Cuts to South Western Railway summer services criticised by MP
'Treated with contempt'
Spencer, who has previously raised concerns about transport networks in the area, told BBC Radio Surrey he was also unhappy about a lack of consultation."Only in SWR's mind could between 07:00 and 09:00 be 'off-peak' services," he said."This is a really important route for people to get in to work, to get across my constituency, and to commute into London. People depend on this. It's already the worst performing line on SWR. "These changes have been brought in without consultation. Do people not need to go to work over the summer? Do we not need, you know, reasonable rail services over the summer? "Quite simply, I think SWR are treating commuters, and my constituents, with contempt."He added that, because SWR was nationalised in May, the government now had "direct control and accountability" for the service.
A spokesperson for SWR said the reduction accounted for less than 5% of its 1,600 daily services."Over the summer holiday period, customer numbers drop by 12-17% and the services we have removed are those with the lowest forecast demand," they said.The spokesperson added the reduction would help complete a driver training programme for new trains being introduced to the service.A Department for Transport spokesperson said "the issues causing these reductions were inherited from previous private sector ownership under the flawed franchise system" and that the new managing director of Great British Railways "will be setting out a plan to drive up performance".
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