East London Line update

In our last newsletter we reported on the implications for our rail services that might result from the opening of the East London Railway (ELR) in June 2010.  A vigorous campaign was promised “to ensure that we get a share of the benefits of the new railway system…

East London Railway - back on track?

As you will know, the East London Line is now closed while work to the north and south extensions of the line are carried out.  The re-opening as the Overground East London Railway in June 2010 will see new services running from Crystal Palace and West Croydon through Forest Hill and on to Highbury and Islington.  Network Rail published a draft Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) early in 2007 that set out proposed levels of rail services from 2010 – it was not all good news: there would be a reduction in current services to London Bridge, a loss of direct services to Charing Cross, and the off-peak service to Victoria was likely to be discontinued.  The Association supported a vigorous campaign led by the Forest Hill Society and the Sydenham Society to minimise the impact of the Overground on our existing services to London mainline stations.  Jim Dowd, our MP, Len Duvall, our Greater London Assembly member, and Lewisham Council also became involved by actively lobbying for improvements.

We are delighted that the final version of the RUS has taken our concerns into account and proposes substantial improvements to rail travel from Forest Hill from 2010.

1. The eight Overground services per hour in each direction previously planned has been increased to ten  - a bonus for those wanting to travel to East London, Docklands, or to change onto the Jubilee Line.
2. The eighteen trains in each direction that currently run to and from London Bridge during morning rush hours (7am to 10am) will be maintained.  Furthermore, all trains will be eight carriages long, increasing to 10 or 12 carriage trains before 2015, possibly as early as 2012, once platforms are lengthened along the line to accommodate them.
3. The Overground will provide five trains per hour to and from West Croydon, and five to and from Crystal Palace.  The new service to Crystal Palace will allow an interchange to Victoria and Clapham Junction from our line.  In addition, Network Rail also appears to have reversed the decision to close the existing direct services to Victoria, with the added bonus that they will commence earlier to take in the morning rush hour.
4. A commitment to consider continuing existing services to and from Charing Cross has been given, subject to negotiations with the train operating company over the new franchise starting in 2009. 
5. We also understand that there is a very real prospect that by 2015 there could be four Thameslink trains per hour stopping along the Forest Hill to London Bridge line, continuing to St Pancras International and then north to Luton Airport.