Chuka has written to First Capital Connect protesting against the current disruption being experienced by Thameslink passengers and met with the Transport Minister to relay residents’ concerns over plans
for the line.

A dispute over pay this week has led to First Capital Connect (FCC) only being able to run a skeleton service from Streatham station to central London, with as few as one train an hour remaining in operation.

Chuka has written to First Capital Connect bosses, protesting at the unacceptable reduced timetable which is running on the line.

He is asking them why this situation has been allowed to develop and what steps they are taking to resolve the dispute and get train services back running to normal levels.

Chuka also met with Transport Minister Sadiq Khan MP to relay local residents’ views on the long-term planned changes to Streatham’s Thameslink service.

He raised with the Minister the potential threat to direct services from Streatham station beyond Blackfriars after 2015, telling him of the importance of Streatham’s link to the City, King’s Cross and Luton Airport.

Umunna has been running a campaign against proposals by Network Rail to terminate all northbound trains from Streatham at Blackfriars and wrote a letter to the former Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon against the plan earlier this year.

The Department of Transport is currently considering Network Rail’s proposals for the future of the line.

Hundreds of passengers have signed Mr Umunna’s petition opposing the changes and have joined his ‘Save Our South West London Thameslink Services’ Facebook group.

Chuka said:

“The disruption to Thameslink services this week has been awful and is simply unacceptable.

“First Capital Connect must ensure that it puts the needs of its passengers first and does all it can so that train services go back to normal as soon as possible.

“The future of Thameslink is an important long-term issue for our area. When I met with the Transport Minister, I was able to pass on exactly how strongly local residents feel about the Thameslink proposals tabled by Network Rail.”