News Update!
October 2009
Although services appear to be running better in terms of cancellations and delays there are still issues with regards to our rail services in and out of Enfield. The main concerns appear to be overcrowding, lack of information when a train is cancelled or delayed and the cleanliness of stations and trains. On the Cheshunt (Southbury/Turkey Street loop) the reinstatement of the semifast service is something passengers would like to see returned. We are intending to have a further meeting with National Express and we will be raising these issues at that meeting.
Some passengers boarding the trains at Seven Sisters in the evenings may have noticed a while ago that some trains were departing up to 2 mintues before their scheduled time. This was raised with National Express and passengers should now find that the trains depart on time. However, if anyone experiences a train leaving before its scheduled time please to let us know.
July 2009
The uncertainty for
Because the government have refused to step in and subsidise the struggling train operator, and have instead chosen to effectively nationalise the service it means that plans for new rolling stock may also be put on hold therefore ensuring the over crowding on many of our routes continue.. The truth however is that no one yet really knows what this massive change means for passengers. The Enfield Rail campaign is already trying to establish what exactly is likely to happen and will report back to you ASAP
What should become clear very soon is if National Express will continue to run the franchise for our commuter services. The government have not yet made it clear what is happening but we will keep pressing for information, or at the very least an idea of when a decision may be made.
Clearly train operators like many other businesses are finding it difficult during the recession to maintain their passenger volumes and revenues which is why National Express have given up their franchise as no government funding was made available to them. Whether the government, by nationalising the services previously undertaken by National Express can run the train services any better for the benefit of passengers and the tax payer remains to be seen.
April 2009
On 25 and 26 March we handed out the updated newsletter at Enfield Town and Bush Hill Park Stations.
We have written to National Express requesting an indication of how the drop in rolling stock on offer from the Government will affect the Enfield train lines. We are awaiting a reply from National Express on this issue. You may have seen in the papers that initially the Government said there would be an extra 1300 carriages available and have now said there will only be 1000.
We contacted National Express concerning the early departure (albeit only a minute or so) of the Cheshunt train from Seven Sisters in the evening. This appears to have been resolved and the trains should not be leaving early any more.
We contacted First Capital Connect concerning the issue of the platform signs on the Enfield Chase Line. We are awaiting a response from First Capital Connect on this.
March 2009
On 9 February 2009 we held a meeting with the Rail bosses of National Express. This meeting has been reported in our latest newsletter which was handed out at Southbury and Turkey Street Stations on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 March 2009.
To read the latest newsletter go to the right hand side of this page.
Some local MP's backing the campaign.
Update July 2008
We have handed out prepaid postcards at Bush Hill Park Station.
We are trying to secure a meeting with the Rail Operator to voice the concerns of the passengers and to try and improve the services across Enfield.
Your complaints fired off to National Express and First Capital Connect
Complaint cards distributed to Brimsdown, Lock, Ponders End, Southbury, Turkey Street, Bush Hill Park and Enfield Town stations
Update June 2008
We have handed out prepaid postcards at Enfield Town Station in the month of June. The response has been great and we are currently sorting through the responses to be notified to National Express.
Passengers are still requesting the return of the semi fast service during rush hour on the Turkey Street and Southbury loop. This is our next achievable goal with National Express and we are working hard to try and achieve this. As is usual with any campaign we are relying heavily on passenger support to achieve this goal and so please download our compaign letter regarding this.
Also recent events include the change of the timetable in May. Please let us know how the changes to the timetable have affected you.
Update March 2008
Passengers are invited to download our camapaign letter seeking the return of the semi fast service during rush hour on the Turkey Street & Southbury loop
Update October
At last we have been granted a meeting with senior management from the rail operator at their Liverpool Street offices. Perhaps this is something to do with the fact that we pointed out we had to wait over three months to get replies from them to all your complaints. Or was it perhaps because we published your comments on your experience with the rail service on this site? Who knows- but at least we have the meeting and we will report back to you if there is any progress.
Meanwhile.....The campaign is being rolled out across the rest of Enfield borough to reach passengers at Lock, Brimsdown, Ponders End, Town, Gordons Hill and Chase.This will allow us to demonstrate the weight of public ( customer! )dissatisfaction with the services.
Letters of support have been received from David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate and Mark Prisk MP for Stortford and Hertford. Both MP's have agreed to facilitate meetings with One Management. If any of you wish to attend please do contact Nick de Bois at nickdebois@enfieldnorth.org
Finally, a local Enfield Residents Association has promoted the campaign in their regular newsletter and persuaded some local shops to carry the postcard pledges.
The Enfield Advertiser & Enfield Gazette have both published stories today about our campaign. This represents another milestone in our attempt to challenge 'One' to deliver a better service for rail users, and particularly commuters.
The Advertising Standards Authority have made the following judgement against the then operator 'one'
to change their advertising to remove the claim regarding a 30 minute frequency where it does not apply.
When this was pointed out to Mr Alexander the Transport Minister and he was asked to give assurances that the government would press the Rail Operator to seek improvements this was his reply;
Mr. Alexander: In the first instance, it is for Network Rail, working closely with One management, to try to secure the performance improvements that we all want. There has been a decline in performance in the past year, albeit from a higher base than elsewhere in the country. I understand that 87 per cent. of One services run on time, against a national average of 86.8 per cent. One management has recently been restructured, and performance has shown signs of improvement, but I will ensure that the point made by my hon. Friends constituent is passed on directly to Network Rail and, indeed, One management.
Meanwhile
A Response from the Department for Transport to campaigner Adele Panayi has been received.Adele challenged the Department to explain why 'one' had been allowed to change the time table last December. Click 'What they say!' to read the letter.
In the meantime, continue to look here for updates on the number of pledges of support we have recieved, responses from rail operators, minsters, and MP's.
When we get meetings, we will report them here, and if you wish to attend don't forget to contact us.
