Silverlink Trains against the Community.

National Express owned Silverlink Trains discourage use of public transport.

Silverlink trains managers are proposing to close a safe station access to the public.

In 2005 rail company Silverlink Trains announced plans to close the rear access to Hemel Hempstead Railway Station which has been used by local people for as long as anyone can remember both as a convenient route to the Station and a safe way through. This is going to cause serious inconvenience to those who live on the "wrong side of the tracks".

Silverlink very dubiously claim that this rear entrance is associated with trouble makers and faredodgers.
In practice closing the gate will mean that those of us who live on this side of the Station will have to allow a further 10 minutes to walk down to the London Road, cross it (not easy or safe), cross Fishery Road and then recross London Road to get to the Station forecourt.

Following talks with unhappy residents and MP Mike Penning the Railway have decided to install a swipe card entry system. They invited users to apply for a swipe card but are refusing to issue them to anyone who does not hold a weekly season ticket.

     Letter from Station Manager David Grayson

Update: Station Gate Entrance Widens

Julian Drury of Silverlink County, part of the National Express Group: "We aim to make your journey as enjoyable and easy as possible".

National Express Group say "We invest in all aspects of our businesses to provide services that passengers want to use, thereby maximising the use of public transport systems."

Everyone concerned hopes that Silverlink will see sense over this issue, or if not that their insensitive and hostile attitude to the local community will lose them their franchise which currently lasts until 17th October 2006. The estimated public subsidy for the extension of the franchise from October 2004 to October 2006 is £120 million.

Links:     Silverlink-trains.com         Department of Transport       Strategic Rail Authority    End of SRA   Mike Penning MP
              Hemel Hempstead Station   Rail Passengers Council      Save Our Railways       Silverlink deserves an Asbo

  Last updated 11th September 2006.    Published by Martin Humphrey. Contributions and feedback very welcome: email webmaster