Note by Peter Bassett Esq (OPT 26)
PLANNED RAIL CUTS BY THE SRA
I am writing to ask whether you will investigate
the plans by the SRA to cut rail services, and question whether
this is really the most intelligent way to reduce congestion.
My specific concern is the SRA's plan to cut
South Central rail services between Bournemouth and Southampton.
I am a regular user of this service, I am partially sighted and
do not drive a car and so unfortunately have no alternative to
using rail travel. I travel from Christchurch to Swanwick using
the South Central service. This is an excellent service as it
runs direct from Christchurch to Swanwick in 50 minutes without
the need to change trains. This service usually runs on schedule,
it is a good service.
Please will you scrutinise the SRA's strategy
for cutting services, and take into account the considerable harm
that will be caused to individual rail passengers by making these
cuts.
Is it not possible to find a more intelligent
solution by applying better traffic management techniques to the
existing services, rather than taking the easy option of cutting
services to reduce congestion? Is the problem really about congestion
caused by too many trains, or is it more to do with the inability
to adequately manage the railway system?
January 2003
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