Railway may be key in election
Rail services are shaping up to be a key talking point ahead of the upcoming general election – and political parties have been weighing in on the issues facing Maidenhead constituents.
In recent months, passengers have seen frequent delays and and cancellations on the Great Western Mainline, as well as issues at Maidenhead Station including the out-of-action lift at platform 2/3.
This week, Joshua Reynolds, a Royal Borough councillor and the Liberal Democract Parliamentary candidate for Maidenhead, shared a letter he has sent to Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail expressing his concerns and ‘disappointment’ about the ‘high number of delays and line closures’ on the main line.
In the letter he also highlighted the need to renovate the underpass link between the platforms and the ticket hall.
He told the Advertiser: “It just seems like commuters are getting hit day after day with more problems, delays and cancellations.
“Maidenhead’s a big town. It’s growing, it’s a big commuter town, actually we need a reliable service and we’re not getting that at the moment.”
The Conservatives and Labour are yet to reveal their candidates for the general election, expected later this year, but train services are expected to a key issue ahead of the vote.
Maidenhead MP Theresa May, who has announced she will be standing down at the next election, has been involved in discussions over the issues regarding the station itself and train delays.
She said: “I know that fast, reliable train services are vital for local people and that recent levels of service have fallen far short of what is acceptable.”
Mrs May said she has been pressing Network Rail and GWR on the issue and has raised the ‘poor level of service’ directly with the rail minister.
“Real improvements have been achieved, notably the retention of mainline fast services alongside Elizabeth line services.
“I am sure that my successor will continue to work to ensure that Maidenhead constituents can enjoy good and reliable train services.”
Jo Smith, a member of the Maidenhead Labour Executive, said: “Maidenhead station has been suffering neglect for as long as I can remember – the leaking underpass and unreliable service.
“Recent ‘improvements’ missed the need to repair the roof and didn't provide dedicated drop-off points, and the advertised car parking is down a dark alley that many local residents have told me that they don't feel safe using.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Train service on the Thames Valley lines hasn’t been good enough in recent months and we’re sorry to the passengers we’ve let down.
“We’ve taken an in-depth look at the key factors of delays and work is under way on an accelerated performance improvement plan, working alongside industry experts, to take action and address the decline in train performance as a priority.
“We’re confident in our plan to deliver improvements in reliability and cut delays over time.
“We’re also committed to improving accessibility and are pleased to say that work is well under way to provide a new lift and staircase at Maidenhead station, which is due for completion this autumn.”
A spokesperson for GWR said: “We are really sorry if you have been delayed or caught up in these incidents. We share our passengers’ concerns, and the team at Network Rail understands the impact on our customers when the infrastructure doesn’t perform as it should, and the need to improve.
“The steps outlined by the new regional Network Rail team should be welcomed. We look forward to working with them to understand the delivery plan in more detail and help minimise the impact of the work on customers.”
While Network Rail owns the building infrastructure, the GWR spokesperson added: “We are aware of the subway leaking in poor weather and continue to work with our partners as they seek to identify a longterm solution to this problem.”