South Western Railway hits a new low point.
Today (Monday 17th January 2022) marks a new low point in the provision of rail services by South Western Railway on the Waterloo to Weymouth and Waterloo to Exeter routes. From today, on Mondays to Fridays there will be no through services to London from stations west of Bournemouth and on the Exeter route there will be one through train in one direction only. These changes will force passengers to change at Bournemouth or Salisbury, resulting in a loss of convenience and longer journey times. “There is no evidence from recent weeks that the levels of sickness by staff from Covid has forced these changes on SWR on these two routes" said Stewart Palmer, a Railfuture director. "SWR have already reduced the attractiveness of these services by reducing frequencies, extending average journey times and the withdrawal of on-train refreshments. They seem to display a cavalier disregard for the needs of rail users. These changes will just drive passengers away to higher carbon means of transport. Rail users and their elected politicians, both local and national, need to make their voices heard to reverse this madness”.
Railfuture is a national not for profit company, campaigning for a bigger and better railway in Britain. It has some 20,000 members and affiliated members in Britain.
Notes to editors:
Railfuture is the UK's leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services for both passengers and freight.
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