PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, is appealing for feedback, stories and concerns from constituents about Thameslink, ahead of his meeting with the company’s CEO later this month.
Mr Strathern has also met with the Arlesey Rail Users Group (ARUG) to hear their concerns, and the concerns they have heard from passengers.
The ARUG, formed five years ago to champion the interests of rail passengers from Arlesey station, raised the number of train drivers, frequency of services, and train capacity as key issues. Arlesey currently receives two trains an hour, but often those services are cut to allow trains to catch up amid delays.
Constituents frequently raised Thameslink and the local rail line to Mr Strathern on the doorstep during the general election campaign, and have regularly since he became an MP.
Mr Strathern’s constituency contains the stations Arlesey and Hitchin, both of which are on the line between Peterborough and London. He is a regular user of the line, travelling between his home in Shefford and Westminster.
Thameslink’s contract to operate services in the South East is due to expire in 2025. At this point, the line will be taken on by a new Government entity, Great British Railways, which will provide more services, cheaper fares and accessibility.
Alistair Strathern MP said:
“I want to thank everyone who has emailed in to my office to share your experiences. I will be putting them to Thameslink’s CEO. If anyone has stories they want to convey, please do email me.
“It was fantastic to hear from the Arlesey Rail Users Group who gave an excellent briefing on what Arlesey passengers need going forward.
“We all deserve a rail service which is reliable, regular and affordable. I will be working with Thameslink to improve this throughout the time they are operating our train services.
“I am proud to support Labour’s plans to form Great British Railways and finally get our trains back on track.”
Notes to editors
Constituents can write in to Alistair to share their concerns at alistair.strathern.mp@parliament.uk
You can see a tweet from Alistair advertising his meeting with Thameslink, here
Commentaires