MP Seeks Review of Chiltern Rail Services from Haddenham and Thame Parkway

Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame has urged Louise Haigh, the Secretary of State for Transport to assess the adequacy of train services provided by Chiltern Railways from Haddenham and Thame Parkway.
 
With many local residents depending on the station for their daily commute, there are growing concerns of overcrowding, delays, and insufficient capacity on trains during peak hours.
 
In a question raised in Parliament, Thursday, Mr van Mierlo called for the Government to review whether the current service is meeting the needs of passengers and to consider improvements to ensure a more reliable service for local commuters. He challenged the government to urgently approve new carriages and trains that would help ease pressure on the service.
 
Mr van Mierlo said, “Many residents in my constituency rely on trains from Haddenham and Thame Parkway for their daily commute, and there are clear concerns about overcrowding and delays, especially during peak times. I urge the Secretary of State for Transport to assess whether the current level of service is adequate”.

Transport Secretary Responds

In response to Mr van Mierlo’s question, the Transport Secretary said, “The Department monitors the adequacy of train services from all train stations, including Haddenham and Thame Parkway. Chiltern Railway provide a frequent service with three trains per hour during peak times and two trains per hour during the off-peak service from Haddenham and Thame Parkway to other stations along the Chiltern Mainline route between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street.

When planning the timetable, operators look at several factors including passenger demand and infrastructure constraints, as well as operational considerations, such as, fleet or driver availability. The goal is to provide an efficient and reliable service for all passengers and the Department regularly reviews operational performance across the rail network.”

On X, Freddie van Mierlo said he was ‘disappointed’ by the answer, “but I’ll be continuing to engage with the Transport Secretary and Chiltern Railway to fight for a better service.”