Train Frequency Sutton and Cheam 2025-06-26
2025-06-26
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent wrote to the MP expressing concerns about overcrowded trains during peak hours at Worcester Park station, which is causing significant stress and discomfort. The South Western Railway has been placed under Government control.
Earlier this week I was contacted by a long-suffering commuter using Worcester Park station. She wrote: 'As a teacher my days are already demanding... What should be a straightforward journey has become an exhausting and frustrating part of my day.' Now that South Western Railway is under Government control, will the Minister tell my constituents when we can expect to see the service and timetable finally improve for Worcester Park station?
Services returning to public ownership is a watershed moment for our railways and the beginning of our efforts to build Great British Railways, a new publicly owned organisation that runs our trains. We want passengers to see improvements to their services now and, starting with SWR, each operator will have to meet rigorous bespoke performance standards on things such as punctuality, cancellations and passenger experience, so that we can begin to build a world-class public service.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific timeline for improvements at Worcester Park station or mention any funding plans.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
South Western Railway acquired 90 high-capacity Arterio trains in 2019 to address overcrowding issues, but only a handful have entered service. The UK taxpayer is currently spending over £5 million every month on leasing the Arterio fleet, and over £0.5 million additionally every month to store unused trains.
Worcester Park is a station that my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Luke Taylor) and I know well as it is on the boundary of both our constituencies, and I confirm that my constituents face the same issues of overcrowding. SWR acquired 90 high-capacity Arterio trains to address this issue back in 2019, yet six years later only a handful have entered service. The UK taxpayer is currently spending over £5 million every month on leasing the Arterio fleet, and over £0.5 million additionally every month to store the unused trains. Will the Minister confirm how many Arterio trains are now in use, whether the issues delaying roll-out have now been addressed, and whether he thinks that spending millions of pounds every month on unused trains is a good use of taxpayers’ money?
I am aware that another two of those trains are now in operation. The new managing director is aware that this is a challenge and we are already beginning to see progress.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the issue of whether spending millions on unused trains is justified, nor provided details on addressing roll-out issues.
Response accuracy