| Author |
Message |
Loca
Joined 20-09-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 25 September, 2007 - 01:39 pm: | |
Below is some latest information on local rail issues:
EAST LONDON LINE
The East London line is currently on schedule and will open no later than June 2010. It will connect Dalston Junction in the north and West Croydon and Crystal Palace in the south. Eight trains per hour will run in each direction starting at around 6.am in the morning and ending at around 00.45 the next morning. (Please note - all trains on the ELL are four carriages only).
STATION IMPROVEMENTS
TFL (Transport for London) will take over running all the stations along the line when the ELL opens. This will mean approximately £500,000 to spend on improvements to each station. Forest Hill station will receive extra improvement grants including a £300,000 grant from Access for All to build a lift to platform 2 and to help improve entrances to and from the station.
Before 2010, TFL has agreed to look into the erection of a temporary shelter on platform 1 (the up platform to LB) at Sydenham station to shelter passengers. After 2010, the main improvements at Sydenham will be to widen the up platform and erect permanent shelters on that platform. TFL has asked local groups to consider what further improvements are needed.
STAFFING
After 2010, Sydenham will be fully staffed at any time trains are running ie there will be staff at the station from early in the morning until the line closes.
OYSTER CARDS
Oyster card readers and barriers will be erected at Sydenham station in March 2008. The gates at both sides of the station will be widened to cut queuing. The barrier system will greatly increase security at stations and on the line.
RAIL UTILISATION STUDY
Network Rail is currently running a RUS – a public consultation which sets out the rail routes and timetables for all trains in south-east England for the next few years. Here are their main recommendations for our line post-2010:
1. Stopping all through trains from Charing Cross to Sydenham.
2. Cutting trains to and from London Bridge by 25 per cent i.e cutting rush hour trains from the current 8 trains per hour to 6 trains per hour and off-peak trains from 6 per hour to 4 per hour.
3. The “loop” line from LB to Victoria could be axed – we have been told the decision about its future has yet to be taken.
The RUS has also recommended that during the peak, all trains to and from London Bridge will be eight carriages in length and platforms along this line could be lengthened after 2015 to take 10 or 12 carriage trains.
We welcome moves to lengthen trains during peak periods but we will not accept the cuts in train numbers proposed by the RUS, nor an axing of the loop line to Victoria.
You have until the end of October (when the consultation period ends) to make your views known.
If you are concerned about these cuts please write to or e mail your MP:
Jim Dowd MP
43 Sunderland Road
Forest Hill
London
SE23 2PS
jimdowd.newlabour at care4free.net |
Michael
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 25 September, 2007 - 10:32 pm: | |
The response from the Forest Hill Society to the Rail Utilisation Strategy is available at http://foresthillsociety.blogspot.com/2007/09/autumn-dates-for-your-diary.html
The online petition has now passed 1,000 signatures! |
Mattg
Joined 17-10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 06:44 am: | |
... but on a more positive note, lets all applaud the £800,000+ that appears to be earmarked for FH station improvements! |
Londondrz
Joined 09-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 09:28 am: | |
Dont wish to be negative towards Mattg's response but the only changes I have seen over the years when a "new initiative" is realeased is a lick of paint and nothing else. We can however live in hope. |
Mattg
Joined 17-10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 10:01 am: | |
Don't worry, I am just as cynical, but as you say... we can live in hope. Actually, if that sort of money is going to be spent on the station, it raises the question of *how* it gets spent and by whom. Having finally got some funding, it would be criminal for it to be spent or managed poorly with little or no input from local redidents. |
Loca
Joined 20-09-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 10:07 am: | |
I understand that this money will be spent on the following:
New/upgraded bridge to allow for a lift
Barriers for Oyster
London Overground branding
I guess the lift and bridge will take the majority of that fund. |
Mattg
Joined 17-10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 10:18 am: | |
But if there is a specific grant for the bridge and lift (to make it accessible) then that implies that the original half a million is in the kitty for other things.
Surely, this will leave some funds which can be used to make the environment a nicer place to be - even after we've paid for overground signs, oyster machines and the like.
What I'm saynig is that there needs to be transparency as to what we're getting and how much each bit is costing. |
Londondrz
Joined 09-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 11:12 am: | |
Mind you I dont know why I grumble. I got so fed up with the train two years ago I bought a motorbike. 15 minute commute as apposed to 40 minutes and no delays I cannot ride around. |
Domc
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 02:24 pm: | |
having previously worked on the railways - that amount of money, although it seems large, will get very little done unfortunately. To paint a station with waiting buildings etc usually costs Network Rail about £200-400k. |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 02:35 pm: | |
ha! I don't think it would cost that much to paint our miserly portacabin station! |
Mattg
Joined 17-10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 03:16 pm: | |
... all the more reason for there to be transparency over what we're being charged for. |
Forester
Joined 04-02-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 - 05:44 pm: | |
200-400k to paint a station?!??!? I can get a few Polish guys together to do it for 2-4k, |
