A RAIL passenger watchdog has called for more capacity and better stations as a priority in East London and Essex. The number of bus replacements should also be reduced as an immediate priority on the new Greater Anglia and Essex Thameside franchises, London TravelWatch is urging

By Mike Brooke

A RAIL passenger watchdog has called for more capacity and better stations as a priority in East London and Essex.

The number of bus replacement services should also be reduced as an immediate priority on the new Greater Anglia and Essex Thameside franchises, London TravelWatch is urging.

These are the responses the organisation is making to the Department for Transport's consultation for the rail operating franchises due to start next year.

The watchdog for users of the East London services from Harold Wood and Purfleet has called for increased capacity to tackle overcrowding on the commuter runs into Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street from East Anglia and Southend.

"Our priorities for more trains to increase capacity," said the organisation's Jo deBank.

"We also want improvements to the quality of bus replacement services during engineering work. Both lines are important, busy routes for commuting and leisure. Opportunities need to be improved."

London TravelWatch, in its response to the Anglia franchise and the Essex Thameside franchise also call for stations to be improved significantly.

Many are "well below what passengers expect." The stations are said to be poorly signed, provide inadequate information and some are untidy and cluttered.