I held a meeting with railway management from Great Western Trains to discuss improved services.
I explained that constituents would appreciate more capacity on the Reading to London line. Too many people have to stand at busy times of day. We reviewed ways in which line capacity could be expanded and more use made of existing track through lighter trains, better signals, better controls and sensors in trains, better timetabling and passing places for slower trains.
I also asked for safer trains. Everyone travelling on a fast train should have a seat and a seat belt. Heavy luggage stowage should be secured by nets or doors, as on an aircraft, or stowed away from passengers as on a coach or in a car.
I suggested that train operators also look at the information they provide, the services they offer onboard on longer distance trains. There is not usually any information provided for tourists about places passed and visited. There is no information supplied about route progress in the form of moving maps, unlike on aircraft or in many cars. No information is offered about major stations to prepare travellers for getting through such stations and finding other transport links at them. There are few services for business travellers to make their time onboard easier and more useful. Many trains still do not have facilities even to use the phone with a reliable link.