As you will know, there have been a large number of issues affecting our local rail service this year, from plans to close ticket offices, interchange issues, strike action and accessibility issues. I am committed to improving local rail services and holding South Western Railway to account for the service they provide.
I therefore arranged to meet with several senior members and subject matter experts from the teams at SWR and Network Rail at Weybridge station earlier this month to discuss the many issues that affect constituents who use the rail network throughout Runnymede and Weybridge.
The first issue we discussed was the problematic lift at Weybridge station that many of you will know I have been raising with SWR and the rail minister for the last few years. Although the situation has improved, and I am pleased SWR are now engaging more with customers raising this, there still remains an issue with the lift breaking down and leaving passengers with unable to use the lift when they need it.
SWR are working on how their system can better alert passengers when this happens, and are also building up an extensive archive of spare parts so that they are never waiting long for the parts needed to fix the lift. However in the longer term, I believe the lift needs replacing, and I will continue to keep on pushing for the performance data to make the case for a replacement, as well as ensuring better information for passengers when this happens and speedier fixes.
Regarding Weybridge station itself, I also highlighted the need to open the back gate for passengers to leave the south side of the station, and action needed by SWR to repair the potholes at the top of the road and in the car parks for which they are responsible.
We also discussed the interchange at Weybridge between the Chertsey-Addlestone loop line and the Woking to Waterloo mainline and how customers can miss journeys by just a few seconds or minutes because of poor timing between the arrivals on the two lines, following my survey to residents on this last year. I also raised the performance of the Chertsey-Addlestone line in general, which data I received last year showed is the worst performing line on the entire SWR network.
Some positive news for some rail users is the rollout of contactless payment to Egham and Virginia Water stations by the end of the year. I reiterated the need to expand this to all stations in the constituency as soon as possible. SWR also updated me on their “Tap 2 Go” smartcard that can already be used across their network for journeys, which you can read about here. I’ve started using it myself for my commute to London which by nature of working hours in Parliament is very variable (!), and so far I think it’s pretty good!
Finally, a very important item on the agenda was the proposed ticket office closures across the SWR network. There are just a few days to go to have your say on South Western Railway's plans to close all ticket offices across the network, with the consultation closing this Friday, September 1st. I know many constituents have concerns over these plans, many of which I share.
While it is right to review services to ensure resource is being used effectively, and there is clear evidence some ticket offices across the country are significantly under utilised, ticket offices in Runnymede and Weybridge continue to provide a valuable service to many passengers. It is vital that issues, including the impact of the plans on accessibility, value for money, safety, and the specific impact on local stations within Runnymede and Weybridge, are fully addressed before any final decisions are made.
Given these issues, and the impact these plans could have, I have created a local survey asking for your views, which is available here: https://www.drbenspencer.org.uk/form/survey-on-ticket-office-closure-
Please do complete the survey and let your friends know too, so we can ensure local views are heard ahead of any changes being made. You can also respond directly to the consultation here, which has been extended and will remain open until 1 September.
SWR and Network Rail will be responding to me on all these issues, and I will be providing updates to residents through my social media and my newsletter, to which you can sign up for the latest edition at www.runnymedeandweybridge.news. Should you have any rail issues you would like me to take up with these organisations, please do contact me on [email protected]
