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Train service into Marylebone to get faster and more frequent
MORE express trains into London from Beaconsfield are to be brought in at the end of this year, Chiltern Railways announced this week.
In addition, improvements to the track and signalling will mean a cut in average journey times into the capital by 22 per cent, the company said.
This equates to around six to eight minutes, meaning that some trains will should reach Marylebone in around 23 minutes.
The improvements are part of a £250 million investment by Chiltern Railways which is creating a new main line from Marylebone to Oxford and the Midlands.
The service from Seer Green and Jordans will not deteriorate, as more trains are to be introduced into the timetable, spokeswoman Emma Gascoigne said.
However Beaconsfield commuters will not benefit from brand new trains being introduced as these will terminate at Gerrards Cross, she said.
Work to the line will happen mostly at weekends and the time table will be disrupted.
Commuter Dermot Cox, a marketing consultant from Beaconsfield, welcomed the improvements.
He said: "A cut of six or eight minutes in journey time is hugely welcome. Currently I aim to get the 7.20am which takes half an hour but if you miss it and get on the next one seven minutes later it adds 15 minutes to your journey, and that feels like a long time.
"The link to Oxford will be very welcome too. Lots of people go to Oxford socially, we regard it as our territory, but it is difficult to get there by train at the moment. A direct train will also lead to increased business opportunities for many people because driving to Oxford in the rush hour does not work."
The new new line to Oxford will be the first new rail link from London to a major British city since 1910.
Adrian Shooter, chairman of Chiltern Railways, said: "This is the biggest passenger rail project for several generations not to call on the taxpayer for support.
"This deal demonstrates that real improvements to rail services can be paid for without public subsidy by attracting people out of their cars and onto trains."
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While I support any upgrade to the service we receive I have to ask the question: why is Beaconsfield being shortchanged yet again?
"However Beaconsfield commuters will not benefit from brand new trains being introduced as these will terminate at Gerrards Cross, she said."
Why? Why is it that Gerrards Cross, during peak time, has more trains stopping or terminating at its station than any other, bar High Wycombe? Already Gerrards Cross has six trains scheduled between 18.00 and 19.00 and at convenient times with fairly healthy gaps so that any commuter who misses their intended train has little time to wait for the next one to get home.
But if you live in Beaconsfield it's a very different matter. Since the time table change in December the 18.15 train that stopped no longer does so, meaning that there is often considerable difficulty to get a seat on the train, with the carriages filling up almost instantly when the train is announced, and from then on it is crushing room - sorry, I mean standing room - only. By the way, that train stops at Gerrards Cross too.
If you miss that one, Beaconsfield commuters have almost an half hour wait for the next service at 18.40 which admittedly is non-stop but now is also often crowded because of the overspill from the 18.12 (no longer alleviated by the 18.15!). Of course, if you can't get on that train which most can't then you can get on the 18.43 or 18.46. And that's your lot until 19.07 if you live in Beaconsfield.
Now, I'm not disputing the number of trains so much as the scheduling. It's madness, and frankly whomever has thought up this service needs to try to catch these trains daily to see what an effort it is. Since the new timetable I have found that I dread the mad scramble home whereas before I didn't give it much thought.
Chiltern Railways should be applauded for their upgrading of service, but their knuckles ought to be rapped when it comes to scheduling and looking after their existing customers. It's a shame that there isn't an alternative because I'd show my frustration with my wallet and take a different operator... but there isn't so come on Chiltern Railways, sort out the shoddy scheduling for one of your busiest and most lucrative stations as the new two storey car park attests.
Beaconsfield commuters there is still time to email your suggestions and proposals for timetable changes due in May.
From the Chiltern Railways website:
Comments on the proposed changes are invited from passengers and stakeholders.
These can be e-mailed to timetableconsultation@chilternrailways.co.uk and should be received by Tuesday 02 February 2010.
No new trains at Beaconsfield? ..that's not what it
says on the Chiltern Railways website..
Beaconsfield
Dedicated brand new trains designed for fast acceleration will speed commuters to the capital, slashing the journey time by 22%.
Journey times to and from London improved by 22%
More express trains to and from London
Yes I know that's what it says on the website. However the Chiltern Railways press office (Emma Gascoigne) assured me that the new trains are stopping at Gerrards Cross. I asked her three times to make absolutely certain. She told me Beaconsfield is going to get some new trains (ie new to Beaconsfield, not brand new), but the brand new trains are stopping at Gerrards Cross. She said the website was misleading in several respects and she would get it changed.