Rail service ‘worst in the capital’

The figures show that almost three times as many trains run by SW Trains were delayed in February 2004 compared with the same period in 1998.

All over London the situation is labelled "appaling", with vast increases in delays, but SW Trains tops the delay delinquents' league with almost a quarter of its services running late.

"It's not good enough just to blame the private operators", said Dee Doocey, Hounslow's Liberal Democrat candidate for the GLA.

"What this points to is a total failure of regulation which is down to the Government. Nothing is being done to reduce delays, new trains are sitting in sidings because idiocy prevented anyone checking that the power supply was sufficient, and stations are shabby and lack even basic amenities."

Dee Doocey was also critical of Ken Livingstone. "Most of the efforts of the Mayor, via Transport for London, are concentrated on the tubes and buses. The fact is that many commuters in London rely heavily on the Rail Operators and the Mayor, supported by the GLA, should take a lead in pressurising regulators to take real action. It is one area I shall be particularly interested in if elected to serve in the Assembly."

Government figures on rail delay and cancellation published earlier this month were only quarterly data for the period mid October 2003 - to January 2004 making the Liberal Democrat figures - February 2004 - more up to date than the Government figures.

Liberal Democrats undertook a survey of the cancellation and delay figures published on the Internet or at mainline stations for the 4-week period: 1st February - 28th February 2004. These were compared with the figures for the comparable 4-week period: 2nd February - 1st March 1998 (from Opraf Annual Report 1997 - 1998, Strategic Rail Authority)

The figures show that London trains, over the same period, have suffered from up to nearly three times as many delays in 2004 than in 1998.