Hampton Wick On List Of Unsafe Stations

4.30.00pm GMT Tue 11th Jan 2005

The government's six year old safe station initiative has been reviewed by passenger bodies. The main conclusion is that although South West Trains has the best record of the main franchise operators in providing CCTV, good lighting, secure fencing and station staff, there are still 48 of its 86 stations classed as 'unsafe'. These include Hampton Wick and Barnes Bridge in the borough (Kew Gardens, operated by Silverlink also failed the test).

Vincent Cable, MP, said that "the government made a major commitment to improving station safety and the results, overall are, meagre. I have to say, however, that whatever their other failings SW Trains have done a good job at stations like Teddington and Whitton; but despite repeated request for action at Hampton Wick it remains prone to vandalism and anti-social behaviour. It should not be beyond the ingenuity of the rail company to come up with a package of security measures including cameras, to make this station safer".