Jim Dowd refers to a letter from Network Rail in response to a series of emails, from Forest Hill Society and Sydenham Society members as well as other members of the public, which I shall reproduce below. I shall include my response in my next posting:

Dear Mr Abrahams,

Network Rail has some concerns about a number of factually incorrect comments about the South London RUS which are currently in circulation and which may be causing your members unnecessary worry.

Some of the issues which concern us, and which we would like to clarify are as follows:

1. It is not true to state that ?the draft RUS would result in a 25% cut in existing Sydenham Line peak period services? to London Bridge. The draft RUS proposals for December 2009 would in fact:

? Result in exactly the same number of trains as today from Sydenham/Forest Hill arriving at London Bridge between 0700 and 1000 on weekdays

? Result in an increase from today in the number of trains from Anerley, Penge West, Honor Oak Park and Brockley arriving at London Bridge between 0700 and 1000 on weekdays

2. It is not true to state that the draft RUS proposes an even greater cut in off-peak services from Sydenham to London Bridge.

? The draft RUS makes no comment whatsoever on the level of off-peak services to London Bridge

3. It is not true to state that the draft RUS proposes the ?loss of the loop-line service to Clapham Junction and Victoria?.

? The draft RUS makes no comment whatsoever about this service

? In the morning peak, as of today, there are no direct services running from Forest Hill/Sydenham to Victoria via Crystal Palace until 0908. Indeed, the first direct train to Crystal Palace itself is not until 0830. In 2010, across the entire morning peak period 0700-1000, there will be an East London Line train every 15 minutes from Forest Hill to Crystal Palace, where passengers will be able to change onto four trains each hour going from there to Victoria.