Passengers critical of London Midland’s fares and lack of space on trains
Police question railway passengers on Platform 4 of Northampton train station where murder suspect Anxiang Du is known to have arrived in the town before killing four members of the Ding family
TRAIN passengers have criticised London Midland services for being “overcrowded and overpriced” in a survey of rail customers published yesterday.
The number of London Midland passengers from Northampton who were happy with the space provided to sit or stand on trains fell by four per cent in the last six months, with only two thirds of passengers claiming to be satisfied.
Twenty-eight per cent of customers said London Midland trains were overpriced, while only two out of every five commuters said the firm dealt well with delays and disruptions.
The firm has, however, welcomed the publication of the results from the autumn survey, which bosses said showed improvements in customer satisfaction since spring last year.
The report revealed that 85 per cent of passengers expressed overall satisfaction with London Midland Services, a rise of two per cent since last spring.
It means the franchise is one percentage point higher than the national average of operating companies.
According to the latest National Passenger Survey, standards of upkeep and repair of London Midland trains rose by seven per cent, station upkeep and repair rose by five per cent and train interior cleanliness rose by six per cent.
London Midland’s commercial director, Richard Brooks, said: “We are very pleased that our customers recognise the continuing improvements we have made across our business. We won’t stand still and we will keep identifying ways to make our customers’ journeys go well.”
Virgin Trains was also criticised for overcrowding and punctuality in the survey, with satisfaction rates falling by six per cent for both since spring last year.
However, the firm was ranked top of long-distance franchise operators, with 89 per cent of passengers satisfied or very satisfied with the overall service.
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
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PATTCOBB2
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 01:17 PMI know a way to buy a fantastic value ticket from Northampton to London Euston off peak. It is completely above board and has been checked out by a couple of ticket office guys too. I am not willing to reveal how to do this but will say that on a "super off-peak return ticket" it is permissible to break your jourmey on the outward leg as well as the return leg... As a railway enthusiast there any hundreds of variations and permutations on railway tickets and long may it continue, I am often staggered by the amount of money one can save if they care to search properly instead of just ticking a few boxes or maybe worse buying tickets at the ticket office. as for this governments intention to remove ALL subsidy from the railways, what a ridiculous and unworkable policy, this is unreasonable and would be completely unique in the world lt alone europe. sadly not enough people saw through the glitzing Tory election pleadges (lies?) and they got voted in with the help of thepoodles from the lib dems
Kingsthorpe Chap
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 03:59 PMLady Muck NN3 man correct there are 3 trains an hour from MKC to Euston XX02 XX19 XX47 and leaving Euston to MKC its XX10 XX20 XX43
NN3man
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 08:14 AM@ ladymuck, Yes, you can, as the ticket states 'ANY PERMITTED' on the route bit of the ticket. It isn't longer to change at MK in most cases, it can be quicker than sitting on the green seater that goes all the way through direct.
lady muck
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 07:52 AMNN3man...I didn't know you could do that. Why doesn't everybody do the same ? Is it because the trip takes longer with the changing trains ? So just to get this clear...when going to London, you use Virgin from MK to Euston and when coming back, Virgin from Euston to MK. But you use the ordinary ticket purchased from Northampton and london midland trains on the Northampton MK leg (both ways). Have I been making a longer journey all the time....I only travel off-peak.
Kingsthorpe Chap
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:34 PMNN3man your comments are most welcomed many drivers who saw these comments by the count were outraged by his comments. Anyone who is safety crical on the railway carries responsibilty. I work on platforms and while the train is stationary in platform I am responsible for the train and passengers . Any lasped of concentraion by platform staff or drivers would put peoples lives at risk .
NN3man
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:04 AMTrain drivers ARE skilled workers. I agree, the driving is not the hard part. I'm not a driver, but I find the Count''s comments quite ridiculous! They get paid for the responsibility they have, the routes are so congested I am not surprised there are delays! Anyway if you need to work in London, then move nearer...or can't you afford it?? I take my hat off to rail staff, they also don't want to be delayed as it just extends their time at work does it not?!! I do agree though that the green seaters are AWFUL. Off peak I always take the xx:25 to Euston and change at MK for the virgin as it's quicker, and the same from Euston, take the xx:10 ChesterNorth Wales service to MK and change and the connection to Northampton is better and Northampton tickets ARE valid on Virgin trains.
Kingsthorpe Chap
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 11:09 AMLady Muck that will never happen on the underground far too dangerous and the unions will never let that happen although DLR has no driver there is a member of staff on board the train
lady muck
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:28 PMI don't know about the 'regular railways', but it has often been said that the London Underground could be converted to driverless trains such as already operate on the DLR. Not sure there's much future joy in train fares...they are scheduled to increase above inflation for a good few years as it is the government's intention that the rail service should operate 'subsidy free'.
Kingsthorpe Chap
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 05:44 PMAnd Just to add I cannot comment on the fare struture but we staff are just doing a job and we are responsible for the safety of people travelling on the railway . We care about the safety and we are skilled people certain jobs on the railway you cannot just walk off the street and do. My job took 3 months to be trained to do. We are asessed every month and every 2 years we sit our rules and regulations. So Count have a thought for the people who work on the railway
Kingsthorpe Chap
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 05:35 PMYour talking dribble Count I suggest you not comment on anything you don't have the facts about. The Driving part is not the difficult bit its knowing routes where every signal point axel counter is the the line thats the skill. If you don't work on the railway don't make asumptions about it.
TheCount
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 05:17 PMKingsthorpe chap. that is comedy gold. driving a train is not a skilled job. drving a bus is harder. I'm not intending to insult you I'm just saying how I see it. the train companies are ripping us all off, the service you offer is shockingly bad and you force us to pay through the nose for it. I'm one of your customers so you should lusten rather than get angry. my wife is giving up her job in London because its just not worth paying the ridiculously high fares. we resent a low skilled worker like a train driver getting paid such a ridicously high wage off our backs. cut your fares cut your wages and lok after your customers. we do have a choice.
Kingsthorpe Chap
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 03:13 PMA message to The Count Train Drivers are highly skilled and are tested every 2 years on the rules and regulations like any one who carries a saftey critical job on the railway. How do I know this ? Answer I work on the B****y railway so I know what I am talking about so don't insult me or my colleagues. Before you spout off get your facts right .!!!!!!!
willi eckaslyke
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:26 PMEven Michael Portillo has given that train journey a miss.
smitch
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:24 PMNot surprising - all the commuters try to avoid trains with 'green seats' in favour of the more spacious 'blue seats'. London Midland yet again ripped off regular commuters this month by increasing ALL london season tickets by 6.92% despite all the publcity about fare increases being held to 6%. Regular commuters have no choice and get ripped off all the time.
lady muck
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 07:10 PMWrong photo caption on old library pic, Chron
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