THOUSANDS of people rely on punctual trains to get them where they need to be on time. It’s not much to ask particularly when you’re paying through the nose for the privilege.

Being late for occasions and events because of yet another signalling problem is an inconvenience to say the least. When you’re regularly having to explain to your boss, as many of our commuters have told us they have, why you’re at work late for the second time in a week, it becomes more serious.

In the last few months we have lost count of how many times trains across Oxfordshire have been delayed or cancelled because of signalling problems – many of which are out of the county.

While Network Rail cannot always be blamed for the cause of the problems – if they’re weather related for example – the root of the issue needs looking at.

So it’s good that the company has acknowledged there is a problem and more importantly it is doing something about it. As it admits itself the current technology used for signalling dates back to the 1960s.

With billions of pounds worth of investment being poured into moving our train service into the 21st century and beyond, it’s absolutely vital we get the basic infrastructure up to scratch first.

Let’s hope the £350m programme by Network Rail to improve the Great Western route signals the start of more investment and a better service all round.

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