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Full
House at Rail Passenger Meeting |
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After the general AGM matters, there were
four speakers, David Mattheson from Great Western, Chad Collins, station
Manager at High Wycombe for Chilterns, John Hodgson, transport manager
for the bus services and John Callaghan from Wycombe District Council.
They outlined plans in their own specific areas. The floor was
then open to questions, these tended to be fairly mundane items as
better signage for train changes, ladies loos being locked and not
available when they should be and the Heathrow link. Someone from
Transport 2000 then stood up and said that it seemed there were plans
afoot to reduce lines. He asked if anyone had read the Railway Bill
currently going through parliament. The Chairman said this was too
long and complicated to look at. The questioner pointed out that 30% of
this bill related to line closures and should be looked at. The Chairman
said that the Marlow to Maidenhead line was safe as they had had a
meeting with the Strategic Rail Authority, Georgina Wood, Vice Chairman
of the Cookham Society, then read from a letter she had received from
the Strategic Rail Authority saying that it disagreed with what they
chairman was saying. The Chairman said that the letter to Georgina must
be incorrect. Mike Copland then stood up and said he had been a member
for many years and this seemed to be repeat of 1970 when the Wycombe to
Marlow line was closed and the reason the Marlow - Maidenhead Passenger
Association was set up. He said that we must stop the slippery slope, there appeared to
be total confusion about what was actually planned and we needed to be a
lot more diligent in finding out the true situation and government
plans. The Chairman pointed out that Community Railways was good news
for us and an opportunity. In summary it was felt however an eye
should be kept out for the pitfalls particularly as there had been a
lack of current investment and that facts and figures were needed.
It seems we need to be vigilant about ensuring that our railway does not
disappear.
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