SUMMER LAUNCH PLAN FOR HIGH SPEE

A new direct train service to London St Pancras, St Albans, Luton Airport and Bedford is now running from Ashford International. The service runs Mondays to Fridays only and departs Ashford at 06.23, providing a convenient 8 minute connection with the 05.30 train from Hastings (05.47 from Rye) which arrives at 06.15. Sadly, this is the only ‘through’ train of the day at present but has still been welcomed by MLAG: commented Chairman Stuart Harland ‘with the £5.5billion worth of enhancements getting underway to the Thameslink network, there are plans for a regular service from Ashford through London to Bedford from 2015. This is good news for Marshlink Line passengers.’

MLAG is delighted to learn that Kent County Council (KCC) is applying pressure on the government to limit the premium fares to be charged on the new 140mph high-speed Javelin services between Ashford and St Pancras. Operator Southeastern is permitted to charge a premium of up to 35% over existing fares to travel on high-speed services, although a final decision on the new fares has yet to be announced. KCC states in a draft consultation document entitled ‘Unlocking Kent’s Potential’, that high fares ‘could prove to be a deterrent to the regeneration of the area of Kent’.

A daily Eurostar train to Brussels from Ashford International was restored with effect from today. The train leaves Ashford at 06.27 on Mondays to Fridays, arriving in Brussels at 08.56, with a return departure leaving Brussels at 16.59, arriving in Ashford at 17.37. On Saturdays and Sundays, the train leaves Ashford at 08.28, arriving Brussels 10.56 and returning at 16.59, giving a 17.33 arrival back at Ashford. (all times are local). Congratulations to all those who have campaigned for more Eurostar trains from Ashford.

The closing date for bids for the new South Central franchise passed on February 18. Four companies are bidding: NedRailways, Stagecoach, National Express and current operator Govia with the new franchise starting on September 20. MLAG has met with each of the four bidders and presented our list of improvements (see ‘Campaigns’). We were particularly impressed by two of the bidders who we feel have a particular understanding of our expectations and we hope that certainly some of them will be met in the short term. We await the decision, due in the early summer, with great interest.

The full 140mph high-speed Ashford to London (St Pancras) service is due to start on December 13 but operator South Eastern has announced that it hopes to run a limited preview service this summer. It is understood that this early service could consist of three trains in the morning peak with three return ones in the evening with a journey time of just 37 minutes between Ashford and St Pancras! The early introduction of the service is dependent on driver training and technical work being completed on time.

Passenger Focus, the national rail passenger watchdog, carries out a National Passenger Survey twice a year. The latest report, covering the period between 1 September and 15 November 2008, saw nearly 25,000 people questioned.

Southern saw a sample of 2145 passengers interviewed of whom 83% expressed satisfaction, 6% expressed disatisfaction and 11% no opinion. This reflects a small increase of 1% in the satisfaction level over the previous 6 month period. Southern was ranked 13^th out of 21 in this area.

When questioned about value for money, 42% said that Southern’s fares were good value, 33% poor value and 25% expressed no opinion. Southern was ranked 16^th out of 21 for value.

FARE RISES COMPARED

Posted 13 February 2009

No one likes a price increase but by just how much have our local fares risen since privatisation?

The comparison below of Southern’s walk-on fares between June 1995 and January 2009 includes the most recent increases. Inflation was 45% over the period.

The full report can be viewed at www.barrydoe.co.uk

1^st single	Standard single	Off-peak period return	Off-peak day return	1^st season	Std season
60%	60%	65%	75%	35%	35%