Letters: This is a slow train of thought

Jun 9 2011 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THE suggestion that the Chesham trains should be sent as slow trains from next December is an absolute disgrace.

It has taken years to get a regular through service not just in the rush hours. Even that is not without its disadvantages. Under the previous timetable, passengers could get day Travelcards on the 9.07am train, but with the new system the earliest one can travel on this cheaper ticket is 9.30am. Twenty-three minutes makes quite a difference, especially if one has a meeting to attend.

If this gap is now extended by a further seven minutes, this will make 30 minutes difference to journey times. If a meeting happens to be near Baker Street, it is still just about feasible, but to get to a venue in the City by even 11 o'clock would be quite out of the question.

One of the excuses is to 'improve the frequency for customers between Moor Park and Preston Road', but this is absolute nonsense - slow services from both Watford and Uxbridge run every 10 minutes as it is. Therefore if there is congestion anywhere, it should be on the slow services, not the fast.

Since the Chesham train is only replacing one of the former Amersham trains, there should be no problem about congestion anyway. This is obviously just an excuse.

To add insult to injury, TfL says Amersham will be served by additional two trains per hour during peak times. Why, if there is such congestion already?

ANDREA POLDEN Chesham