New data on train delays shows true nightmare of travelling from Streatham stations

The high level of train cancellations and delays at all three Streatham stations is revealed in its full horror in latest statistics supplied in response to a Freedom of Information request we have made on behalf of Streatham Action Transport.

Give your experience of travelling by train from Streatham in this survey.

The rail indsutry target is that less than 10% of trains should be more than 5 mins late and 2% cancelled or severely late. Instead Streatham stations suffered up to 40% of trains delayed and up to 35% cancelled following the introduction of new (reduced service) timetables on 27th May 2018.


According to data supplied by Network Rail, the levels of service at all three Streatham stations were clearly terrible between 22 June 2017 and 25 July 2018:

Green MP calls for 'emergency summit' over rail chaos

Caroline Lucas has called for an 'Emergency Summit' between key stakeholders including Government, Southern Rail/ Govia Thameslink and Network Rail.

It follows another day of rail chaos effecting Streatham stations.

The Green Party MP is demanding an 'emergency response' to the train crises gripping Streatham and covering much of Southern England.

Yesterday there was serious overcrowding and people were stuck on trains for long periods in the baking heat.  

The MP wants the Government to step in and call an urgent summit immediately. 

Caroline Lucas MP said: “This is an emergency situation which requires an urgent response. I'm seriously worried that someone could be injured or worse. The Government must immediately call an emergency summit between all key stakeholders including Network Rail, the train company and Ministers”

“I’ve heard reports of passengers fainting and being stuck on sweltering trains on an extremely hot day. The failures yesterday were caused by a combination of problems with Network Rail, some of which were unavoidable, plus the usual delays on the service. 

“I’m doing all I can to meet with the Minister responsible for trains later today to demand action to repair this failing service. Passengers have suffered for many months now and, with a new Government in place, it’s time for real action to address the multiple problems with this service. As a start the Minister should signal his intent by taking the service into public hands so Government can truly get a grip on it.”

You can sign the petition to strip Southern Rail of its franchise here

Oppose ticket office closures at Streatham Stations

Hot on the heels of their proposals to remove guards/conductors from Southern services, Govia Thameslink Railways Ltd (GTR) are now proposing even more passenger misery through Station ticket office closures and reduced opening hours and services at others with the resultant loss of more jobs (see here for more on the consultation proposals)

Streatham Hill, Streatham, and Streatham Common stations (also Tulse Hill and West Norwood) will lose their ticket offices in the summer, under the current plans.

These damaging cuts on the Southern and Great Northern Thameslink services fly in the face of the fact that there is still a clear need for staffed ticket offices at stations. Indeed, research shows that many passengers prefer to buy from the ticket office rather than from a ticket machine. Replacing staffed ticket offices with ticket machines, or mobile staff expected to sell tickets on platforms, will undoubtedly limit the quality and range of services available to passengers.

Consultation on these changes is being rushed through and there is only limited time until midnight on the 13th March to register your objection with London Travel Watch.

We are joining RMT in urging everyone to let the watchdog know you oppose these changes and are concerned that passengers:

· would not be able to access all the tickets and services needed from a ticket machine;

· would find it harder to obtain advice on tickets and fares without a staffed office;

· would be concerned that there were insufficient numbers of ticket machines (due to them being in high demand or faulty);

· would experience more delays and concourse congestion;

· believe that vulnerable or less technically minded passengers, perhaps including the disabled, elderly or visitors may be less confident using a ticket machine and could end up overspending or being deterred from travel; and

· believe that a ticket office closure will adversely impact on security at the station and believe that a staffed ticket office is a valuable deterrent against crime.

These proposals are unacceptable at a time of rising fares and rail passenger numbers. There is no genuine economic case for reducing the services at many of these high growth stations and this is really about cutting costs and sweating the assets to make even bigger profits for shareholders.

Email: enquiries@londontravelwatch.org.uk with 'GTR ticket office changes' in the subject line to make your voice heard.

Campaign postcards can be provided on request to RMT head office,
http://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/keep-ticket-offices-open-govia/

Green Party action at Streatham stations for fairer fares

Greens were bright and early this morning (a little bleary eyed!) at Streatham's three railway stations - Streatham, Streatham Common and Streatham Hill (as well as Brixton) letting people know about Green Party proposals for lowering fairs and getting much needed investment in our railways.  You can read more about the proposals here.

This was part of a London-wide day of action  calling for the railways to be brought back into public hands.   Green MP Caroline Lucas will be presenting a bill in the House of Commons this week in support of this,

Major changes to Streatham's train services from this Saturday

We have just received this notice from Network Rail about changes to train services through Streatham:

Starting this Saturday, 20 December, there are major changes to train services as Network Rail continues to rebuild London Bridge station.

We have been working closely with train operators and Transport for London to communicate these changes to passengers. We would appreciate it if you could encourage your residents to check before they travel by making this information available on your website, in emails and on social media.

From January, longer-term changes mean that some passengers may have to have their train tickets reissued in order to use alternative routes. More details can be found on our Travel Advice webpage.

As a reminder here is a summary of the service changes. 
We have been working closely with train operators and Transport for London to communicate these changes to passengers. We would appreciate it if you could encourage your residents to check before they travel by making this information available on your website, in emails and on social media.
From January, longer-term changes mean that some passengers may have to have their train tickets reissued in order to use alternative routes. More details can be found on our Travel Advice webpage.
As a reminder here is a summary of the service changes. 
Changes from 20 December to 4 January 2015

• From 20 December to 4 January there will be no Southern or Thameslink services to or from London Bridge.

• Between Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 December, trains to Charing Cross will not stop at London Bridge from 07:54 to 09:01.

• Some London Overground services will not run during this time.

• There will be changes to services across the rail network throughout the festive period, please checkNational Rail Enquiries to plan your journey.

• Full details of all the changes taking place can be found on our December 2014 and January 2015 webpage.

Changes from 5 January 2015

• From 5 January 2015 to January 2018 there will be no Bedford to Brighton cross-London Thameslink trains to or from London Bridge. A reduced off-peak service will run between Brighton and London Bridge and a very limited service will run in the peak.

• From 12 January 2015 to August 2016 Southeastern services to and from Charing Cross will not stop at London Bridge.

• Some services that currently operate to Charing Cross or Cannon Street may be diverted to an alternative London terminal, such as Blackfriars and may leave at different times. Please check the new timetable.

• The way you move around the station will change. View our updated station map to see how the station will look from 12 January 2015. 

Valid National Rail tickets will be accepted on certain routes during these changes for more information visit our December and January webpage. 
More informationWe will regularly update the information available, please keep checking for updates atThameslinkProgramme.co.uk or follow us @TLProgramme.

Streatham Hill Bridge works update - 9th Oct reopening

For those wanting an update about the Streatham Bridge works, we have been told that the "top deck" works are now expected to finish on Drewstead Road a day early - on 9th October, with the road re-opening. The works (that don't involve road closure) at platform level will then be carried out until  15th December (estimated)

This what we have been told:

Works carried out to date:

Top deck works are nearing completion with the following carried out:

·         Removal of the existing waterproofing with associated concrete deck repairs
·         New spray applied waterproofing system to Bridge deck
·         New footway and Carriageway surfacing
·         New Ducts for cathodic protection system for deck mounted control cabinets
·         New buried bridge joints
      Most likely top deck works will be completed on Thursday  09^th October and open carriageway for vehicles and footway for pedestrians ( 1 day ahead of schedule)

Future Works ( No Road Closure)
Works will be carried out on Streatham Hill Station platform level

The next phase of works is concrete repairs and cathodic protection to structure below bridge deck level(within rail environment) .The planned works take place within hoarded green Zone areas within platform limits and comprise:

• Removal of all chemically and mechanically defective concrete using hydro demolition

• Replacement of any defective reinforcement

• Installation of impressed current cathodic protection anodes and cabling

• Reinstatement of concrete to maintain original structure geometry

• Final connection of CP system to top deck mounted cabinet

• Commissioning of cathodic protection system

Estimated completion date 15^th December

New 'emergency' changes to parking following Streatham Hill bridge closure

Councillors have today (52 minutes ago) been emailed the following notice regarding new temporary parking restrictions, following on from the congestion to do with the bridge closure between Drewstead Road and Sternhold Avenue behind Streatham Hill station. The restrictions came into force yesterday.

TEMPORARY PARKING, WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS IN BLAKEMORE ROAD, BRANCASTER ROAD, DE MONTFORT ROAD AND MOUNT EPHRAIM ROAD

1.    The Council of the London Borough of Lambeth hereby gives notice that from Wednesday 24^th September 2014 for a period of up to 21 days vehicles will be banned from parking and waiting (including waiting for loading or unloading purposes) at any time in:-

         (i) Mount Ephraim Road:

              (a) the north side, between the eastern boundary of No. 6 Mount Ephraim Road and De Montfort Road;

       (b) the south side, (i) between a point 7 metres east of Blakemore Road and a point 6.5 metres west of Blakemore Road; and (ii) between a point 7.5 metres east of

            Brancaster Road and a point 11 metres west of Brancaster Road;

 (ii) Blakemore Road, (a) the east side between Mount Ephraim Road and a point 16 metres south of Mount Ephraim Road; and (b) the west side, between Mount Ephraim Road and a point 16.8 metres south of Mount Ephraim Road;

(iii) Brancaster Road, (a) the east side, between Mount Ephraim Road and the southern boundary wall of No. 29 Mount Ephraim Road; and (b) the west side, between Mount Ephraim Lane and the party wall of Nos. 2 and 4 Brancaster Road;

(iv) De Montfort Road, the east side, between Mount Ephraim Road and the common

      boundary of No. 24 Mount Ephraim Road and No. 25 De Montfort Road.

2.     It is necessary for the above parking/waiting restrictions to come into force without delay to enable the safe flow of traffic on diversion because of the temporary closure of the bridge over Streatham Hill train station (the un-named road linking Drewstead Road and Sternhold Avenue) while structural works to that bridge are being carried out and will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

3.    While this notice has effect, the provisions of the Lambeth (Waiting and Loading Restriction) Order 1997 shall have effect as though (a) the length of road specified in paragraph 1 above is a restricted street specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to that Order; and (b) the prescribed hours and restricted hours relating to that length of road are at any time.

4.    The bans will continue by virtue of this notice for 21 days or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner.  If this is not possible within the period of 21 days, the Council may issue another notice or they may make a temporary order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, so as to continue the closure for a further period of time.

Dated 23^rd September 2014

Abu Barkatoolah

Head of Transportation