Letter: Private train firm does care

Sir: John Stanning's remarks about the Oxford train services (letter, 3 January) demand comment.

As managing director of Thames Trains, which provides most of the services between Oxford and London, I can say that we do care if customers do not feel they are getting a good service.

It is true that five years ago we were competing with modern bus services using a relatively free-flowing M40 and benefiting from a geography of Oxford that rather suits buses. We were using Fifties rolling stock. Some three years ago we acquired new trains and increased the frequency of the Oxford to London service, with corresponding increase in the patronage of the service.

We were privatised on 13 October last year, and over the next 18 months our customers will see express trains running every half-hour, rather than an hourly service between peak periods. They will also receive attention from better-trained staff, one of our commitments in the Franchise Agreement. We were improving the service before privatisation and we will build on the success already achieved.

ROGER McDONALD

Managing Director, Thames Trains

Reading, Berkshire