Frustrated Herne Hill commuters are losing patience with unreliable train services
Herne Hill: Commuters are really feeling the strain with the train services lately. It’s been a nightmare with constant delays and cancellations. Many folks are just fed up.
In mid-December, nearly a third of the trains during peak hours from Herne Hill to Blackfriars were either late or completely cancelled. That’s just not okay!
Local MP Helen Hayes is on it, demanding that Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) step up their game. They’ve apologized, but it seems like they’re blaming everything from flooding to a shortage of drivers.
Between December 11 and 20, only 70% of the trains were on time. Can you believe that? About 11% were over ten minutes late, and 19% didn’t even show up!
Leon Grove, a student, said she’s given up on the trains and now takes the bus. She’s always late for college, which is super frustrating for her.
On December 30, when everyone was heading back to work after the holidays, only five out of sixteen trains were on time. Talk about a rough start!
George Withers, who used to live nearby, described the rush hour as “hellish” because of how crowded it gets. And Jackie Blumler, who’s retired, said even her occasional trips are a hassle due to delays.
Helen Hayes wrote to GTR saying the service is “completely unacceptable.” She’s been hearing from constituents daily and met with GTR representatives before Christmas.
She mentioned that GTR is trying to hire more drivers, but improvements are needed right away. She also pointed fingers at the previous government for not taking care of the railways.
GTR is a private company but operates under a government franchise. They’ve improved their punctuality a bit over the last few years, but their cancellation rate is still higher than the national average.
Michael Solomon Williams from the Campaign for Better Transport is calling for more investment to tackle these issues. He believes that delays are ruining people’s trust in the railways.
A GTR spokesperson said they’re sorry for the disruptions and are working on reducing delays. They’ve faced challenges lately, but they’re trying to recruit more drivers to help.
