On 26 October I hosted a meeting with local stakeholders Network Rail, Southeastern Trains and Transport for London regarding the South London Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS). I have been assured that all of the concerns raised during the meeting will be included in the consultation, which has now closed.
Network Rail has allocated 2 months to consider the responses before they publish a final copy of the RUS. This will be agreed by the Office of Rail Regulation and will be published early in 2008.
The issues of concern and responses are outlined below.
1) Oyster 'Pay As You Go' implementation date
The target date for the introduction of this service is January 2009.
2) Number of peak services to London Bridge from Forest Hill, Honor Oak and Brockley stations
Network Rail and Transport for London jointly advised that the East London Line 'proof of concept' timetable proposed 6 trains per hour to run to London Bridge in peak periods calling at all stations on the Forest Hill line. For Forest Hill, this is 2 more trains than at present arriving at London Bridge between 0700-0759 and 2 fewer trains than at present arriving during the second peak hour (this includes the service arriving at London Bridge at 9:02am which is strictly outside rush hour but clearly still a reduction in service). For both Honor Oak Park and Brockley, the actual service level would be an increase of 2tph compared to today because trains are stopping at both stations rather than fast running. However, again services arriving either side of the peak- time from 0700am to 0859am are not included in these calculations.
It is expected that in time 25% of travellers from these stations will switch to using the 8 extra East London Line trains to reach central London destinations.
The trains serving these stations will originate from closer to London (e.g. Norwood Junction) and therefore will be less crowded.
London Bridge is at the maximum number of services that can be operated at present and is expected to continue to be so even if the ELL 'proof of concept' timetable was implemented without changes. Any increase in services on one line is likely only to be viable if there is a decrease on another.
3) Impact on off peak services between Forest Hill and London Bridge
The RUS recommendations were primarily directed towards morning peak services, since this is the critical issue which determines the need for infrastructure and rolling stock investment. As a result no decisions have yet been taken with respect to the level of off-peak service (i.e. inter-peak, late evenings and weekends) that will operate.
Will there be direct services from the Forest Hill line to Victoria?
This service does not currently exist during the morning peak so, as with other off-peak services, no decisions have yet been taken.
4) Length of trains
The Government is committed to increasing the number of carriages by 2013. These carriages will be phased in gradually, becoming available to tie into the platform lengthening strategy.
5) Fear of crime/ condition of stations
Transport for London advised that Overground stations will ensure their stations meet specific standards and will have transport police to patrol trains and stations. This will mean all Overground stations will have staff for the full hours services run, CCTV and help points from September 2009.
Network Rail advised that there was a national station improvement programme which is addressing station issues nationwide on a rolling programme.
6) Jubilee line capacity and increased demand after East London Line Extension
Transport for London advised that the peak Jubilee line intervals between services will decrease from 3 to 2 minutes in roughly 2010/11. There are also planned frequency improvements to the District line at Whitechapel.
The issues of concern and responses are outlined below.
1) Oyster 'Pay As You Go' implementation date
The target date for the introduction of this service is January 2009.
2) Number of peak services to London Bridge from Forest Hill, Honor Oak and Brockley stations
Network Rail and Transport for London jointly advised that the East London Line 'proof of concept' timetable proposed 6 trains per hour to run to London Bridge in peak periods calling at all stations on the Forest Hill line. For Forest Hill, this is 2 more trains than at present arriving at London Bridge between 0700-0759 and 2 fewer trains than at present arriving during the second peak hour (this includes the service arriving at London Bridge at 9:02am which is strictly outside rush hour but clearly still a reduction in service). For both Honor Oak Park and Brockley, the actual service level would be an increase of 2tph compared to today because trains are stopping at both stations rather than fast running. However, again services arriving either side of the peak- time from 0700am to 0859am are not included in these calculations.
It is expected that in time 25% of travellers from these stations will switch to using the 8 extra East London Line trains to reach central London destinations.
The trains serving these stations will originate from closer to London (e.g. Norwood Junction) and therefore will be less crowded.
London Bridge is at the maximum number of services that can be operated at present and is expected to continue to be so even if the ELL 'proof of concept' timetable was implemented without changes. Any increase in services on one line is likely only to be viable if there is a decrease on another.
3) Impact on off peak services between Forest Hill and London Bridge
The RUS recommendations were primarily directed towards morning peak services, since this is the critical issue which determines the need for infrastructure and rolling stock investment. As a result no decisions have yet been taken with respect to the level of off-peak service (i.e. inter-peak, late evenings and weekends) that will operate.
Will there be direct services from the Forest Hill line to Victoria?
This service does not currently exist during the morning peak so, as with other off-peak services, no decisions have yet been taken.
4) Length of trains
The Government is committed to increasing the number of carriages by 2013. These carriages will be phased in gradually, becoming available to tie into the platform lengthening strategy.
5) Fear of crime/ condition of stations
Transport for London advised that Overground stations will ensure their stations meet specific standards and will have transport police to patrol trains and stations. This will mean all Overground stations will have staff for the full hours services run, CCTV and help points from September 2009.
Network Rail advised that there was a national station improvement programme which is addressing station issues nationwide on a rolling programme.
6) Jubilee line capacity and increased demand after East London Line Extension
Transport for London advised that the peak Jubilee line intervals between services will decrease from 3 to 2 minutes in roughly 2010/11. There are also planned frequency improvements to the District line at Whitechapel.
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