Meet the directors

10th March 2010

The forum gives you the opportunity to post questions to our senior team and get instant answers. Thank you for taking part.

We hold 'Meet the Directors' sessions on a monthly basis at various stations on our network.

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Use the form below to find a question in the forum.

Question number 24

From Mr Jonathan Morris

It's good to see that progress is (slowly!) being made at Hatfield to install a new information screen further down platform 3. Any idea on when it will be turned on?

Also, it is a continuing problem that passengers aren't aware of the trains stopping further along the platform which is obviously a problem that is far worse when a 3 or 4-car train is arriving off-peak or late at night (especially if someone could miss a train and wait an hour for the next one).

Might I suggest that a similar way of informing passengers is used, similar to that of the London Underground, e.g. King's Cross where both Circle and Metropolitan line trains stop - each being a different length.

On the other side of the track of platform 3 is fencing, which could easily have signs with arrows to tell people that trains stop further along the line (or to advise on checking the screen for the number of cars for the next train).

This would be far more effective than an easy to miss poster, which could then be replaced with advertising or something else instead!

Thank you for your suggestions.

Further to the earlier answer, the new information screen on platform 3 is due to be turned on within the next 2 weeks.

We will also be installing a new information screen near the gate-line showing a summary of departures.

Question number 23

From Mr Ian Bell

I am aware that FCC ticket machines have some how been infected with a computer virus. Can you confirm if Personal information has been exposed to the virus?

http://web.me.com/hodgsonb/fcc_virus/FCC_Virus_Attack.html

Dear Mr Bell

Our ticket machines are not infected with a virus. What customers may have seen was a system pop up saying that there was an attempted virus which was successfully stopped.

I hope this clarifies.

Question number 22

From Mrs G Biggleswade

Are there any plans to improve the service from Biggleswade i.e. make the platform longer to accommodate 12 carriage trains/another peak hour train. The 7.07 most days is crowded and people joining at Arlesey have to stand and I am sure over the next few years we will be getting on trains at Biggleswade and standing. The area north of Hitchin towards Peterborough is ever growing with more and more houses being built and more people commuting. Do you have any plans over the next couple of years to do this?

Thank you for you question.

We are currently working with the DfT to improve capacity on services to and from Biggleswade, including platform extensions to accommodate 12 carriage trains. Once the details are finalised they will appear on the FCC website.

Question number 22

From Mr A W

Using the trains from Hertford North to London this winter there have been several times when the train has been unheated, is this a problem with the trains or is it that it is simply not switched on

The 313s -the age of the heater elemets elements have required a different fuse and they are being replaced on failure. We do switch it on.

Question number 22

From Mr Andrew Robinson

Is there anything you can do to reduce the excessive wheel noise and vibration that your trains make on the curve immediately south of St Pancras International station? It's an unpleasant experience on the trains, at the platform, and also in the retail outlets in the main station directly above.

Thanks for this feedback. Noise and vibration mitigation is normally done by installing flange lubrication equipment on the track rather than modifying the vehicles. We will pass the feedback to Network Rail to consider.