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Passengers feel the squeeze as new trains are stuck in sidings
Dick Murray, Transport Editor23 Dec 2008
Commuters face worse overcrowding on key rail lines into London after the economic downturn hit supplies of new trains.
Bosses want to introduce 23 new four-car trains across the Thameslink service to ease congestion.
However, manufacturer Bombardier today revealed it could supply only 15 of the trains by March. It said the problems were caused by its suppliers facing financial difficulties.
The situation is so acute that First Capital Connect, the train operator that runs Thameslink, was told initially it might receive only seven of the planned 23 trains.
There are now fears they may not even be delivered on time in March. The Department for Transport has been in talks with First Capital Connect to discuss contingency plans in case the stock fails to arrive.
A spokeswoman for watchdog London TravelWatch said: "It is very worrying. If these are not delivered on time it will mean a reduced and more overcrowded service on what is already a very crowded railway."
Up to 130,000 people a day use the Bedford to Brighton Thameslink, which has one of the worst records for "cattle-truck" conditions. A poll last year found that half of peak-time passengers are unable to get a seat. The new trains were supposed to ensure the service could cope with a timetable that is being introduced as part of a £5.5billion upgrade.
Blackfriars station is being rebuilt as part of the renovation, which means some platforms are being taken out of action and extra trains are needed. Bombardier confirmed the company "aimed to supply" 15 new trains by the March deadline and that the remainder "would not be far behind".
A DfT spokesman said: "We are working very closely with the franchise operators to develop a contingency agreement to ensure the deadline is met so that passengers enjoy better services on the Thameslink route as quickly as possible."
A spokesman for First Capital Connect added: "We anticipate there will be no significant impact on the service compared to today."
The Evening Standard launched a campaign to make sure every commuter can get a seat after it emerged that some have been forced to stand for the whole of a 60-mile rail journey.
Britain's top 10 "standing room only" services all start or finish in London, inflicting daily misery on hundreds of thousands of passengers. Passenger group London TravelWatch is backing the Standard's campaign.
Meanwhile, rail industry sources are warning that problems with the complicated track redesign in the London Bridge area could delay the overall Thameslink upgrade programme. "Uncertainties over London Bridge may soon be putting the scheduled completion of the programme by 2014 in doubt," one source said.
Network Rail, which is responsible for the work, denied the claim.
Reader views (10)
Labour fixed 'train overcrowding'. It used to be 110 passengers for 100 seats. Recently the 'Labour solution' was introduced. Now only if there are 130 passengers for every 100 seats is it defined as 'train overcrowding'.
No problem too hard for Labour. New pubquiz 'Amazing measures to make Labour look good 1997-2009?
Anyone keen on CPI? It excluded house price inflation, which was 25% pa and spoiling a nice low inflation number that made Brown look good.
Why not exclude it and claim 'I ended Boom and Bust', just as nationally house prices rose 25% pa, and households took on huge risky debt. That would show just how clever Brown was, as clearly he surely knew what what was going on in the UK economy.
Or not....
Brown's bust is redefined as a 'growth preparation phase'.
- Jack, Bethnal Green, 15/01/2009 16:55
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'Bloke', your notion that FCC is holding the public and government to ransom in relation to these new trains is ridiculous, as is claiming the said financial difficulties will cease to exist if they were willing to pay for the trains (as explained below they've already been purchased).
Like most other trains here in the UK these ones have been purchased by leasing companies who then lease them to train operating companies. In addition they're actually for Southern who must sub-lease them all to FCC until a bespoke fleet is built for FCC between 2012 and 2015.
As mentioned in the article, companies supplying components to Bombardier for assembly are experiencing financial difficulties so it wouldn't matter who purchased the trains anyway.
- Edvid, Luton, UK, 13/01/2009 17:21
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Pity they awarded the contract to Bombardier. Siemens are not having these difficulties elsewhere in Europe.
- Andrew W1, London, 07/01/2009 22:23
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If this is the case should they not put off closing the terminal platforms at Blackfriars unill the properthrough service can be run?
- Robert, London, 07/01/2009 13:44
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I suggest that the promised trains would be supplied without "financial difficulties" if First Capital Connect were willing to PAY for them. This is the case of a monopoly service provider holding the public and the government to ransom so they can make guaranteed profits without risk or upfront investment.
- Bloke, London, 06/01/2009 15:31
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Capital First "CON"-nect have been promising us improvents ever since they took over the franchise ,we still have dirty smelly carriages that are uncomfortable to travel in even if you can get a seat.
The current rolling stock is freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer and because of improvements to the track and stations the trains don’t go across London half the time.
BEDFORD to BRIGHTON they are having a laugh
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 30/12/2008 13:57
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The odds of "getting a seat" on any mass transit are always low. Mass transit is all about cramming as many people as possible into a small space.
- Trunk, US, 27/12/2008 16:41
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Although some people suggest that the government should 'step in' to sort out the train companies, it is worth noting that the government are demanding an 80% increase in fare revenue over the next five years.
Yes, that's the government telling the rail franchisees they MUST increase fares.
The treasury know that they can make money from the captive customers on the railways - with the massive fare increases the companies will require no subsidy and also pay the treasury millions of pounds every year.
This is the Tory privatisation plan coming to fruition.
- Jim, London,UK, 23/12/2008 15:04
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Just to let you all know: First Capital Connect are doing a 'travel in First Class with a Standard Class ticket' promotion right now, and it's been running for a while*
People getting on and off at Stevenage are definitely taking advantage of this offer.
(* my season ticket hasn't been checked this year anyway - no ticket inspectors).
- Srs, London, 23/12/2008 12:01
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To me this is criminal considering the massive fare rises which are about to be imposewd. Parliament should step in (i.e. all parties) and kick some a*** to force the train companies to serve their passengers, not merely soak them for bigger profits.
- Blind Pugh, Woking, UK, 23/12/2008 11:53
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