LAST week’s severe delays on the railways were raised in parliament by one of Reading’s MPs.
On Monday, March 25, passengers were left on platforms due to electrical problems on the wires that power the Great Western Network.
It is not the first time this has happened in recent weeks, prompting Matt Rodda to highlight the issue during a parliamentary debate on the National Policy Statement for National Networks.
He told transport secretary Guy Opperman thousands of commuters were stuck for up to two hours due to the issue with the overhead wires that connect to the trains.
“That has happened a number of times before for various reasons,” he said.
“I urge the Minister to consult with the Rail Minister and feedback the serious concerns of travellers on this vital piece of infrastructure.
“The line connects London with towns in the south-east, such as Reading, and is of strategic importance across the whole UK, connecting Wales, Bristol, the south-west and parts of the midlands with the capital city.
“It is vital that train travellers can rely on this excellent service, which normally allows swift and easy access to the heart of London.”
The new tube line does offer some relief to commuters, something Mr Rodda said “is a huge benefit to us all”.
But he wanted the problems caused by the electrification of the railways to be resolved.
“There has been a series of issues with the overhead wires, which I hope the Minister will flag up. Will he or a colleague write to me to update me on the problems experienced by passengers and to highlight the action being taken to address them?”
Mr Opperman did not address Mr Rodda’s complaints specifically in his response.
