Mayor Dave Slams Chaotic Start to Bedford's Downgraded Rail Service, as Commuters Suffer on 'Meltdown Monday'

The first week day of the drastically re-written rail timetables was filled was filled with delays and cancellations, as Bedford's downgraded rail service got off to a chaotic start on Monday.

Mayor Dave Hodgson went to Bedford station before 7:30am to talk to commuters about the introduction of the changes, and was back there during the evening rush hour, as the list of cancellations and delays grew on the day that the government's removal of peak-time intercity trains from Bedford took effect.

Mayor Dave was interviewed live for Anglia TV about how the changes, which see peak-time intercity services to London in the morning and from London in the evening removed from Bedford altogether, are letting down Bedford rail users. Dave also recorded a video for his own Facebook page, which you can see here.

Also, commenting on his Facebook page during the morning after visiting the station first thing, Mayor Dave said the following alongside this photo he took of the second rail replacement bus of the day:

"'It sucks'. That was the verdict of a commuter I spoke to at 7:30 this morning getting off a delayed rail replacement bus, on the first day of the loss of peak-time intercity trains from Bedford. These buses are a testament to the Government's utter betrayal of Bedford over the new rail timetables.

While the Government boasts of 'modernisation', commuters I spoke to this morning are dreading theprospect of at least two and a half years of rail replacement buses. And commuters to London have lost fast intercity trains, and will get no discount on the thousands they spend on their season tickets.

And all this comes while the Government insists on a massive increase in housebuilding targets in Bedford Borough!

Meanwhile, the first week day of the new Thameslink services has become Meltdown Monday, with delays and disruption for thousands. The project has cost billions and is massively overdue - it used to be Thameslink 2000! Despite all those billions and the years of preparation, 'a lot of staff and stock are in the wrong places' . It truly beggars belief.

It's a great big mess, and a thorough betrayal of local rail users. I'm going to keep pressing for peak-time intercity trains to be restored, which IS possible if the government has the will. The testimony of local rail users will help that case, so do get in touch and let me know how the timetable changes are affecting you."

After making those comments, Mayor Dave spoke to someone who had been on the third rail replacement bus of the day to Bedford, and as he relayed on Twitter: