Acton Main Line: on Track or off the Rails?

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Angie Bray questions rail reps over berated service

Angie Bray, Leader of the Conservative London Assembly members and Conservative candidate for Ealing Central and Acton, called a meeting today at Acton Main Line Station with local passenger user groups (unfortunately no such group exists for Acton, though Ealing is well represented by Ealing Passenger Transport User Group) and representatives from Transport for London, London TravelWatch and London Rail/Transport for London.

Problems experienced by disenchanted commuters using the service from Acton Main Line (2 trains every hour to Paddington in one direction and Greenford via Ealing Broadway in the other) were discussed. After the meeting with Angie Bray, London TravelWatch representatives revealed that Ealing Council's failure to attend important consultation meetings on transport could mean the Borough is losing out on possible benefits and improvements to services.

Vlod Barchuk, and Seema Kumar, Conservative counsellors for Acton Central ward were also there to meet Libby Kemp, Board Member of London TravelWatch and a resident of Acton, Brian Cooke Chairman of London TravelWatch, Rob Sadler of London Rail/Transport for London, John Beeston, Chair of EPTUG (Ealing Passenger Transport User Group) , Ian Brown of Tfl and Richard Rowland, General Manager of Thames Valley trains.

The first issue we asked about was the much berated information services. ActonW3.com Forum posters who travel from Acton Main Line report being told trains are cancelled which subsequently arrive a few minutes late. Richard Rowland said that the whole information system is due to be updated. "We expect work to start next year and to be in use by Summer/Autumn 2008. Improvements will include improved help points, public address systems and information and CCTV."

Angie Bray, standing on a windblown platform with trains rushing by at great speed, looked at the steep stairs from Horn Lane - the only access to the station and asked what plans there were to make the station accessible for the disabled.

The answer was surprising: Disabled people wishing to travel from Acton Main Line Station should call 08457 48 49 50 or text 48 49 50 and they will be taken by taxi to Paddington. We did try to check this but when we called the number we were told to call 0800 197 1329 (First Great Western service assistance) for help with access to the train. Bookings apparently need to be made a day in advance.

If anyone wants to volunteer to try this out, please let us know. The person I spoke to at FGW service assistance confirmed that the taxi service was available with a minimum of 24 hours notice.

Libby Kemp asked why Heathrow Connect trains could not stop at Acton Main Line. Richard Rowland replied that there are time tabling complications. When Terminal 5 opens it will take longer for trains to shuttle around Heathrow, so a stop at Acton would cause further delays. FGW is prepared to consider using the Heathrow Connect trains going into London to stop twice hourly at Acton Mainline which would not mean extra trains but would mean a much more reliable service.  Passengers would still need to use the Greenford Train service back out again. 

First Great Western trains aim to bid in January for more trains to call at the stations in the borough, however this is dependant on their performance results. They need to get their punctuality up from the low 80's to the mid 90's before Network Rail will allow them to run the minimum of four trains per hour at all stations.  A minimum service of four trains per hour are what London TravelWatch and TFL would consider appropriate for stations in zones 4-6. If they are successful, the service would start in December 2008.

Meanwhile, FGW are continuing to press Network Rail in terms of their performance as at least 50% of the delays are due to them.

Many of the timetabling restrictions on commuter trains are apparently caused by freight trains which, as Libby Kemp pointed out, are parked during the rush hour on other lines into London during peak periods. This is something which needs to be discussed with Network Rail who couldn't be contacted to attend the meeting.

Angie also pointed out that the ticket office is a "prime area for mugging", exacerbated by the fact that one of the street lights has been decapitated over the road. There were comments about providing cycle racks and improving safety at the station.

Oyster pre-pay for this line is due to be in use long after it comes into use on the Silverlink Metro.

Angie Bray is going to follow up with Network Rail to see what improvements can be made to improve services.

Afterwards, Richard Rowlands discussed Crossrail which would mean there were 4 trains an hour stopping at Acton Main Line.

Both Libby Kemp and John Beeston agreed that Ealing Council are failing to come to important meetings concerning First Great Western, Crossrail, North London Line and even on bus routes. Other local councils realise that their attendance at these meetings is important for decision-making and brings huge benefits.

This means that residents in the Borough of Ealing will be missing out on important negotiations about transport which could improve the network for everyone.

September 27, 2007