 and the 07:05. The next train, the 07:44, arrives too late in London. The trains are only five carriages long and only half the people getting on at Oxford can get a seat for the hour-long journey. With further pick-ups at Didcot and Reading, it's jam-packed.

"The current situation is unacceptable. First Great Western must provide a better service and passengers must be able to get seats. Having to endure this for a whole year until a new timetable starts is not tenable.

"I have written to the minister asking for more details, and will seek a meeting with him and with First Great Western"