Forum Topic

South West Train weekend services constantly maintenece works

Good Start of the week everybodyI have the impression that during the weekend South West Train Service from Hounslow to Clapham Junction is too often under maintenance workWhich seems acceptable to have maintenance work during the weekend sometimes I don't understand how it is possible after this big amount of scheduled maintenance works yet last Saturday there was an incident which affected Brentford trains There were not  update on the display board at the Brentford station. People had to wait without knowing before realizing that was not service. Luckily most of us know use internet and I found out about the service disruption.Since I had to go to Clapham Junction to catch my train to Gatwick Airport I went to Richmond like other people who lives around our areas that needed to go to Gatwick and it was comical.At Platform 2, the train was scheduled at 11:58 and on the display board saying Waterloo only. on the national rail application there was not even scheduled this train and then 2 minutes before the train was approaching the platform the speaker saying that this train was calling also a Clapham JunctionSunday "obviously" bus replacement from Clapham Junction to Barnes Bridge, wait 30 minutes at Barnes Bridge before to get the train to Brentfordmy questions are: Do South West Train actually invest their profit to update the rail track or it just maintenance of an old track which looking at the ticket price we pay seems not at the standard of other traits?Does the local council have a plan for improve the transportation from Hounslow to Waterloo? A sort of overground service? Brentford, Isleworth, Syon lane and Hounslow are under massive gentrification and in future years will be more people who relocate here and need better transportation in my opinion plus don't forget the new Brentford new Stadium with double capacity of Griffin ParkExample At Nine Elms they are building 2 new tube station.  I don’t say I need a tube but at least a regular decent service in the area l liveThank you for your attention

Domenico Urzi ● 3406d2 Comments

Thank you Raymond for the detailed explanation.Yes I do agree with you. The main problem is the communication. it is often confusing. I will write to them to complainhave a nice day

Domenico Urzi ● 3406d

Problem is Too Many Cooks.South West Trains just run the trains and the customer face infrastructure.They don't even own the trains, they are leased by a company called Porterbrook . Then there are the maintenance contracts which are with the train Manufacturers and SWTThe Track and Signalling is run by Network Rail.Southwest Trains and others, including London Overground have to pay 'access charges' to use the Network Rail track.http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/contact-us.aspxThere are so many tiers that it's a nightmare but a bonanza for accountants and lawyers and the duplication of a range of occupations.On one hand it keeps people in work, and with a massive population hike, jobs are needed.On the other hand it makes our railway one of the most expensive to run in the world with the highest costs and thus the highest fares.It sounds bonkers but several aspects do actually work.  SWT have by far the newest and most comfortable commuter trains with air con that works compared to other operators some of whom are really below par.Overground trains might be new but are horribly uncomfortable and the 33% reduction in seats on the newer underground trains has made longer trips less comfortable.But the big problem is still communications.Saturday morning had trains delayed at both Brentford and Richmond but station announcements at both stations suggested going by bus to Richmond or Kew Bridge stations.Do complain to SWT.  They are one of the few operators who actually do try to remedy passenger issues. ( Apart from  still insisting Ashford Station is in Surrey, when it is is Ashford, Middlesex.  At least it was when I was born in Ashford Hospital!

Raymond Havelock ● 3406d