Maidenhead & Windsor

The Maidenhead Royal Borough will step up its tough stance on behalf of frustrated local rail commuters at a meeting with representatives of train operator First Great Western (FGW).

And Cllr Anthony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead traffic and transport, will be calling on them to appear at a cabinet meeting in February to explain how they are planning to sort out the commuter chaos between Maidenhead and Paddington, caused by the new timetable introduced just before Christmas.

He said: "The amendments, announced earlier this month and supposed to solve the problems, are just tinkering round the edges, leaving commuters no better off. We see daily media coverage of the virtual cattle truck conditions that people are forced to travel in – while paying extortionate fares for the so-called privilege.

"This entire mess could have been avoided if FGW had listened to and accepted the council's good advice. When I meet with them this afternoon I will be calling on them to attend our cabinet meeting on February 22 because I believe FGW has a duty to explain to elected members and to the public just how they intend to address this outrageous situation.

"My invitation to FGW reflects the council's deep concern about the current situation and our determination to have a say in the 2008 timetable arrangements which are due to be finalised in the next few weeks.

"At a time when we are urged to do everything we can to reduce global warming by promoting public transport, how ridiculous is it to reduce fast trains from Maidenhead to Paddington, make trains even more unreliable and cause vast overcrowding that makes travel a nightmare!"

Cllr Wood also hit out at 'the real villains of the piece' – Network Rail – who had given strategic priority to destinations such as Reading and Oxford. He added: "We must not forget that there is another level to this situation and it's time Network Rail also accepted some of the blame."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead