Friday 10th April 2015

New data shows commuter rail delays continue to hurt London businesses

• 67% of London businesses affected by commuter train problems in the last year
• LCCI urges exploration of options for TfL to be involved in management

According to new data from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), delays, cancellations and overcrowding on commuter train services (excluding the Underground and Overground) are one of the top issues negatively affecting their business.

40% of businesses polled by ComRes for LCCI said that poor reliability and punctuality of commuter train services into the capital was one of the top three issues affecting their business. The new figures come after chaos on the rail network over the Easter break, with huge amounts of engineering work affecting passenger journeys in and out of the capital.

More than half of the 500 business leaders polled said they have been affected at least once in the past year by a member of staff being late to work (58%) due to delays, cancellations or overcrowding, with more than one in ten (14%) saying they are affected at least once each week.

London Chamber of Commerce argues it is now clear that the ongoing issue of poor commuter rail services into London is having a tangible impact on businesses. Almost half of firms (48%) said that they have had a member of staff unable to come to work altogether in the past year, due to problems on commuter trains into London - an indication of the negative effects rail services are having on businesses in the capital.

The problems on commuter rail services into London do not appear to be getting resolved and so London Chamber of Commerce and Industry is now calling for rationalisation of the management and operation of rail services into the capital and advocates exploration of the potential for Transport for London taking over responsibility for lines and services as each mainline franchise comes up for renewal.

Colin Stanbridge, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Chief Executive said: "It is simply intolerable that poor quality train services into and out of London are having such a significant impact on the capital's businesses.

"Small businesses and traders in particular will be severely impacted if staff are unable to make it into work - with fewer staff in a small business, each one counts.

"The time has now come to stop moaning about the problems and start to look for solutions. We urge the new government to look to devolve responsibility for commuter train services into the capital to Transport for London.

"It makes total sense to join up our transport network under an integrated management body and would help to overcome some of the issues that have been experienced over the past six months."

ENDS

Media contact
Jo Hooper, Press & Media Relations Manager
T: +44 (0)20 7203 1897
M: +44 (0)7827 241528
E: jhooper@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR:

1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital's largest and most representative business organisation, with members ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
2. Colin Stanbridge is available for further comment and interview.
3. ComRes interviewed 503 London business decision makers online between 29 January and 16 February 2015. Data has been weighted to be representative of all London businesses by company size and broad industry sector.
4. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data tables are available on the ComRes website, www.comresglobal.com