Mid Sussex MP, Nicholas Soames, has written to the Minister responsible for trains at the Department of Transport to complain on behalf of his commuting constituents, many of whom are furious at the abysmal service they have received from First Capital Connect over the last few months.

Nicholas Soames said; “I and other Conservative MPs whose constituencies are served by First Capital Connect, have told the Minister of Transport that unless there is a dramatic improvement in the service provided by First Capital Connect, the Government should seek to remove its franchise and to put in place an Operator who can provide a full service and keep to the timetable.

“It is impossible to quantify the distress and frustration that commuters who use the line have had to endure and I expect the Department of Transport to take steps with First Capital Connect to see to it that they put their house in order and deliver the service as advertised, for hard pressed commuters from Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill”.

Mr Soames said; “The service is simply not good enough, the company is a disaster and should be ashamed of themselves”.

Ends

Notes

Nicholas has signed Early Day Motion 623A 1

TERMINATION OF RAIL FRANCHISE OF FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT

19.01.2010

That this House believes that the ongoing disruption to First Capital Connect services travelling into London needs to stop; deplores the severe reduction in timetabled services due to mismanagement by First Capital Connect, which has not employed enough drivers to cover the shifts needed; is concerned that commuters are having to find alternate routes into work and school, adding considerable time and expense to their daily journeys; notes the petition on the Number 10 website calling on the Prime Minister to act on this matter; calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to recognise this gross lack of competence; further notes that the current disruption is a breach of the franchise; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to serve immediate notice to terminate the franchise agreement with First Capital Connect and to offer the franchise to a more capable organisation.

Main, Anne

leave out from `matter;' to end and add `; further notes the Secretary of State for Transport's view that he wishes to see a significant improvement in services and that he is considering stripping the franchise from the company; calls on the Secretary of State to assess the delivery of the service in compliance with the franchise over the last four months; requests that the service is significantly improved for the travelling public; and further requests that the Secretary of State meets representatives of First Capital Connect urgently to discuss the future of the franchise.'.

He has also signed the No 10 e-petition and EDM 670