First Capital Connect admitted last week that the Thameslink service has been “appalling” and “totally inadequate” at a meeting with Chris Nicholson, the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham and GLA Transport Committee chair, Caroline Pidgeon.
Chris Nicholson asked for the meeting as disruptions on First Capital Connect’s service worsened over the last months. First Capital Connect’s Larry Heyman apologised for the reduced timetable, the inability of trains to run in the snow and incorrect information provided to customers. He acknowledged that some train motors struggled to cope with the snow and said that these would be replaced by next month.
Figures released today showed that just 62.8% of Thameslink trains ran less than 5 mins late in the period between 13 December 2009 to 9 January 2010. In the same period, 11.7% of all services were cancelled.
FCC trains were running late again today on the Bedford to Brighton line and some consisted of just four carriages instead of the normal eight. Other trains stopped short of their advertised destination or did not stop at all stops.
At the meeting with Chris and Caroline, FCC announced that they will give a rebate equivalent to at least 10 days free travel for the next year. This will apply to season ticket holders who can show they are regular users (i.e. not just those with annual season tickets). Full details and how to apply will be announced by the end of the month. FCC also agreed to be flexible in what proof they required of regular users and to consider how they would compensate those who only travel on Thameslink 2 or 3 days a week.
In contrast to Government inaction, Liberal Democrats are leading efforts to defend the interests of local commuters. Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government “to serve immediate notice to terminate the franchise agreement with First Capital Connect and to offer the franchise to a more capable organisation”. Local Lib Dem Councillors Julian Heather, Ashley Lumsden and Brian Palmer are calling on the Labour MP for Streatham, Keith Hill, to back the motion. Councillor Heather said: “Here is a chance for our Labour MP Keith Hill to show he takes FCC customers’ concerns seriously.”