SW Trains Boss Faces MP Grilling

12.00.00am GMT Wed 27th Nov 2002

Vincent Cable MP met SW TRains boss Andrew Haines over the continued erratic service provided by the train company (owned by Stagecoach).

SW Trains say that some of their promised improvements, including greater punctuality and more frequent services on both the Windsor and Kingston loop-line, have been hit both by the problems of Railtrack and the uncertainties over future franchises.

Vincent Cable took up in particular what he called the "appalling mishandling" of an episode on 25 october when several trains failed due to a cable fire at Barnes.

Passengers were not informed what was happening and were left to find their way along the track in the dark.

Vincent Cable said: "Clearly, power failures do happen. But there appeared to be no procedure for orderly evacuation."

"There may be a safety issue with the new trains which do not have opening windows and passengers became alarmed about lack of ventilation."

"It is important to get things right so that if a real accident occurs there are systems in place to minimise panic and casualties."

"SW Trains reply so far has been flippant and unprofessional." Contact Nicola Keeble 7324 6821