Network Rail and First Great Western called to account by Reading council

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Network Rail and First Great Western called to account by Reading council

Reading Borough Council to set up a scrutiny group following commuter complaints about rail journeys to Paddington

Passengers waiting for a First Great Western service at Reading Station.

Complaints by Reading commuters about Network Rail and First Great Western have reached such a pitch that the council is stepping in.

Reading Borough Council is to establish a new group to review complaints by commuters about the persistent signalling problems between Reading and Paddington.

The complaints also refer to the failure of the air-conditioning on First Great Western trains and that is to be taken up too.

The subject was raised by regular commuter Councillor Rachael Chrisp who told the strategic environment, planning and transport committee on Wednesday, July 15: ^A number of commuters have contacted me about the ongoing signalling problems between Reading and London Paddington where it seems barely a day goes by without signals failing somewhere along the route.

^Additionally there have been many complaints on social media about the constant problems with air-conditioning systems failing on First Great Western trains despite assurances made by the company that the issue was being addressed with its supplier.

^As a daily commuter into London I too have experienced these issues regularly.

^Commuters were of the understanding that the recent signalling upgrades earlier this year would improve the stability of the signals on the route but this does not seem to be the case.^

She called for a one-off scrutiny sub committee to investigate the issues and ask Network Rail and First Great Western to respond.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Tony Page reminded the committee that the council had held a similar scrutiny process of the commuter journey to and from London in 2008/9.

He said: ^I believe that it is appropriate for us to again revisit this issue, particularly now that the Reading Station Regeneration Project is nearly complete and in the light of the recent direct franchise award to First Great Western^.

As a matter or urgency, the committee agreed to set up a ^task-and finish^ group to review complaints.

It will also ^seek an explanation from Network Rail of the current situation and why the recent signalling upgrades have not resolved the ongoing problems being experienced and see assurances that the issues will be resolved^.

Cllr Ricky Duvenen pointed out that during the previous scrutiny process the council held a public meeting invited representatives from Network Rail and First Great Western to answer questions from the commuting public.

Members agreed it would be a good idea to do the same again is part of this latest scrutiny.

Cllr Ed Hopper supported the project but also pointed out the work that the town^s two MPs^▸ Alok Sharma and Rob Wilson had already being doing to take Network Rail and First Great Western to task.

He suggested they be invited to take part.

I've quoted the article verbatim, but there are some shocking typos in that professional press item. Shocked