Late night train - "Investigate every possibility" - Vickers

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Oct 2006

Councillor Tony Vickers is investigating every possibility in the campaign to save the late night train service from London Paddington back to Newbury, Thatcham and Theale.

Lib Dems are investigating every possibility to save the late train service

Councillor Vickers has this week written to the Managing Director of First Great Western trains, asking that cost estimates be drawn up for providing a ticket collector on the last train back, in an effort to meet the £60,000 deficit First Great Western claim is necessary to run the service.

Councillor Vickers commented:

"I am reluctant to let this drop - the late train is a lifeline to many West Berkshire residents who work and/or socialise in the capital. 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!"

The letter, sent today to First Great Western headquarters, will ask the company to look at whether the cost of a ticket collector on the service, enforcing revenue payment, would go some, if not all the way towards offsetting the deficit.

Councillor Keith Woodhams, Shadow Portfolio holder for Transport will be taking the late train up once again at Thursday's meeting of the Council's Executive.