Andrew Dismore

Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh MP accepted the invitation of Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member and parliamentary candidate for Hendon to visit Mill Hill Broadway, to hear from local residents about the problems on the Thameslink line and at the station.

Mr Dismore said:

“I am delighted Mary came as First Capital Connect’s passengers are fed up with the continual delays on Thameslink: performance last year was 10% below target. FCC passengers are fed up with standing room only. They are fed up with excuses. Only 37% of passengers think the service is good value. Yet the Conservative led Government has extended the contract so FirstGroup can  continue running the line until September and is about to relet  the franchise I matter of weeks, merging it into an even larger one which can only make things worse.. 

“The Conservative led Government has proved itself unable to sort out FCC. Conservative Barnet Council has shown a lack of strategic vision.. Hendon’s Conservative MP chairs the All Party Parliamentary Thameslink Group- yet has been utterly ineffectual. His “campaign” for step free access has failed, too. When the   Transport Minister announced to Parliament the full list of the 42 Network Rail stations that are to benefit from step free access under the “Access to All” programme from 2015 to 2019. Mill Hill Broadway was not on the list.

“Last year, FCC was voted the worst rail operator in the country. My personal preference would be to bring Thameslink within TfL’s London Overground, which was voted the best, but the Government’s decision will prevent this happening.

“Mary came  to meet with local residents to hear at first hand their concerns about the service, and to discuss what the next Labour Government  needs to do to improve the service to acceptable standards.”

Mary Creagh MP said:

“I’m looking forward to joining Andrew to speak with passengers at Mill Hill Broadway who are suffering David Cameron’s cost of living crisis and have seen average fares rise by 20% since 2010. Labour would help Hendon commuters by implementing a strict cap on fare rises across all routes.

“Government incompetence means that the new Thameslink trains have been delayed from 2015 until 2018 and that First Capital Connect’s franchise has been extended without any competition. Hendon deserves better than this.”