MP demands debate over crowded trains
Wednesday 10th March 2010, 1:14PM GMT.
The MP for Shrewsbury is calling for a debate in the House of Commons about train company Arriva after claims of overcrowding on the Shrewsbury to Birmingham service.
Daniel Kawczynski said he had written to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis after constituents complained to him about the transport firm.
The letter follows efforts by MP Mark Pritchard.
The Wrekin MP asked Transport Minister Sadiq Khan at the Commons Transport Select Committee for a limit on the number of passengers in carriages after dubbing the Arriva Trains Wales Shrewsbury to Birmingham International service the “sardine express” because of overcrowding.
Train operators have no legal obligation to limit passengers.
Mr Kawczynski, in his letter to Lord Adonis, said a passenger told him the service was “hugely overcrowded” and she was unable to find a seat.
He said: “The possible danger caused to passengers made to travel on trains with insufficient available seating is unacceptable. Such extreme overcrowding must be in contradiction to health and safety legislation and I wish to call for a debate on this matter.”
Arriva spokeswoman Katrina Tzannis said it had added 650 seats on the “Shrewsbury to Birmingham corridor” since December 2008 and talks with the Department for Transport about further capacity at peak times were ongoing.
Mr Kawczynski said he wanted to know what action would be taken to ensure trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham had enough seats for passengers.
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Me thinks its election time.
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Can’t be election time. David Wright hasn’t jumped on the band wagon, yet.
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They can demand all they want, I demand to win the lottery each week but for some reason I haven’t, perhaps buying a ticket may help my chances.
650 extra seats, isn’t that roughly the size of parliament? Perhaps they’re thinking of moving the Commons to the Golden Temple aka Fantasy Island in Frankwell.
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Nobody’s listening – YES the Arriva trains get overcrowded because they are a limited stop service. Quciker. Less commute time. Paid for by the Welsh Assembly! It’s Arriva Trains WALES – not Shropshire.
It’s LONDON MIDLAND who get paid to service commuters from Shrewsbury & Telford to Wolverhampton & Birmingham and they aren’t providing the high capacity limited stop services they should be.
Will somebody please bang some sense into our MPs because the Department for Transport must be laughing themselves sick at their naivety………..
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With respect Mr Graham, when these “faster” trains do leave on time (once this week and counting) they take around 10 minutes less, so instead of just over an hour its just under an hour. thats not an explanation for overcrowding unfortunately.
If its Arriva trains WALES, then great, keep your trains in WALES!! We seriously dont want a sardine express with virtually redundant trains. From a company posting excellent profits in a recession, it simply amounts to Arriva profiteering. There contract should be ripped up.
Another provider with an inclination to provide “customer service” and basic standards of hygeine would be appreciated urgently, that to me is the more pressing issue. A better standard of coach would provide a better environment and improved conditions.
As much as this debate is good and highlights a poor business in Arriva, ultimately how can any real improvements be made to our services unless the cronic backlog and upgrading to the tracks, signals and other associated items is commenced. The Department for Transport need to start delivering, although its always going to be a long term goal.
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Perhaps Bill Graham might like to answer these questions: If someone travelling from Birmingham into Wales cannot get a seat, what then?
And if, as he points out, London Midland are paid to “service commuters from Shrewsbury & Telford to Wolverhampton & Birmingham” could he explain why it is NOT in their contract to offer ANY Sunday train services on the route?
As a result, they provide no services on Sundays on the Shrewsbury to Birmingham route.
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