Delayed train summit exposes Mayor's real record in tackling delayed trains

4.05.00pm GMT Thu 11th Feb 2010

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting ahead of tomorrow's "rail summit "being held by the Mayor at City Hall said:

"It says everything about the Mayor's real concern over improving rail services fact that it has taken the Mayor more than 22 months to even get round to holding this summit when he specifically promised to hold one in his first few weeks in City Hall. Boris Johnson's record of delivering a summit has proved to be as unreliable as the recent record of First Capital Connect and Southeastern!"

"However the Mayor's is further insulting the hundreds of thousands of Londoners who are not getting the train service they deserve if he really thinks it is sufficient to merely hold a one hour meeting with ten separate items on the agenda. No serious progress can be made in improving the frequency of train services or simplifying fares after just six minutes worth of discussion.

"And why is the Mayor silencing myself and other London Assembly Members? The Mayor promised this would be a public summit, but he is not even allowing London's elected representatives to speak."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Mayor's transport manifesto, Getting Londoners Moving, stated:

"We will also convene an emergency public summit of all the train operating companies in London and Government representatives, in our first few weeks in City Hall to ensure action is taken to solve chronic overcrowding, the issue of exorbitant pricing and the availability of Oyster at every station."

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sysfiles/Guardian/documents/2009/04/27/Transportmanifesto.pdf