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Theresa May MP says fast services from Twyford to London Paddington should be a priority for First Great Western
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Theresa May MP calls for fast trains to London

By Victoria Smith
March 30, 2012

The Twyford MP has called for the needs of local commuters to be placed at the heart of a new franchise agreement for rail services from Twyford.

Theresa May says fast services from Maidenhead and Twyford to London Paddington should be a priority and that greater capacity is needed to cope with the increasing number of people using the trains.

A new franchise is to be awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and will determine who is responsible for services on the Great Western rail line for the next 15 years. The current franchise is held by First Great Western and will end in 2013, when a new contract will begin.

Ahead of the official ‘invitation to tender’ being issued, the DfT has consulted on what should be included in the new franchise.

In her response, Mrs May highlighted the importance of fast and semi-fast services from Maidenhead and Twyford and stated that these must remain the priority, even with the development of Crossrail.

She also supported the prospect of middle-distance fast services beginning at Oxford or Newbury, which would mean less-busy trains serving Maidenhead and Twyford.

In addition, she noted the significance of the branch lines serving Furze Platt, Cookham and Wargrave and said that maintaining direct services from these stations to Paddington would be important.

Mrs May, who is MP for Maidenhead, which includes Twyford, said: “The beginning of a new rail franchise next year is a chance to ensure that further improvements to services are a guaranteed part of the deal.

“It is vital that capacity continues to increase to cope with the heavy demand, particularly during morning and evening peak times.

“Fast and semi-fast services from Maidenhead and Twyford must be the priority and I want to ensure that the new franchise agreement has these services at the centre.”

First Great Western announced in February that it will not take up the option to extend its current contract beyond March 2013.

The new franchisee would oversee a £5 billion investment programme of rail electrification, which in Twyford will include work to local bridges, and inner-city service improvements on the Great Western rail route.

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Most recent user comments 12 of 12

Fluffball - Maybe, but its definately a good deal longer getting back to Wokingham from Paddington (via Reading) due to the fact that the connections miss. Tried it a few times; 2 hours to get back this way and they charge you more for the privilege of having no seat.

mr jolly
06/04/2012 at 17:48

They simply need to put back on the fast trains that they removed from the timetable in a so called effort to "improve the service". Its not just the SWT fast trains to waterloo that disappeared, the Thames Trains use to stop at Winnersh, Earley and the Triangle, but dont anymore.

mr jolly
06/04/2012 at 17:41

If the lines are going to be electrified anyway, let's do this correctly. The number of rail lines, and the hourly train throughput, will not increase. To meet capacity needs we need larger trains. Since the train lengths already exceed many platform lengths, the logical method is to go to double-deck train carriages (similar to TGV-France). Same number of carriages, significant increase in capacity. Take the money allocated for HS2 and use it to raise bridges over rail lines or adjust track beds accordingly and get some visionary transport planning into place.

RuscombeResident
04/04/2012 at 13:09

and finally.. As I understand it Maidenhead is going to be the starting point for CrossRail the high speed no change service to central london and beyond. I am surprised Theresa May has forgotten this!

Stig2, Wokingham
31/03/2012 at 11:06

Ok if we are playing the self interest game. How about running trains between Wokingham and Paddington stopping at all stations Reading this would then take 40 mins to get to London, instead of 1hr 10 mins to waterloo, and ease the (all day)overcrowding between rdg and pad.

Stig2, Wokingham
31/03/2012 at 11:02

" From Wokingham its technically quicker to get to Waterloo by taking a train to Reading -> Paddington and down the Bakerloo line.... "

From Wokingham to Waterloo it's almost faster to go via Penzance

HatsOfDoom
30/03/2012 at 15:30

From Wokingham its technically quicker to get to Waterloo by taking a train to Reading -> Paddington and down the Bakerloo line....

But, if I take SWT, I can get a seat....

Fluffball, Berkshire
30/03/2012 at 15:10

There are some fundamental problems with having a faster service from Reading to Waterloo on the current line, the sheer number of level crossings force the rail companies to limit the speed and will force the closure of the crossing more frequently causing road traffic issues. While it's a nice idea it will be expensive to implement, the main reason Airtrack failed.

Jogon, Wokingham
30/03/2012 at 15:03

MP for Twyford wants a quicker route between Twyford and London? Shocking. I live in Wokingham and work in High Wycombe, so I'd like a motorway between the two, please.

The selfish part of this aside, this country needs a properly-run rail network (not just Twyford-London for this one person) - it needs to be clawed back from private business/track renting/subsidies/all the other RIDICULOUS things that go on since privatisation.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
30/03/2012 at 14:58

If you can't make the trains faster, make the experience better by offering free wifi on board.

Ivor Biggun, winnersh
30/03/2012 at 14:22

Faster services from Reading to Waterloo would take some pressure off the Reading to Paddington line. There are far too many people who currently travel into Reading and then on to Paddington because it is quicker. There are also a lot of people who drive to Twyford rather than catching a train in Wokingham.

A faster Waterloo service should be given priority over any speeding up of trains from Twyford as the letter will exasperate parking problems in Twyford.