I'm still working on it, Foresters!

I had a letter from Southern very similar to Michael's one, which also contained a link to the full Southern Response to the RUS that nasaroc posted. Therefore I assume there is no point pushing Southern any further. They seem to be saying that they are not the decision-making party but that Network Rail is.

London Travel Watch wrote to say that they can only take up cases where there is dissatisfaction with a response from Southern. So I have written to London Travel Watch again to say that I am definitely dissatisfied and to ask for their help in finding out who to lobby now, whether at Network Rail or elsewhere. I'll post again when I get a reply; they were fast to respond last time.

Also had a reponse from Joan Ruddock, who has had other letters from her constituents already and is currently awaiting a response from Southern.

So, some progress, but still no clear answer on the best way to lobby to get this decision reversed with a minimum of effort!

My current thinking, if anyone still feels strongly about this loss of services and is willing to take a few minutes to write some letters, is to write these letters in this order:
1. Write to your MP saying you want to make your voice heard on this issue and ask for them to lobby on your behalf.
2. Write to Southern, sit back and wait for their standard response.
3. Then write to London Travel Watch, enclosing a copy of the Southern letter, and ask them to take up the matter because Southern's response was not satisfactory.

Also go to the Sydenham Society FUTURE RAIL SERVICES meeting at 7.30pm at the Naborhood Centre, Sydenham Road on September 17.

It really does help to write lots of letters! It is how stuff gets done in this democracy of ours! I used to work for an MP as a caseworker and the issues that have the most letters coming in get the most attention.

Utlimately I think that our MPs and London Travel Watch may have the best chance of actually getting hold of the decision-makers behind this opaque decision and getting them to change their minds.