Friday, July 22 2016
The fight for Labour’s soul Battle lines drawn as local party suspended - page 9
Compensation for commuters is on the cards
Mixed start
Albion begin pre-season friendlies – page 54
British Airways i360 Attraction to open in a fortnight PHOTOGRAPH: KEVIN MEREDITH
City’s MPs tell rail minister urgent action is needed on ‘this failing train service’ Bex Bastable
bex.bastable@jpress.co.uk @BexBastable
Four Sussex MPs had a ‘frank discussion’ with the new rail minister yesterday (Thursday) over the ever-increasing chaos on the railways. And the rail minister Paul Maynard told MPs that an announcement on passenger compensation was ‘imminent’ and that it ‘needs to reflect what people have gone through’. This comes after commuters were locked out of Brighton station by police on Tuesday evening in response serious overcrowding on the
platforms. And on the hottest dayoftheyear(Tuesday),there were cases of air conditioning failing on packed commuter trains. Mr Maynard was pressed to act by Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, and Peter Kyle, MP for Hove. They were joined by fellow Sussex MPs Sir Nicholas Soames and Nick Herbert. Mr Kyle said the MPs had a ‘free and frank’ discussion with the new rail minister. Ms Lucas said: “This is an emergency situation which requires an urgent response. I’m seriously worried that someone could be injured or worse.
“The horrendous situation at Brighton Station was a new low for this failing train service. It’s time for real action to address the multiple problems with this service.” She added that passengers who had been delayed more than 15 minutes should be compensated. On the new rail minister, Ms Lucas said: “He’s new to the job and seems committed to making things better. “In the coming days we will see if his government’s actions match his words – and if they take this crisis as seriously as they should.” SEE PAGES 3, 12 AND 13
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