THE Chesham Society is calling for the re-instatement of a passing platform to increase transport efficiency on the Metropolitan Line in Chesham.

The Chesham Society is proposing to use the bay road platform to allow trains to pass each other instead of cancelling peak time through trains between Chesham and London, as proposed by line operators London Underground Ltd (LUL). The proposal was announced by society chairman Bernard Meldrum, at a packed meeting of Chesham Town Council on Wednesday, May 18.

Mr Meldrum said: "We have looked at the problem of unreliable train services and established that it was largely due to the complete lack of flexibility at either end of the branch line, making it impossible to have two trains at any time between Chalfont, Latimer and Chesham station."

Mr Meldrum requested the town council write to LUL. Town clerk Bill Richards said that the council had already written to LUL objecting to the removal of the through train services during the public consultation. Mr Richards advised that the best course of action was to take part in Chesham's Community Vision document.

He said: "As part of the working party group on Chesham's Comm-unity Vision document we're looking speci-fically at transport issues for the town. We will be holding consultations which could give us something with which to lobby central government."