Drew Morgan-Watts, John Howliston, Munira Wilson and Andrew Dakers

South West Trains to treat all customers as fare dodgers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jul 2007

Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth, outside Brentford station where delays are often experienced by South West Trains long suffering passengers (photography: Andrew Dakers)

Cllr Dakers outside Brentford Station where the ticket office is often closed

A 'commercially sensitive' South West Trains staff newsletter was last week leaked to a national newspaper. Guards were advised to treat all customers, even those who were unable to buy tickets at stations, as fair dodgers. Speaking to Brentford & Chiswick Informer Councillor Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, called the tactics horrendous and demanded the company get their own house in order.

Cllr Dakers said:

"I think this is horrendous. If the Strategic Rail Authority is not getting this under control, then its about time they did.

"I am a regular user of the network from Brentford and all too often the ticket office is closed. I have found their ticket machines do not work consistently and a fully fledged Oyster service has yet to be put in place.

"Let's see the train companies get their house in order before they start treating their customers like this."

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook LibDigLibDig redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story
Previous news story: LETTER: The Tories let us down, its time for change - Simon Martin (Thu 5th Jul 2007).
Next news story: Lib Dems fastest growing party in Hanworth Park By-election (Sat 14th Jul 2007).

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by R N Banerji on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 127 Central Avenue, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 2RQ.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.