LEWISHAM: Petition handed to government over London Bridge train cuts (From News Shopper)

LEWISHAM: Petition handed to government over London Bridge train cuts

3:06pm Monday 29th March 2010 in

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CAMPAIGNERS protesting against cuts to the area's rail services have handed a petition to a Government transport minister.

Last week residents groups in the area handed the document to under secretary for transport Chris Mole which included more than 5,500 signatures.

The petition is against Government plans to cut train services in both directions between London Bridge and Lewisham stations such as Sydenham, Forest Hill, Honour Oak Park, Brockley and New Cross Gate.

Residents are angry that London Bridge trains will drop from six an hour to four an hour from May 23.

Representatives from the Forest Hill Society, the Sydenham Society, Honor Oak Park Residents Association, the Brockley Society, Brockley Cross Action Group and the Telegraph Hill Society visited the Government's transport department in Westminster to deliver the petition.

Chairman of the Forest Hill Society, Richard Hibbert, said: "While we welcome the improvement to our services by the introduction of the East London Line along the Sydenham branch, we are disappointed that this is at the expense of our existing services.

"The Sydenham branch is already one of the two busiest lines operated by Southern Railway.

"Having already seen their morning services reduced from eight to six trains an hour in December 2008 and the cessation of direct services to Charing Cross in December 2009, residents face the prospect of a further cut in capacity in May when the afternoon peak service is reduced."

According to the Office of Rail Regulation, nearly 11 million people used this stretch of the line in the 2007/8 financial year.

A spokesman for the department for transport said: London Overground’s extended East London Line starts operating from Dalston to Crystal Palace and West Croydon on May 23rd.

"This extension will necessitate changes to Southern services operating on the London Bridge to West Croydon (via New Cross Gate) route.

"The opening of the East London Line extension, together with Southern services, will provide a significant overall increase in trains along the route.

"The number of trains will double from six trains per hour to twelve in the off peak and evening, with even more services an hour in the morning peak."

Southern trains, which runs the line, was unavailable for comment.

Surrey Canal Road Station

FRESH doubts have emerged about the prospects of a new railway station serving Millwall football club.

The £10m station was due to be built at Surrey Canal Road, New Cross, as part of the East London Line extension’s second phase.

It has long been campaigned for by residents, who organised a 471-signature online petition to get it built.

But Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy has announced that firm commitment from the Government for the £7m needed to go ahead has still not been made.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokeswoman Caroline Pidgeon described the admission as “seriously bad news” for the area.

In January Lewisham Council agreed to provide the extra £3m needed for the station but this was provided the Government money was received.

The station is expected to be used by 1.3 million passengers a year.