Parliament is back in session after the conference recess. I’m happy to have my feet back under the desk in Westminster for what’s set to be a very busy couple of months fighting for Woking.

Back in the constituency we had the announcement that Woking has been selected as one of the bases for West Surrey Council. The new headquarters will be split between Guildford and Woking with full council meetings taking place in Guildford and cabinet meetings being held in Woking.

This approach reflects the availability of suitable buildings in Woking and represents value for money, allowing council staff to move in without expensive new construction.

This is good news for our town. Many of Surrey’s key decisions will be made here. It means more jobs, as council officers and supporting staff for this large new authority become based here in Woking, along with a boost to our local economy.

What it also means is that more people will be travelling into Woking – many of those journeys will be by rail. Over the summer, I have been running a train survey to identify the main problems faced by Woking’s rail passengers.

What’s really clear from the responses so far is that delays are the most common problem. As a regular commuter myself, this comes as no surprise.

Sadly, I’ve also not found it surprising that since Southwestern Railway was nationalised in May last year, 93.4 per cent of people think the service has got worse or stayed the same.

This is a damning indictment of the Government’s nationalisation programme, which was supposed to deliver improved services.

While ministers may point to selective data showing improvement, it’s clear that is not the experience commuters here in Woking (myself included) have had.

The trains can and must be better. I will continue holding the government to account and I will be using the findings to press SWR and Great British Railways for improvements.

My survey is still live, and if you would like to share your views, you can do so at www.willforster.co.uk/wills-campaigns/trains.

Continuing on the theme of trains, there is also some more positive news. Brookwood Station has been shortlisted for Station of the Year in the World Cup of Stations 2026!

More than 150 nominations were received, so making the shortlist is a significant achievement. It recognises the hard work of more than 30 volunteers who transformed unused railway land into an inclusive garden where railway families and the wider community can remember loved ones, discover shared heritage and connect with nature.

I want to say huge congratulations to the team involved for all their efforts in turning the station’s unique link to Brookwood Cemetery into a lasting place of reflection, belonging and community care.

The station needs your help to win!

This is a public vote. Stations have first been divided into regional groups, with the winner of each region progressing to the final. Voting opened on Monday, 12 October and closes on Sunday, 18 October.

Brookwood can only win with your backing, so let’s show our support. You can vote online at raildeliverygroup.com/WorldCupOfStations.

Stay in touch: [email protected] https://www.willforster.co.uk/; Instagram @forster_will; Facebook.com/WillforWoking; X @WillForster