Rail review agreed for London line
UNCOMFORTABLE The South West Trains 450 rolling stock
RAIL users between Portsmouth and London Waterloo have won a breakthrough in their battle for better trains.
Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt and David Habershon, founder of the No450 campaign, met transport minister Norman Baker on Tuesday. He has agreed to review South West Trains’ use of 450 Desiro which have more seats than the type-444 carriages.
Ms Mordaunt said: ‘We told him our concerns, which are that the 450s are designed for shorter journeys, meaning on longer journeys the toilets often overflow and the seats are too small for people to sit in comfortably.’
The rail company has argued the 450s are needed to beat overcrowding at busy times, but Mr Baker agreed to investigate the carriages’ replacement with 444s, at least on off-peak services.
Mr Habershon said: ‘There’s no overcrowding on the Waterloo services, except some peak-time commuter services.
‘We want more than a return of the 444 at off-peak but we’re pleased the minister has agreed to take a look at the issue.’
Under the current contract, the government can’t order SWT to change its trains but refusal could be taken into account when the franchise is renewed in 2017. The review will end in September or early October.
Ms Mordaunt said: ‘This is an important first battle and gives passengers hope they will one day travel in comfort. I and others will not rest until they do.’
Mr Baker said: ‘I will examine the campaign’s passenger count data. Ultimately it is for a company to decide how it makes best use of its train fleet.’
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
bnkfmnvbd
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 04:00 AMComment removed by moderator
seadog
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 06:38 PMThe review is great news. Let's hope the 450's are sold off to suburban train companies. When I was regularly commuting, I had to buy a 1st class ticket as I suffered so much back pain in the 450. Even then the 450 1st class seats were fractionally shorter than the 2nd class 444. Now I regularly drive up to Petersfield to make sure I can get a 444 rather than get the local 450 which is just a walk. Well done to Penny and David for getting the review.
morris.james.100
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 01:16 PMIt’s about time the 450s (blue and orange) trains were removed from the Portsmouth to Waterloo line. They are painful to sit in for any length of time and the seats are not built for an average size person. If I’m travelling to London I always use the white trains because the seats are far more comfortable. With the prices South West Trains charge, you’d want a better seat than the ones in the 450 carraiages.
Fratton Parks next door neighbour
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 08:10 AMAs a commuter, I've arranged my travel times to avoid the 450 services and will only use the 444's The 450's are rubbish if you use them for long distance travel. The seats are designed just to squeeze as many lemmings in as possible at peak times and as a result 3 people are sat in a space usually used for 2. There is less leg room between the seats compared to the 444's, which is ok if you are 4' tall but if you are a normal height then you end up with your ankles around your ears it seems. The 450's should just be used for journeys less than 60 mins i think, say Haslemere Guildford to Waterloo. The 444's should just be used on the Portsmouth & Weymouth to Waterloo routes where the extra space and comfort is appreciated more. The 450's should be in a museum, to show designers in the future how not to design a train.
The Bean Counter
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 04:48 PMThat's one for Network Rail or PCC Chris, not SWT.
Chris 71
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 03:25 PMWhile I think the trains and service is good, their customer care is not. They are supposed to reply to complaint emails within 20 days yet 6 weeks on I am still waiting for a reply. They would do well to look at their foot bridges. The one over the line in Portsmouth from Greetham St is in a disgusting state with the windows in particular being covered in some kind of gunk.
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