Ken Livingstone pulled no punches in his assessment of rail franchisee, First Group at a Peoples' Question Time held in Acton.

Save Acton Mainline campaigner David Campbell-Bannerman asked a question about what the Mayor was doing to try to prevent the reduction of services on the First Great Western line into Paddington. The Mayor replied that his 'jaw had grown sore' in talking to First Group and he described them as 'rapacious, thieving scum' and 'junkies on subsidies'. He added that if it was in his power he would nationalise all rail franchises immediately.

The Mayor offered little hope on the planned time-table changes being aborted. He said that the Government was presenting an enabling bill to parliament that would allow him through Transport for London, to take control of rail franchises in the London area. However he said that this was unlikely to apply to services on this route and that he first route he would be taking over was the North London Line which serves Acton Central and South Acton.

First Group's First Great Western Link took over the local Ealing franchise from Thames Trains recently. They are planning to cut peak hour services in the new December timetable at 4 local London stations in half ( from 4 to 2 ): Acton Main Line, Southall, Hanwell ( all in Ealing ) and Hayes & Harlington ( in Hillingdon ). They are also planning to cut the last train from Paddington from 23.55 to 23.08, making late night travel impossible. 

David Campbell Bannerman of 'Save Acton Mainline' commented: "Since First Group took over, services through Acton Main Line have degenerated. We've never known so many cancellations, delays and unreliability. Now First Great Western Link are planning massive cuts in peak services which are a knee in the groin for the local community."