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FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT SERVICE DEPLORED IN COMMONS MOTION
21 January 2010
South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons about the very poor service for commuters and all passengers using First Capital Connect services from Luton or Luton Parkway into London. Andrew Selous said, “I have been contacted by a great many constituents who are really fed up with the disruption to their home and working lives from First Capital Connect’s unacceptably poor service recently. While the return of the full timetable recently is welcome, First Capital Connect must be on notice that further disruption to passengers could cost them their franchise. The travelling public deserve better. As we have lost so many local jobs, many of my constituents have no choice but to use the train to get to work and they must have a decent service.”
The Early Day Motion, number 670, has already been signed by 16 MPs and reads as follows,
That this House regrets the recent disruption to First Capital Connect (FCC) services travelling into London; deplores the recent severe reduction in timetabled services which was brought about by a shortage of drivers employed by First Capital Connect and delays on the part of the Department for Transport in the delivery of rolling stock, and which meant that commuters had to find alternative routes into work and school, adding considerable time and expense to their daily journeys; notes that FCC are now operating the full timetable with effect from 15 January 2010 and have secured an agreement with drivers; congratulates hon. Members on the Shadow Transport Team in having made personal and direct representations to the management on behalf of commuters; calls on First Capital Connect to guarantee an improved service and to make appropriate compensation to passengers; further calls on unions to agree to keep to the agreement reached with First Capital Connect so that improved service can be delivered; and further calls on the Government to ensure that improved service levels are met and enforced.
