Save the South London Line (again!)

Last night I hosted the inaugrual meeting of the Southwark Rail Users' Group, which is the latest project of Peckham community activist Eileen Conn. With two stations in my ward (Nunhead and Queens Rd Peckham) I take a close interest in overground services in the area.

The most urgent issue facing us is the Network Rail consultation on the future of rail services in South London (aka the draft South London Rail Utilisation Strategy). The document states that due to the proposed Thameslink project in a few years time there will be 2 fewer platforms for trains to terminate at London Bridge (they'll be replaced with two more platforms for through trains going on to Blackfriars or Charing Cross). Network Rail seems to have decided that this means that the South London Line (Victoria to London Bridge via Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye and Queens Road) will no longer be able to go to London Bridge and will have to be diverted - probably to become a Victoria to Lewisham or a Victoria to Catford service. See pages 145 to 148 for detail.

What would this mean for us?
No direct trains between Denmark Hill and London Bridge (currently 2 per hour)
Direct trains between Peckham Rye to London Bridge reduced from 8 per hour to 6 per hour
Direct trains between Queens Road to London Bridge reduced from 8 per hour to 6 per hour
No direct trains between Queens Road and Victoria (currently 2 per hour)

There could be a silver lining for Nunhead residents if the diverted service stopped at Nunhead on it's way to Catford or Lewisham as that would mean two more trains per hour to Catford/Lewisham and Victoria, which would be great, but I know I'd prefer it wasn't at the expense of users of Queens Road.

The people at last night's meeting (including users of Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Queens Road and Nunhead) were unanimous.

1 We want to keep the South London Line link to London Bridge
2 We want Network Rail to explore the option of taking the trains on to Charing Cross or Blackfriars or beyond
3 We want assurances that phase 2 of the East London Line extension (linking from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction via Queens Rd, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill) will mean 4 East London Line trains per hour serving our stations IN ADDITION to the South London Line trains to Victoria and London Bridge, not instead of them

I get the distinct impression from the proposals that Network Rail place a much higher value on rail users coming into London from Kent and Brighton than they do on South London Line users in Southwark and Lambeth who are just as dependent on rail services as long distance commuters.

We are hoping that Southwark's Executive Member for Transport will agree with us and make representations to Network Rail. I shall certainly be writing to Network Rail to let them know my views. I hope you will too. The deadline is 26 October and they should be sent to
southlondon.rus@networkrail.co.uk