VILLIERS PROTESTS TO FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT ON CANCELLATION OF SUNDAY RAIL SERVICES TO BARNET

Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has reacted angrily to yesterday's cancellation of Sunday rail services on the Great Northern Line from New Barnet, Oakleigh Park and other stations used by her constituents.

“This level of disruption is simply unacceptable. My constituents depend on Sunday services. As well as those who have to work over the weekend, many others will have wanted to catch a train to visit friends and family, or to attend Remembrance Day services.

First Capital Connect need to get their act together and get this problem sorted and sorted quickly. And the unions need to stop playing games with Sunday services. It is imperative that the train company and the unions get round the table to get this issue resolved before it disrupts more of my constituents’ weekend plans.

I have protested strongly about yesterday’s disruption directly to First Capital Connect and urged them to do everything they can to ensure services run normally next weekend.

I have asked for an urgent meeting with Mary Grant, head of First Rail, and tabled questions in Parliament on this issue. I am determined to fight for the interests of my constituents facing this unacceptable disruption to Barnet rail services.”

First Capital Connect are the train operator responsible for running rail services between New Barnet and Oakleigh Park, in the Chipping Barnet constituency, and central London.