Shambolic’ rail service slammed

A PROSPECTIVE parliamentary candidate claims passenger safety is being compromised by a shambolic rail replacement bus service. Ed Fordham, the Lib Dem candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, wrote a public letter to Ian Brown, managing director of London

A PROSPECTIVE parliamentary candidate claims passenger safety is being compromised by a 'shambolic' rail replacement bus service.

Ed Fordham, the Lib Dem candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, wrote a public letter to Ian Brown, managing director of London Rail, after he experienced a late night rail replacement service from Queen's Park to Wembley first hand on September 13.

His letter said Transport for London's handling of part closure of the Jubilee and Overground service is a "shambles".

In the letter he said: "There is a huge world of difference between getting on a well lit train that you know your stop is the third or fourth station on versus getting on a bus in the dark."

Mr Fordham pointed out that passengers were neglected by station staff; put onto overcrowded busses with bus drivers were not properly briefed on the rail route; and then put at risk as they were dropped off at unlit, unmarked bus stops off the main road arteries.

The letter went on to state that: "The effect is to continue to undermine confidence and increase Oyster Card holder anger at what you are doing to our rail services" and to take "immediate steps" to put things right.

This comes after an online petition from residents and traders of West Hampstead, Kilburn, Queen's Park and Willesden Green signed a petition out of concern for the five weeks of troublesome sustained closure of the Jubilee and Overground lines.

A TFL spokesman said: "Mr Fordham did indeed approach us and we agreed to look at several aspects of the current, necessary - though understandably frustrating - closures. We know it is difficult for passengers, so we will always look into possible improvements to the alternative travel arrangements whenever they are pointed out to us.