I spoke to Yvonne this morning at the managers' meeting about the gates and about the franchise:
Gates:
1. Southern and TfL are looking at phase 2 gating plans for both stations. Yvonne is going to get some information about where TfL are with this proposal. For Forest Hill phase 2 almost certainly means barriers at the bottom of the stairs, not the Perry Vale car park entrance. I'm disappointed that they continue to pursue phase 1 implementation when they know they need to do better.
2. Continued to voice concerns about the need to use 4 sets of stairs rather than one for passengers with mobility issues.
3. Yvonne is going to follow up within Southern regarding the idea of a buzzer on the Perry Vale gate (similar to the one at Sydenham) for use when the gate is closed (6am-3pm).
4. Raised concern about the buzzer not being answered at Sydenham when station is staffed and the affect this has on mobility restricted passengers.
Franchising:
1. Made clear that we want the franchise holder to re-open this gate. Yvonne pointed out that since station management will pass to TfL in Autumn 2009, the new South Central franchisee (which could be Southern) would not be responsible for gates.
2. Asked for Southern to consider off-peak services to Charing Cross in the franchise (which are currently planned to be scrapped but RUS does give a glimmer of hope on the continuation of this service)
3. Asked for Southern to consider longer trains to Victoria off-peak (not 2 carriage trains as they sometime run).