GTR Train Services in Biggleswade and Sandy

Rail services on the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) network have long been a source of frustration for residents, particularly those who use Sandy and Biggleswade train stations. Unreliable timetables, frequent cancellations, and poor communication are disrupting daily commutes and, in some circumstances, impacting job security. Following a week of severe service failures in February 2020, Richard has been working with Rail User Groups (RUGs) and ward and town councillors to hold GTR accountable and push for improvements. 

Since March 2020 Richard, along with local RUGs and ward and town councillors, has held regular meetings with GTR to push for progress. You can read more about these meetings here and here.

In addition to these meetings Richard has met with GTR Executives in Parliament on multiple occasions and put passenger’s questions directly to them. You can read more here and here 

Since the start of these conversations there have been some improvements with the launch of a new fast peak-time services for Biggleswade (06:35 to London, 17:42 return) in June 2024 and the addition of two more peak-time trains in December 2024. But GTR’s progress to implement solutions for the poor service delivery has been nowhere near effective or efficient enough.  

Time and again, GTR have offered explanations for problems but provided little meaningful change. GTR say more drivers have been recruited but there has been little, if any, noticeable difference in service delivery.  

Following the unacceptable level of service delays and cancellations this summer, Richard requested a meeting with local GTR representatives to demand answers and action. He expressed his strong dissatisfaction with GTR’s lack of visible progress and asked for solutions that provide evident results rather than more words. Unsatisfied with the outcome of this meeting, Richard escalated the matter to GTR’s Chief Operating Officer, John Whitehurst, who met with Richard in Parliament in September. As a result of this meeting, Mr Whitehurst committed to developing a plan to address the specific issues affecting the Peterborough to London line. Richard is currently awaiting an update from Mr Whitehurst and his team.

For more information on Richard's work with GTR please see below.

News

GTR Meeting Update: July 2025

At his surgeries and in his emails, Richard has heard from residents who feel they have no choice but to consider moving house because they simply cannot rely on the trains to get to work or to get home.

Richard holds a meeting with GTR and rail users in Sandy and Biggleswade

Just before Christmas, Richard held a meeting with representatives of Govia Thameslink Railways, the Rail User Group for Biggleswade, and representatives of both Biggleswade and Sandy Town Council as part of his bi-annual catch-up regarding rail services in the east of the constituency. Richard

Richard puts rail users' questions to Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) held a drop-in session for MPs in Parliament last week, where Richard raised constituents' questions to Chris Fowler, GTR's Network Operations Director, and Phil Hutchinson, Head of Strategic Planning.Ahead of the meeting, Richard asked rail users through Facebook for

New Great Northern peak service for Biggleswade from December

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have written to Richard with good news regarding improvements to peak services to and from Biggleswade.Starting from Monday 16 December, they are introducing an additional peak service in each direction between Peterborough and London King’s Cross, which will bring the

New train service for Biggleswade

Last week, there was a Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) drop-in at Parliament for MPs where Richard spoke with Chris Fowler who is GTR's Network Operations and Performance Director. Speaking afterwards, Richard Fuller MP said: The positive news from the session is that GTR are adding a fast train a

Richard meets with GTR and Network Rail at parliamentary drop-in

Last week in Parliament, Richard had another opportunity to talk to GTR and Network Rail as he met with Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern and Lucy McAuliffe, Route Director for Network Rail. Richard Fuller MP said: At the parliamentary drop-in for MPs ar