MP to pursue National Express brake complaints

Jul 8 2009 by Beverley Pearson, The Journal

Our standards are of the highest order, insists company

A STORMY period has signalled troubled times for National Express.

As lightening strikes on power-lines left North East passengers stranded on trains last week, the East Coast franchise -holder was forced to concede it could not afford to meet the £1.4bn it had been due to pay for the right to run the line.

Transport minister Lord Adonis will now take the line back into national ownership at the end of the year. National Express has also admitted it had encountered “isolated instances” of problems related to coffee machines on a “small number” of trains, after Paul Clark MP claimed in his letter passengers had been “poisoned” by cleaning chemicals left in situ.

The Department for Transport have said none of Mr Clark’s communication had been seen by other ministers in the transport department and had played no part in the Government’s decision. Susan Goldsmith, National Express East Coast managing director, said: "We have repeatedly made our position clear in the strongest possible terms.

“The letter from Paul Clark MP on behalf of an anonymous constituent in May was dealt with and the allegations were unfounded.

“Our safety standards continue to be and always have been of the highest order.

“The Government has not raised any safety concerns with us, nor does it have any reason to.”