Lib Dem MP condemns local rail cuts

11.08.00am GMT Fri 21st Nov 2008

Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson collected Norman Lamb MP from the train for his visit to Broomfield hospital

Chelmsford's train operator National Express East Anglia has announced that it is removing the restaurant car and call centre jobs from for its service in East Anglia. One of the Lib Dem MPs (who regularly uses the line) has joined Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson in attacking the decision. Norman Lamb MP said: "This line is already a second-class service in many respects."

"We had to have the old vehicles for the whole of this franchise when other services had new ones, so we now have poorer reliability than other lines and now we are losing our catering service. The promised improvement of the buffet does not make up for this."

Stephen Robinson added: "I've used the line for many years and it is about time that we saw more investment in better services, not cutbacks."

Mr Lamb has been campaigning for an improved service on the Norwich to London line since his election in 2001, and has been frustrated by the lack of recent progress. He added: "Instead of seeing an improvement we are seeing a deterioration. For those of us campaigning for a high-quality service from our region linking us to the capital city, this is more bad news."

Related Links:

Norman Lamb MP questions the legality of the move in the Eastern Daily Press.

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More about Stephen Robinson, including contact information.