As residents tell of difficulties buying tickets after this summer’s cut in ticket office hours at local train stations, local MP Lynne Featherstone demanded a better deal for commuters in a meeting with the train company boss on Monday.

Following a campaign earlier in the year to stop First Capital Connect cutting office hours at local train stations, Liberal Democrats this summer managed to get a better deal for commuters, as the train company agreed to cut ticket office hours by 69 hrs per week, instead of the originally proposed 115 hrs.

But the cuts, which came into force in August, have already caused difficulties for local residents travelling at night and on weekends. Following tip-offs from commuters, Lynne this weekend went on a fact-finding mission at Harringay and Alexandra Palace stations, before meeting the First Capital Connect boss Jim Morgan on Monday.

Lynne Featherstone found the only ticket machine at Harringay station to be out of order, and signage at Alexandra station either pointing in the wrong direction, or missing altogether:

You can also watch the film here on YouTube.

Ms Featherstone has now asked for the train company to monitor how often ticket machines break down and ensure swift action is taken to repair them. She has also called for all stations to be fully sign-posted so residents know where to get their tickets.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m still deeply disappointed that First Capital Connect decided to go ahead and cut ticket office hours at our local train stations.

“And clearly, residents are feeling the effects, signs telling you where the ticket machines are located are really poor, and with machines breaking down there is no-one to ask for help. Not to mention the safety aspect of standing alone on a dark platform now that winter’s coming.

“I hope that the train company will wake up and do their bit by making the machines more accessible, improve the signage and ensure engineers are sent out swiftly if a machine breaks down – that’s certainly the least they can do. And if local residents have any other issues they want me to raise, please get in touch.”