Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 4DR
9th March 2015
Dear Patrick,
I am writing to express my growing concern about the persistent disruptions to Southern Rail services to and from London Bridge, and I would like to meet with you as a matter of urgency.
You’ll be aware that the disruptions have been ongoing since December 2014 and the chaotic events at London Bridge on the 3rd March – severe overcrowding and extreme delays during the evening rush hour - affected many of my constituents.
My constituents rightly expect a decent service from Southern Rail. It’s totally unacceptable that people are left waiting for hours due to a multitude of problems including signal failure, train diversions and cancellations, faulty trains, and problems at level crossings.
And it’s not safe to leave large crowds jostling on narrow platforms as they worry about not getting to or from work and home on time. It’s also a problem for elderly or disabled people who are left waiting for long periods of time, and then get caught in the crush trying to get on to a train.
It’s not good enough for the Minister for Transport to say that she expects services to be improved within 4 weeks. The Government must step in now and take immediate control to resolve situation.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes,
Harriet Harman