Mona Naqvi, Joseph Bourke, 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."

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