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MK Rail Users - CAmpaign for Real Rail
This page contains some background material on MK Rail Users current campaign. As ever, if you have any information that you think would be useful, then please do not hesitate to send it to us.
Milton Keynes Council Scrutiny Panel - 30th March 2009
Following the extensive disruptions faced by rail users to and from Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Council are concerned at the effect it is having on the economy of our area and have summoned representatives of our rail providers to explain this deterioration.
Representatives will be called to attend a session of the Milton Keynes Security Panel on the 30th March, to which the public are invited. Click here for further information Facts about Rail travel from Milton Keynes & Bletchley
London Midland’s False Promises
When launched in November 2007, London Midland announced that the focus was firmly on the passenger - ‘Customer is king on LM'. Steve Banaghan – London Midland’s Managing Director said,
‘London Midland is a new, passenger focused business which will deliver real improvements for customers’.
From London Midland’s Passenger Charter:
This Passenger’s Charter sets out our commitment to you as our customer on the levels of service we aim to provide. We aim to get the basics right and to deliver a service that is punctual, reliable, clean, safe and that continually improves your perceptions of us as a respected transport provider. We further aim to deliver a step change in performance levels in line with Department for Transport targets and provide a service that will drive and accommodate growth to bring about a modal shift from car to rail right across our network.
Of course, passengers using London Midland services from Milton Keynes Central and Bletchley have a rather different perception.
London Midland Punctuality
Since the start of the new timetable in December 2008, London Midland have struggled to provide enough drivers and guards on trains. This has lead to delays, cancellations and disruption to passenger services.
How London Midland’s service performance has fallen:
|
Period |
Dates |
PPM |
|
Period 7 |
14 September 2008 - 11 October 2008 |
89.4% |
|
Period 8 |
12 October 2008 - 8 November 2008 |
84.2% |
|
Period 9 |
9 November 2008 - 6 December 2008 |
84.7% |
|
Period 10 |
7 December 2008 - 3 January 2009 |
78.8% |
|
Period 11 |
4 January 2009 - February 2009 |
? |
Public Performance Measure (PPM) means the number of trains which arrive at their final destination within 4 minutes 59 seconds of the applicable timetable.
The Performance Measure for the period commencing 4th January, during which numerous incidents on the West Coast Mainline and cancellations occurred has yet to be determined.
London Midland Passenger Charter
'Should a period of sustained poor peak* performance be experienced (this is measured by the number of trains arriving at their final destination within 5 minutes of their scheduled time), we will consider compensating season ticket holders over and above the arrangements outlined above'.
Despite the atrocious service since the introduction of the new timetable on the 14th December, London Midland have made no indication that they are prepared to do this. At a recent Meet the Managers session at London Euston, a Milton Keynes commuter was told that apparently this will only be considered if sufficient numbers of passengers complain about the service.
London Midland Subsidy
The London Midland franchise was expected to generate annual revenue of approximately £400 million at the outset, inclusive of subsidy. Subsidy payments will continue throughout the franchise, though on a
declining basis year-on-year.
The subsidy profile for the London Midland franchise is:
|
Month |
Mar 2008
|
Mar 2009 |
Mar 2010
|
Mar 2011 |
Mar 2012
|
Mar 2013
|
Mar 2014
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Mar 2015
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Mar 2016
|
|
Subsidy Amount |
78,285* |
202,534 |
200,602 |
184,992 |
175,148 |
169,917 |
165,824 |
154,767 |
67,146* |
(Nominal, £000s, part years indicated with an asterisk)
London Midland Revenue Growth
Revenue growth during the first year of operation of the London Midland franchise has been above the franchise bid assumptions, triggering revenue share to the DfT of 50% for amounts above 102%, and
80% of the revenue in excess of 104%.
Despite the problems and falling performance of London Midland, the government and Go-Ahead have been sharing revenue raised by London Midland from hard working passengers and their families who live
in Milton Keynes and Bletchley.
London Midland Fare Rises
Season tickets are regulated fares. The government has capped fares so that London Midland cannot increase these more than by RPI+1%.
Season ticket prices for hard working commuters and their families who live in Milton Keynes and Bletchley are expected to rise at not less than RPI+1% until the end of the London Midland franchise in 2016.
Other, unregulated ticket prices for services between London and Northampton are expected to rise at not less than RPI+3% for the foreseeable future.
Potential London Midland Service Cuts
On 21st January 2009, following concerns about falling passenger numbers and revenues as the downturn takes hold, leaders of the largest five public transport groups – including Go-Ahead (which owns London Midland) – held talks with Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary and raised the possibility of cuts in services, increased subsidy payments and job losses.
It is not clear what London Midland are proposing, it has been reported that Keith Ludeman, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead, said he would consider cutting services on its Southern, Southeastern and London Midland franchises if conditions deteriorated. |
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