Combined train & bus tickets to be looked at by SWT/Stagecoach at Simon Cordon's urgeing (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

Combined train & bus tickets to be looked at by SWT/Stagecoach at Simon Cordon's urgeing

November 16, 2004 2:12 PM

Simon Cordon at Milford Station, discussing public transport issues with rail managers

Simon discusses integrated tickets with rail managers

South West Trains (SWT) is to look at the feasibility of providing an integrated bus and rail ticket in the South West Surrey constituency. Rufus Boyd, SWT's commercial director, made the commitment to Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, Simon Cordon, during a meeting last week (8th November). Mr Boyd also gave a commitment to review the controversial new rail timetables within a year.

Simon spent the day meeting SWT managers. In the morning he attended a "meet the managers" session at his local station in Milford before having a discussion about the new timetables on the Portsmouth and Alton Lines with Mr Boyd.

"Many people are upset with the new timetables, particularly the loss of some peak services at Witley and Milford and the extended journey times on some services from Farnham to Waterloo", said Simon.

Simon pressed Mr Boyd on the need to keep the new timetables under review and Mr Boyd agreed this would be done. "I am also hopeful that the new Desiro trains will lead to faster journeys. SWT are not planning for this at the moment but it is important that if the performance of these new trains is shown to be good that SWT look again at the timetables", said Simon.

Simon raised the lack of integrated tickets between bus and train. "SWT and Stagecoach are the same company but you have to pay twice if you want to use one of their buses and a train for the same journey" said Simon. "I was delighted that SWT will look at the possibility of integrated tickets. It's happens elsewhere so why not in South West Surrey".