Maidenhead & Windsor

Train operator First Great Western (FGW) will be in the Maidenhead spotlight next week (Thursday February 22) when representatives will attend the Royal Borough's cabinet to give an account of their 'poor performance'.

Frustrated local Maidenhead commuters have been outraged by timetable changes – introduced in December – and at a recent meeting with FGW Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for traffic and transport called on them to appear at a cabinet meeting to explain how they are planning to sort out the ongoing commuter problems between Maidenhead and Paddington.

Maidenhead Cllr Wood, who previously described the recently-announced timetable amendments as 'tinkering round the edges which would leave commuters no better off' said: "As the weeks go by the storm of complaints keeps raging as rail passengers, particularly on the Maidenhead to Paddington line, continue to suffer overcrowding on a peak-time service that is simply not capable of meeting the needs of the travelling public.

"Only rarely does cabinet ask outside organisations to come to our meetings to explain their services and our invitation to FGW demonstrates our very grave concerns about their poor performance."

Cllr Wood said the current mess could have been avoided if FGW had listened to and accepted the good advice the Maidenhead council gave to the train operator over a year ago. Now FGW had a duty to explain to elected members and to the public just how they intend to put things right. He added: "We also need to have a say in the 2008 timetable arrangements which are due to be finalised soon."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead