AXE FIRST GREAT WESTERN - Late and overcrowded trains "just won't do"

9.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jul 2007

Liberal Democrats at the London Assembly are calling on new Transport Minister Ruth Kelly to axe the First Great Western franchise which runs trains through Southall station.

Transport spokesperson Geoff Pope has tabled a question to Mayor Ken Livingstone at the next Assembly Mayor's Question Time asking him to join in the challenge to First Great Western over poor punctuality and overcrowded trains.

Geoff Pope said: "Many Southall residents depend on rail services. The percentage of First Great Western trains arriving on time has fallen to far below their target. Far too many of their trains are overcrowded. This just won't do and the Labour government needs to step in."

"I'm calling on the new Transport minister, Ruth Kelly, to review the First Great Western franchise although it's only 15 months old, and to consider whether there are grounds for termination. She needs to go right through the franchise agreement and see whether First Great Western are in breach of its terms."

Liberal Democrats point out that in the most recent national passenger survey, customer satisfaction from First Great Western passengers in London and the Thames Valley has dropped to 53% from 66% a year ago. The average satisfaction rating in London and the South-East is 77%. The official watchdog for transport users in the London area, London TravelWatch, made similar demands for a government review at the end of June.

Notes to Editors:

1. The most recent peak time performance of FGW trains in the London and the Thames Valley section shows that the percentage arriving on time has fallen to just 68.4% and the average over the last year was 75.6%. This is against First Great Western's London and Thames Valley target of 92%. FGW also significantly exceeds the target for carrying passengers in excess of capacity (the rail industry's measure of overcrowding).

2. In the most recent National Passenger Survey, satisfaction with the service from FGW passengers in London and the Thames Valley, had dropped to only 53% - from 66% a year ago, against an average satisfaction rating in London and the south east of 77%.

3. The rail franchise was renewed 15 months ago, with the Government awarding it once again to First Great Western, the previous rail operator.

4. Liberal Democrats at the London Assembly have tabled the following formal question to the Mayor of London for the Question Time session at City Hall on Wednesday 18 July: "In view of new figures showing that First Great Western's trains have reached a new low of 68.4% on punctuality (against a target of 92%) and significantly exceed the overcrowding target, with passenger satisfaction dropping to 53% (against an average satisfaction rating for London and the south-east of 77%); will you support my call to the government that they should urgently review First Great Western's franchise to see whether there are grounds for terminating it ?"