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News Release 6th September 2009IF LONDON-MIDLAND CAN'T DO IT, GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO CANCommenting on London-Midland's cancellation of all the Sunday train services between Lichfield and London and most other parts of their network on September 6th, Michael Fabricant says: "This failure of their service is unacceptable and breaches all the assurances and promises given to me and the Department of Transport on the future of their Sunday train timetable. Their contract should be withdrawn and be given to an alternative company. "When I last met Steve Banaghan, Managing Director of London-Midland, back in March, he outlined the difficulties they are encountering. However, he offered hope as to the future reliability of their service. In particular, he said that the introduction of the new timetable on Sunday May 17th would resolve many of their problems and herald a consistent Sunday service." See http://www.michael.fabricant.mp.co.uk/news-00840.ihtml Michael continues: "This has not come about. Indeed, I now understand that Steve Banaghan has moved on. And while I wish his successor - Mike Hodson - well, the present situation cannot be allowed to continue any longer. It is causing real distress to students, businessmen, and tourists needing to travel on Sundays. It follows on from a stream of cancellations and delays over the past year. "It was for that reason that I asked Virgin Trains to provide an additional back-up service at around 6pm each Sunday down to London from Lichfield and I am delighted that it will almost certainly be incorporated in their December timetable." See http://www.michael.fabricant.mp.co.uk/news-00865.ihtml "But one reliable train is not enough. I am now calling on Lord Adonis - Secretary of State for Transport - to withdraw the contract from London-Midland and offer it to a company such as Virgin Trains or some other company who have a proven track record of running a reliable Sunday train service. After all the disruption, sacrifice and noise residents were forced to endure caused by the four-tracking of the main line by Lichfield, the present debacle cannot be allowed to drift on any longer." |
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