Residents slam rail service standstill – fears for future of stations

Residents have joined MPs in slamming South Western Railway (SWR) for effectively wiping out services throughout the festive season.

Community groups are furious that services have effectively been at a standstill - with stations closed - even on the days when staff were not on strike.

Some fear that the widespread cancellations could be a prelude to efforts to close some of the smaller stations.

MPs for south west London constituencies, Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson, have both challenged SWR over the loss of services, which have hit commuters, key workers and children trying to get to school.

Services through Twickenham and Richmond towards Clapham Junction and Waterloo have been decimated since December 13. This means other stations, such as Whitton, St Margarets, North Sheen and Mortlake, have effectively been redundant for weeks.

Similarly, the line in from Shepperton through to Waterloo, which includes popular commuter stations such as Fulwell, Hampton, Hampton Wick, Teddington, and Strawberry Hill, has been at a standstill.

The Strawberry Hill Residents Association has registered a formal complaint over the lack of services.

It said there has effectively been no rail services stopping at the station from December 18 through to January 8.

The group said: "As far as we are aware, no alert was given that this was going to happen. No explanation has been given as to why this happened.

"Residents want to know what is the justification. Why was Strawberry Hill chosen for this arbitrary disruption?"

One resident said: "Really grim that Strawberry Hill station has been treated in this way.

"Others have raised concerns this may have been deliberately done as a prelude to SWR trains closing the station completely."

The Twickenham MP, Munira Wilson, condemned SWR for cancelling services on non-strike days over Christmas, saying: "The disruption caused by SWR's lack of services on non-strike days means misery for passengers."

She said this caused real hardship for people desperate to get to medical appointments and public sector workers, including a police officer and cancer nurse, to get to work.

Sarah Olney MP, who represents Richmond Park, wrote to the Transport Secretary before Christmas condemning the loss of services. She complained: "The disruption is having a real impact on residents and businesses."

Travellers have condemned the company on Twitter with one saying: "Your train service has been pitiful even on non-strike days over Christmas."

Another said: "I despair! We rely on SWR for school with no other viable alternative. I'm at a loss what to do."

SWR blamed strikes and overtime bans by the RMT and ASLEF unions for the disruption. It advised the public against travelling unless 'absolutely necessary' over the festive season with services due to resume, pending news on further strike action, on January 8.