FOLLOWING the announcement that Abellio Greater Anglia has won the East Anglia franchise, Robert Halfon said:

I regularly meet with Abellio and in my last meeting in June they stated the following:

– The National Rail Passenger Survey reflects the £40m investment made during the current franchise to improve the train fleet.

– There will be a deployment of 50 extra cleaners, which will help improve station and on-train cleanliness.

– Launch of an online delay/repay system for season ticket holders to claim compensation for delays.

– Compensation will be available by cheque as an alternative to rail vouchers.

– Punctuality on the West Anglia route was 90.9% in the most recent period, which is well above the national average of 89.0%.

Having won the franchise, Abellio now say that they will invest over 1.4 billion in new rolling stock, reduce overcrowding by provided 32000 morning peak seats and improve customer experience.

As Harlow MP and representing many Harlow residents and village commuters, I will be holding Abellio to account to these promises.

We need to ensure better punctuality, cleanliness on trains and a smart card to make it easier for commuters that work in London.

I am contacting Abellio for an early meeting to find out what their plans for investment in Harlow and the villages will be.

The work that they have done at Roydon Station should now be replicated in Sheering and all other stations including Sawbridgeworth, Harlow Town Station and Harlow Mill.