Residents in the village are concerned that their children are turning up late to school because of poor train services from Kings Langley. Abbots Langley parents sending their children to schools north of Watford have written to Lib Dem MP candidate Sal Brinton to express their frustration with the poor service on London Midlands.
The children get on the train at Kings Langley and travel north of Hemel Hempstead to Berkhamsted and Tring. Over the last few weeks trains have been repeatedly late or the service stopped at Hemel, rather than continue on its usual journey to Tring. During the mock GCSEs in January children were late for exams on more than one occasion. The parents were united in condemning London Midlands poor service. "Had these been the real GCSEs, it would have had serious implications for their future and choice of places in 6th form." It is worse than the dark days of Silverlink. At least for the last few years of their contract the service was very reliable," said another. On the day of the attached photo the train ran late again and the next train was cancelled. "It can't go on like this, I have put in four claims for compensation already in the last 20 days, and that does not include those occasions when I have not claimed, but have had to drive to the school instead- a round trip of an hour." said Chris Whately-Smith, a parent. It is believed that staff shortages are causing the problems, with signs going up on the ticket office. Many travellers have been infuriated by the poor service since London Midland won the Franchise, but the performance over the last month has been very poor. Sal Brinton has written to the Managing Director of London Midland to demand an explanation, and a guarantee that this service will improve. She said: "It is extraordinary that London Midland can change the service at short notice, leaving children stranded on their way to school. It's time that London Midland addressed the poor performance of the service immediately."
Residents in the village are concerned that their children are turning up late to school because of poor train services from Kings Langley. Abbots Langley parents sending their children to schools north of Watford have written to Lib Dem MP candidate Sal Brinton to express their frustration with the poor service on London Midlands.