Slough MP urges commuters to back rail campaign (Slough Observer 03/09/23011)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From the Slough & Langley Observer:

THE town's MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) is calling on commuters to get behind a campaign for better rail services.

Fiona Mactaggart MP will chair the inaugural meeting of the new rail user group on Tuesday, September 20, as she fights for better services for the town.

The move follows Department for Transport figures showing three of the ten most crowded London services, serve Slough including peak morning services at 0736, 0820 and 0750.

The group will meet to discuss overcrowding on trains and ticket prices.

Ms Mactaggart said: "The Government plans to increase rail fares by an average of eight percent, starting from January. This means that rail season tickets for commuter routes between Slough and London will go up by ^171.72 in 2012 and by a massive ^601.45 in 2012. It's not fair and I hope the rail user group will help me to persuade the Department of Transport to stop punishing the hard pressed commuter."

The group will also discuss issues such as time-tabling, disability access, oyster card extension to Slough and access by rail from the West to Heathrow.

The meeting will be held at 'The Manor' shed managed by Slough and Windsor Railway Society, who have backed the campaign.

Society secretary, John Fowler said: "There are problems with the rush hour services from Slough. There is quite heavy overcrowding especially as you get closer to London. It would be interesting to see the figures of commuters from Slough 20 years ago compared to today. Commuters have increased but there are not enough trains. We are all for better rail services, not just for Slough, but for the whole of the Thames Valley."

The meeting from 6.30-8pm is open to all local rail users.

Ms Mactaggart said: "Anyone who uses Slough station or our rail services is welcome to come along."

[ChrisB]

'Crossrail' might be one answer?......

And fares are never going

up by ^171.72 in 2012 and by a massive ^601.45 in 2012

either.

[JayMac]

Dunno where they got that ^601.45 figure from, but the ^171.72 would be the correct increase if the annual season from Slough to Paddington were to rise by 8.1%. Which could be possible with the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector, or Retail Price Index, depending on context)+3% and basketing formula, but how the Slough Observer knows it's going to be 8.1% is beyond me.

[eightf48544]

Should be an interesting night, hope any Coffee Shop members/readers from the Slough/Windsor  area will come along.

[eightf48544]

Inurgural Meeting tonight at the Manor, West Carpark, by Windsor bay, Slough Station 18:30.

Teas and coffees on arrival.

Watch out for teh road works!

Do come along.

[eightf48544]

Interesting presentation by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at the meeting.

Capacity HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) 2+7 extra coach mainly converted buffets. 2012!
!80s by December displaced 16Xs to strengthen  TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) services
142's to leave October.

Slough Station new footbridge with lifts by Easter next year ready for Olympics.
Also work to forecourt etc.

Electrification 2016. Crossrail will pay for Airport Junction Maidenhead whilst Networkrail pay for rest. However, Network rail actually slings the wires all the way. Crossrail trains West of PAdd not expected until 2019.

Using a new train which allegeadly drills the holes erects the masts and slings the wres in one go! Maybe Electric train can elaborate. Does this mean single line electrification with it's greater resilience i.e only one line's wire comes down.

Also wires to Windsor sort of being looked.

Most interesting though there appears to be an active project to look at a Western connection to LHR.

Interestingly using a tunnel out of T5 westbound under the M25 and then swing North to cross M4 and join mainline just east of Langley station. Watch this space.

Many of these points have topics of their own so can they be crossreferenced please.

[IndustryInsider]

Capacity HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) 2+7 extra coach mainly converted buffets. 2012!
!80s by December displaced 16Xs to strengthen  TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) services
142's to leave October.

Who did the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) presentation?  Was it presented in a 'definitely-going-to-happen' way, or a 'probable' way?

Electrification 2016.
Using a new train which allegeadly drills the holes erects the masts and slings the wres in one go! Maybe Electric train can elaborate. Does this mean single line electrification with it's greater resilience i.e only one line's wire comes down.

Using this I imagine?  http://www.youtube.com/user/NetworkRailMedia#p/u/33/xFg0EOUJNrc

Most interesting though there appears to be an active project to look at a Western connection to LHR.

Interestingly using a tunnel out of T5 westbound under the M25 and then swing North to cross M4 and join mainline just east of Langley station. Watch this space.

How much would this cost I wonder?  Although it would be nice, I really can't see the demand justifying the expense.