A New Approach to Rail Passenger Services
in London and the South East
Representing the strategic needs of travellers on the South Coast
and the trunk routes into London from East Sussex,
is pleased to be invited to respond in
this consultation round.
primary concerns are in two prime sectors. The first is to
move the policy makers to plan strategic investment in upgrading
the reliability and capacity of the present TOCs to deliver reliable,
timetabled capacity on the principal Coast-to Capital trunk routes
and to reduce journey times as far is practical. The second is to
press the infrastructure controller to invest a higher level of budget
in current infrastructure reliability and capacity, to raise line
speeds, to introduce higher capacity with improved control
systems, to plan to remove flat junctions with grade separation
where it is economic, and to invest in providing more flexibility.
There is a major concern that as Network Rail is already
insufficiently accountable and tends to hide behind the train
operators, the mechanism must be a priority if and when the
proposed new governance proceeds. Major protective measures
must be provided for the through traffic originating from outside
London.
Consultation Response from the
Q.1 Do you agree with the principle of a partnership to better integrate
the specification of rail passenger services across London and the South
East?
strongly supports the objective of partnership working
targeted at better strategic direction of rail services in London and
the South East which fully recognises the priorities for growth and
improved service of all localities in the area to be served, with
however, safeguards to ensure priority, continuity and punctuality
of services originating and returning to destinations (particularly
on the South Coast) outside the proposed new management area.
Crucial is a clear and unambiguous understanding and co-
operation between TfL and Network Rail and understanding of
delineation mark between the responsibilities of the two.
Q.2 Do you agree with the principles that the partnership wil work to?
Are there any specific issues that have not been captured?
welcomes the proposals for higher quality services, but
believes that very substantial infrastructure investment will be
required if these goals are to be achieved. Passengers, particularly
those outside London, currently have very poor daily experiences
largely due to bottlenecks at key locations in the network,
especially certain junctions on the Brighton Main Line.
recommends that the proposed new organisation should
address removal of these bottlenecks as an critical priority in
achieving its wider service aims, and should monitor the
effectiveness of this work by setting transparent performance
standards and measuring actual outcomes.
Q.3 Do you agree with the proposed governance arrangements?
Given that the proposed Partnership will add a tier of management
emphasises the importance of regularly communicating clear
and concise objectives together with transparent performance
metrics covering both individual lines and peak versus off-peak
usage. The provision of effective and convenient engagement with
stakeholders outside London, extending as far as the Coast, will be
essential when setting the Partnership’s objectives. Q.4 What form do you propose the input from Local Authorities and
LEPs could take?
Formal and transparent mechanisms for consultations with Local
Authorities and LEPs about future strategies, including regular
stakeholder forums, and accountability for outcomes, have been
demonstrated to deliver superior results, so long as those
stakeholders are prepared to make their own commitments to local
responsibilities.
believes, however, that much useful
additional input can be provided at a more individual level, and the
Partnership
should
therefore
establish
similarly
robust
relationships with other local stakeholders such as Rail User
Groups.
Q.5 Do you agree with the safeguards for the transfer of inner suburban
services to TfL set out here?
is very concerned that the needs of longer distance
travellers, who already experience excessive journey times and
frequent disruption, are fully protected by the promised safeguards
so far as frequency, journey times, and stopping patterns are
concerned.
Indeed, more efficient and faster long distance services with
adequate capacity are an opportunity to give more commuters the
confidence to move out of London thereby reducing stresses on
inner London services. Performance in this regard will be a key test
of the Partnership’s success.
Q.6 Are there any other outcomes you might expect to be achieved?
Infrastructure constraints, particularly on the Brighton Main Line
(BML) and at some London termini during peak hours, currently
limit opportunities to improve services to the South Coast
(including both East and West Coastways).
therefore urges
the new Partnership to support other South Coast stakeholders in
championing the extension of high speed ‘Javelin’ services to
London St Pancras from Rye, Hastings and Bexhill via Ashford –
and, if viable, from stations further West.
Full exposure and consultation on infrastructure improvement
plans is an absolute need. Allocation of higher levels of funding are
critical for year on year budgeting to maintain signalling, power
supply, concerns to raise line speeds wherever feasible and fuller
assessment of risks of potential failure of infrastructure must be
prime and continuing policy, to match rising levels of traffic
As a shorter-term measure to improve performance on the Brighton
Main Line
recommends the installation of ERTMS on this
line, and in addition on both East and West Coastways, MUCH
SOONER than is currently planned. This would allow reduced train
separation and increased line capacity Longer term, conversion
and upgrading of key flat to flying junctions (as occurs on the SW
lines from Waterloo) must be the expressed and delivered policy, in
a transparent strategic planning process.