To Pauline Cridland (Thurrock Rail Users' Group) and Tony Shields (London Transport Users' Committee)

Thank you both for your e-mails regarding video screens on trains. Here in the West Midlands local train services are run by Central Trains under contract to Centro, Centro being the trading name for the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, and use two classes of train to cover the routes involved.

The local service and line SALRUA is mainly involved with is the Dorridge to Birmingham Snow Hill section of the Dorridge to Stourbridge route and, being non-electrified, uses class 150 DMUs. The remainder of the West Midlands routes pass through or into Birmingham New Street, are all electrified and use predominantly class 323 EMUs I understand that the
class 323 fleet is extensively fitted with screens and from surveys undertaken firstly by the company 360 On Board and subsequently rechecked by Central Trains there appears to be an 80% satisfaction rating. The class 150 units do not have screens although one train was equipped but the system never switched on. Furthermore I understand they are most unlikely to be equipped so by Central Trains this side of the Central franchise expiring next April.

We have never been consulted on the subject.

Chiltern Railways run their Marylebone to Birmingham service over the Leamington /Dorridge /Snow Hill
section and provide a semi-fast facility in the process. As far as we can ascertain Chiltern Railways have no plans to install video screens on their trains.

At the SALRUA committee meeting last evening this subject was discussed in depth. We were generally surprised by the survey figure given above as the majority of members present were against the installation of screens, all letters in the local and
technical press are anti, and we have not yet come across anybody who wants them. It could well be that the younger set might welcome them, as may mothers with youngsters in tow. And doubtless there are people who are prepared to put up with them. But
80%?. NO!!! We concluded our deliberations on the subject by voting on three alternative proposals

1)to agree with the installations got nil votes,
2) to agree to the installation in up to 50% of the coaches to allow customer choice got 2 votes
3) to not agree with any such installation at all got an overwhelming majority.

From a strictly personal viewpoint my wife and I go into Coventry quite frequently and took to using the local train for most of the journey. We noted the incremental fitting of the screens in the 323 fleet and after a while experienced the switch on. The
screens were intrusive, the adverts atrocious and the noise level intolerable. On the return journey we squeezed into the very small so called quiet section and that proved little better. From then on I refused absolutely to ever travel in a Central 323 and
now go by car instead. I hate TV adverts and deliberately try to avoid them by channel hopping or going walkies so I therefore find it totally unacceptable to be locked into a confined space with no other option than to be bombarded by inane visual
and audio effects. Overtones of "ve hav vays to make you talk"

If you wish to include the above on a web site then please feel free to do so.

Regards Jim Trangmar
Chairman
Solihull and Leamington Rail Users Association
(SALRUA)
 

10/03/2005