This week Wycombe MP Steve Baker writes exclusively to Bucks Free Press readers:
Wycombe is a convenient place to live and work with good rail, road and air links. I commute by motorcycle or train to Westminster.
I see at first-hand how High Wycombe station is an important interchange not only for people using the morning commuter trains, but also for people arriving in Wycombe for work, education and leisure.
It is important Wycombe can always rely on a fast, frequent and reliable train service.
I generally think Chiltern Railways runs a decent service with regular trains throughout the day to London and northbound to Oxford and Birmingham.
I know there can be frustrating experiences and it is important passengers know how to raise these issues with the company. I am currently speaking to Chiltern Railways about a number of matters including its plans to cope with extra passengers diverted to our railway line as a result of forthcoming engineering work near Oxford as well as on the West Coast Mainline.
It is likely that trains travelling from Marylebone to Oxford will be particularly busy at the end of July and to Birmingham over the August Bank Holiday. For more information please visit the Chiltern Railways website: www.chilternrailways.co.uk
I am also speaking to the Department for Transport about possibly introducing season tickets for workers who regularly travel but only for a few days per week as well as the need for High Wycombe to remain well connected to London and stations to the North and Midlands.
I have highlighted the importance of preserving the Wycombe single line between South Ruislip and the Great Western Mainline at Old Oak Common where HS2’s proposed station is due to be situated.
‘Catch a Bus’ week was celebrated at the start of this month to promote the benefits of bus travel.
Council officers recently advised me that bus travel in Wycombe was bucking the national trend with increasing numbers of passengers on our routes.
We do benefit from a number of bus services including regular services to Maidenhead, Heathrow Airport and Reading. Arriva and Carousel Buses are our main operators in Wycombe and I look forward to meeting the Area Director for Arriva Buses who covers the Wycombe area at the end of this month to discuss Arriva’s services in the area.
I recently tweeted people who follow me on Twitter for questions to submit to Arriva, but if you have not had a chance to submit a question please write to my constituency office at 150A West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3AE before Wednesday 26th July 2017 so I can collate the responses.
Finally, I will be also speaking to the County Council about the standard of roads around Wycombe and the quality of road maintenance work.
The Government has made available over £6 billion to councils to improve local roads.
Alongside this, it is also giving councils an additional £250 million specifically to tackle the blight of potholes.
Ministers have given local authorities multi-year funding settlements, for the first time ever, ensuring they have the certainty they need to plan future improvements.
I look forward to exploring this important matters with Transport for Bucks in the coming months.
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