Hertsmere MP has called for drastic improvements to the Thameslink service.

The service, which runs through London from Bedford to Brighton, has been subject to recent multiple delays.

These delays have angered many commuters who use the lines on a daily basis, including Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden.

Mr Dowden said: “I know only too well the disruption and inconvenience that cancellations and delays cause those of us who rely on the service.

“Hard-working Hertsmere commuters deserve better than this. I continue to suspect that Thameslink underbid for the service so are too overstretched to deal with simple problems like staff not turning up.

“This is simply not acceptable.”

The recent delays include September 29 when a train broke down at Herne Hill which resulted in long delays and crowded trains.

On the same day no trains were going southbound from St Albans and passengers were told to take the bus to Hatfield and get the train from there.

According to Roger Perkins from Thameslink Railway, the delays on September 29 were caused by a local power failure at the railway’s Kent Information Control Centre.

“We worked flat out to remove the train but due to its location severe disruption was inevitable,” Mr Perkins said.

“All trains have to pass through this one route while the usual mainline route through London Bridge is close to Thameslink while that station is being rebuilt.”

On Wednesday September 30, two trains from St Pancras were cancelled because staff didn’t turn up, according to Mr Dowden.

The two trains that were cancelled were due to a lorry hitting a bridge at Tulse Hill which caused more delays to the passengers, according to Thameslink.

“Trains are sometimes unavoidably cancelled because a driver is unavailable, possibly because they were held up themselves by disruption caused, for example, by a lorry hitting a bridge or a signal failure,” Mr Perkins said.

A few days later on October 6 there was no services between London St Pancras and London Blackfriars.

On the same day, there were cancellations and delays on the rest of the Thameslink route.

“This happened just before the evening rush hour and left us with no alternative but to split our service north and south of London,” Mr Perkins said.

“With a split service we needed two trains and two drivers which forced us to drastically reduce the service.

“We put on alternative transport and did our utmost to help passengers but journeys home were very difficult indeed.”

According to Thameslink, this route has sadly suffered greatly since the start of the London Bridge improvement work which has affected reliability on the Brighton mainline which knocks on the rest of the Thameslink route.

“We recognised at the start of our franchise that we would need to recruit more drivers for the intense period of training needed to introduce new fleets of trains and new and better services and this is what we have been doing,” Mr Perkins said.

Thameslink Railway will meet with Mr Dowden and will explain what they are going to do to improve the services for passengers.

“I am going to meet with senior representatives from Govia Thameslink to demand explanations,” Mr Dowden said.

“I also know that the Transport Secretary takes a keen interest and I will raise it with him too.”