I am quoted in a story published today on the BBC News website investigating which is the most expensive rail journey in the UK – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16390608. I have always argued that St Albans must be up there at the top based on comparisons with other commuter stations at a similar distance from their London [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Thameslink'
Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the dearest train fare of them all?
January 6th, 2012 · 4 Comments · Sandy's blog
Tags:FCC·First Capital Connect·rail fares·Sandy Walkington·St Albans·Thameslink·Tim O'Toole
Meeting with Rail Minister about First Capital Connect
December 15th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Sandy's blog
Very useful and wide-ranging meeting this afternoon with Rail Minister Norman Baker MP in the House of Commons. I was accompanied by Caroline Pidgeon AM, chair of the Greater London Assembly Transport Committee, and by Chris White, leader of the opposition on Herts County Council.
We took with us a dossier prepared by two St Albans [...]
Tags:Caroline Pidgeon·Chris White·delay repay·FCC·First Capital Connect·Norman Baker·St Albans·Thameslink
Another truly horrible day on the railway
November 7th, 2011 · 3 Comments · Sandy's blog
Another truly horrible day on the railway, thanks to a major signal failure south of City Thameslink. I do not travel on a regular basis into London any more so I just felt the pain being transmitted by those affected across twitter and facebook.
On this occasion the fault lies with Network Rail rather than First [...]
Tags:First Capital Connect·Network Rail·signal failure·St Albans·Thameslink
FCC Rail Agony Continues
November 23rd, 2009 · 8 Comments · Sandy's blog
The rail service just does not get any better. I think we are rapidly moving to the stage of asking whether First Capital Connect should be stripped of its franchise if it cannot run its advertised service.
Equally the drivers should be ashamed of wreaking disruption on a scale which far outweighs any strength of grievance [...]
Tags:FCC·First Capital Connect·Lord Adonis·Lord McNally·Sandy Walkington·St Albans·Thameslink
Time for a complete rethink of the rail franchise system
September 22nd, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog, Uncategorized
Following much feedback from long-suffering St Albans commuters, I brought the issue of rail company performance and over high fares to the floor of the Liberal Democrat conference today by moving a motion on the reform of rail franchises.
I was calling for longer terms for rail franchises – subject to stringent periodic review – to [...]
Tags:FCC·First Capital Connect·London Midland·Lord Adonis·rail franchise·St Albans City Station·Thameslink