First Capital Connect - "Transforming Travel" or just using a good advertising slogan?

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates Nigel Quinton for Hitchin & Harpenden and Sandy Walkington for St Albans joined senior Liberal Democrat MPs at Westminster yesterday for a private meeting with FCC top management, Mary Grant and Neal Lawson.

The meeting was called by Norman Baker MP, the Lib Dem transport spokesperson, mainly to review the recent disruption in train services on Thameslink which have led to calls for FCC's franchise to be revoked.

Nigel Quinton, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hitchin & Harpenden, had this to say following the meeting:

"FCC cannot be in any doubt about the depth of passenger dissatisfaction not just with the appalling service disruption, but with the bureaucratic compensation process too, and I think between us we helped make those points very clearly.

"Although FCC has been poorly served by its suppliers, the late delivery of 23 train units does not excuse their inadequate response to these challenges. Amongst other things we learned today was the fact that even in normal times FCC rely on 8 per cent rest day working (i.e. their drivers are expected to work one in every twelve of their rest days). During the problems, partly due to drivers having to take time out for training to drive the new units, this requirement rose "five-fold". Despite assurances from FCC today that they are recruiting more drivers, I remain to be convinced that their staffing levels are adequate for the service they are trying to run.

"The good news for commuters is that the last of the new units has now been delivered and repairs to the older stock that failed to cope with the weather are due to complete this month. I have asked for and been promised that a 'Meet the Manager' event will be held at Harpenden station so that passengers can quiz senior management, as is being done in St Albans this Friday"

*See Sandy Walkington's blog for more detail on the meeting www.sandy4stalbans.org*