New Rail Figures Reveal Massive Demand for Commuter Buses. Tring Councillor condemns "Tory Bus Blunder"
Reading the Hemel Gazette this week, I was interested to note their article on Tring Station parking difficulties. Apparently, Rail bosses have blamed an 'incredible' rise in passenger numbers for the fact commuters cannot get parked at Tring railway station after 9am on weekdays.
Parking in the car park which has 520 spaces, has become increasingly difficult after the number of passenger journeys steadily increased over the last seven years.
London Midland started running trains in 2008. Since then, the number of passenger journeys has grown by almost one third and unfortunately most of this growth has been reflected in the use of private cars to access the station. This has obviously put a strain on car parking at Tring as well as at many other stations along the line.
At present there is no viable scheme for Tring Station car parks that could increase capacity.
If things don't change then a bad situation will become intolerable.
Councillor Nick Hollinghurst, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Tring and the Villages, said " The Tory bus cuts are a massive blunder, choking our lanes and roads with parked cars and making life a misery for hard working commuters.
"We Lib Dems at Herts County Council have consistantly opposed the Conservative administration's planned bus cuts across the County. But they hit Tring too. Removing any 387 service running from Tring Station which does not complete its journey by 7.30pm means we will lose the 7.16 anf 7.43 departures. It means the last bus will be 7.04pm."
He exclaimed "The bus cut blunder must be reversed. The way forward is clear, provide a better bus service for commuters. Who knows, this extra demand could easily make the 387 Route, commercially viable at long last!"
He added "And while we're about it, may I remind the County Council that the cycle path up from the station badly needs clearing and refurbishment."