Silverlink must improve services

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st Feb 2005

South Hampstead Station is in a poor state and rarely has any staffing or passenger announcements.

Ed Fordham, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Hampstead and Highgate has hit out at the terrible service being offered by Silverlink singling out the station at South Hampstead for particular criticism.

"Over the last three weekends there has been ongoing engineering works on the track and this is to be encouraged - we want a updated and safe network. But what has been appalling has been the poor standard of communications from Silverlink.

"The station is never staffed at the weekends it would seem, the notices advising passengers that there is often no service are terrible or non-existent, there is no alternative bus service as compensation.

"I am urging Silverlink to take these concerns seriously. South Hampstead is a pretty poor station at the best of times, but whilst Kilburn High Road is closed it has increased importance, but this fact appears to be ignored.

"Rail passengers pay more than most European countries to travel and we should and can expect better quality than this.

Based on this standard of service I can well understand why the cry for this service to be taken away from Silverlink is growing louder. Based on my experience and that of other train users, Silverlink are failing local people and failing in their duty. I am demanding real improvements and fast!"