Maidenhead & Windsor

Savage cuts to Maidenhead commuter rail services have been condemned by councillors and a leading MP.

First Great Western (FGW) has unveiled a new draft timetable starting in December which would slash the number of fast trains running from Maidenhead and Slough to London.

Trains feeding into Slough from Windsor on the branch line will also be affected.

The cuts are so contentious that the Maidenhead royal borough council was due to debate them in an eleventh hour addition to its cabinet agenda last night (Thursday).

Speaking earlier this week, borough leader Mary Rose Gliksten said Maidenhead council would be making "very strong representations" to the Department for Transport after councillors draft an official response.

FGW says the timetable changes are necessary after the DfT rejected an earlier timetable and introduced changes to the way train companies run rolling stock on the network.

The public now has until Wednesday, March 8, to comment on the draft proposals.

Maidenhead MP Theresa May has condemned the proposals which will see the number of fast trains from the town cut from five to just three during morning rush hour.

Mrs May has set up a petition on the internet to encourage the public to protest against the cuts.

She said: "There will be fewer fast trains than ever before, which will undoubtedly lead to more overcrowding and force even more people to return to their cars."

Mrs May has slammed the proposed cuts which she described as "catastrophic" for Maidenhead rail travellers.

If you want to register your protest on the Theresa May website go to www.saveourtrains.com before March 8.

Mrs May is to meet with Transport Minister Derek Twigg to discuss the proposals next week.

The changes also mean the Slough to Paddington non-stop fast service will stop at Ealing Broadway - increasing peak time journeys to between 24 and 36 minutes in the morning and between 22 and 37 in the evening.

FGW announced further cuts to peak services, including the deletion of the 6.47am and 9.20am from the morning timetable, as well as the 5.10pm and 7.40pm evening service.

Head of economic development at Slough Borough Council Rafiq Chohan said: "Our local economy relies on communication links with the capital, of all the discussions we have had with local businesses they all say the same thing - 'we want better and more - not less'."

More than 40,000 commuters travel from London into Slough each day and 30,000 from Slough to London.

Mr Chohan warned the Express that these numbers are 'by no means diminishing,' and that the 'future of the local economy depends on these figures.'

FGW - which already operated the town's train services - had its franchise renewed in December last year. It made the bid alongside its sister company, First Great Western Links and will merge with Wessex Trains, with all three forming the Greater Western franchise from April 1.

A spokesman for FGW said they were really keen to learn the views of commuters who should contact FGW on the e-mail address 1106@firstgroup.com.

Maidenhead is one of two rail stations on the Greater Western network which generate huge amounts of revenue for the rail company.

ic Berkshire ~ Maidenhead