Wednesday 7 January 2015

London rail chaos hurts business, says London Chamber of Commerce

Commenting on rail chaos at the start of the year and the knock-on impact on businesses, Richard Currie, Chair of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (LCCI) Transport Policy Committee said: "The significant rail issues experienced as we start the new year will no doubt be hurting businesses, who bear the brunt of the impact of unreliable commuter train services.

"We know that rail delays translate into real economic impacts for firms as half of businesses told us that problems like delays, cancellations and overcrowding had led to a reduction in customers or cancelled business meetings in the past 12 months. This will only have been exacerbated in the last week as problems continued.

"Any observer in recent days would have to conclude that the rail system has failed London. We expect Network Rail and train operating companies to work together to improve the reliability of services and fix the ongoing issues."

This comes on the back of recent polling by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry with ComRes, which found:

• 84% of businesses believe that delays, cancellation and overcrowding have had an impact on commuter access to London
• 53% of business leaders had instances of staff late to work in the previous 12 months due to problems with commuter train services
• 40% experienced staff unable to come into work due to problems with commuter train services
• 50% said that problems with commuter train services had led to fewer customers or cancelled meetings

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. ComRes polling for London Chamber of Commerce&Industry of 518 London business leaders, found:
   -84% of businesses believe that delays, cancellation and overcrowding have had an impact on commuter access to London
   -53% of business leaders had instances of staff late to work in the previous 12 months due to problems with commuter train services
   -40% experienced staff unable to come into work due to problems with commuter train services
   -50% said that problems with commuter train services had led to fewer customers or cancelled meetings
3. ComRes interviewed 518 London business decision makers online between 6th and 26th November 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all London businesses by company size and broad industry sector. 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
4. LCCI spokespeople are available for further comment and interview.