COMMUTER pressure group the Alton Line Users' Association remains unconvinced that the award of the new franchise to SWT will herald a better future for local passengers.

In recent weeks the group has met with the train company's senior managers and local MPs to voice its concerns about current service problems.

"SWT's failure to commit itself to track improvements is an increasing concern," said an ALUA spokesman. "SWT has refused to reconsider its plans despite the fact that a rival bidder for the franchise - First Group/Dutch Railways - had offered to partially reinstate the double track from Farnham to Bentley and speed up services."

He added: "The new half-hourly service to Alton - planned for the summer of 2002 - should include improvements to the late evening timetable for the whole line with additional trains leaving Waterloo for Alton at 20:33 and 22:33.

"However, we doubt whether a half-hourly service can be reliably maintained throughout the day without infrastructure improvements."

ALUA states that even at current service levels, there are severe punctuality and reliability problems.

Late-running trains are "frequently" terminated at Farnham and sometimes Aldershot or Woking; SWT can avoid Railtrack penalties incurred if trains are late returning to Waterloo.

"In effect, passengers instead of SWT are being forced to pay the penalty for lateness. This is unacceptable and SWT has once again promised to sort out the problem," said the ALUA spokesman.

The new franchise will run for 20 years from February 2003. SWT's website shows a number of improvements which were included in its bid for the Alton line.

The company is to spend £1.4m on improvements to Alton Station, including lighting and security, a passenger lounge and new lifts to provide full disabled access.

New trains will replace all slam door rolling stock, there is to be a new rail-link bus between Winchester and Alton via Alresford, and a new half-hourly service throughout the day to Alton.

In total some £8.9m has been earmarked for the Alton line stations (Ash Vale, Aldershot, Farnham, Bentley and Alton), plus proposed improved bus connections between Camberley, Farnborough and Aldershot.

"Although ALUA welcomes these commitments as far as they go, we feel that further improvements to the Alton line are essential, particularly in light of the daily deterioration in service on the line since September 2000," said the spokesman.