Lib Dems lament loss of late train
September 28, 2006 12:01 AM
The last train leaving London for Newbury will now depart at 10.15pm
Councillor Tony Vickers, Ward Member for Northcroft, has written to First Great Western lamenting the loss of the late night train service from London Paddington to Newbury, Thatcham and Theale.
The cuts, which will be implemented in December, mean that the latest train for West Berkshire will leave London at 10.15pm. Councillor Vickers, who regularly uses the late train service, commented:
"It is a shame that Richard Benyon's campaign to save the 11.35pm train has failed. Like increasing numbers of my constituents, I manage to live without personal access to a car - precisely because I bought a house near a railway station twenty years ago. I visit London or Reading for political meetings, lectures, theatre, cinema and dinner with friends - all of which will now become increasingly difficult."
Councillor Vickers wrote to First Great Western at the beginning of September, making the case for retaining the service:
"When I use the train after evening rush-hour there is rarely anyone on it to check tickets. The Paddington to Reading last train is usually about two-thirds full and the Reading to Bedwyn one at least half full as far as Newbury…. Pay a revenue collection person to stay overnight in Bedwyn until you have the automatic ticket barriers installed on Kennet Line!"
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