MP claims victory as Wimbledon Thameslink loop saved (From Wandsworth Guardian)
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MP claims victory as Wimbledon Thameslink loop saved
10:31am Monday 21st January 2013 in News By Lauren May, Chief Reporter
MP claims victory as Wimbledon Thameslink loop saved
The MP for Wimbledon has claimed victory over a campaign to save the Wimbledon Thameslink service.
This morning the Government instructed Network Rail to ensure the service, which runs in a loop from Mitcham Eastfields via Sutton, Wimbledon and Tooting before continuing into central London via Blackfriars and out to St Albans and Luton remains intact .
It was proposed this route should terminate at Blackfriars which would have forced passengers to disembark and change trains cutting off direct routes from Wimbledon and Sutton to north London, St Pancras International and further afield to St Albans and Luton.
Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon and transport minister, has been campaigning against proposed cuts to the service for the last six years.
He said: “This would cause considerable inconvenience and disruption all because that would allow Network Rail some marginal seconds in efficiency gain.
“I immediately met then Lord Adonis who was rail minister and since then met every rail minister.
“And last November I organised for a delegation to meet the current rail minister Simon Burns.
“Last July there was a station wide campaign to inform local people of the dangers to their service. Many people followed my request and contributed to the Consultation.
“Undoubtedly this impressed the Minister as it ws one of the biggest responses seen.
“I am delighted by this announcement which is great news for Wimbledon commuters who use the Loop and great news for Wimbledon as it underlines our importance as a local transport hub.
"The daily disruption would have been tremendous and unnecessary so I am glad this will now not happen “
Comments(13)
Mulder
says...
12:01pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Except for a few marginal examples, most stations on the route, have faster ways of getting to Central London.
I truly believe that this is a lost opportunity to actually make the service much more reliable than it currently is. I generally like Stephen Hammond and the work that he does, but this just seems like a campaign for the sake of a campaign, rather than something that was thought-through.
Giles C
says...
1:41pm Mon 21 Jan 13
I bet the Lib Dems though try and make out it was only them fighting for it....
Can Mr photo opportunity Burstow have his picture this time standing in front of a train...preferably moving.
Simon Densley
says...
3:19pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Nick of Muster
says...
3:21pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Mulder
says...
6:19pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Do we still think this is such a great idea?
jackson80
says...
6:31pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Michael Pantlin
says...
7:14pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Simon Densley wrote:Well said Simon, my thoughts exactly.
So a Government Minister actually can save something in their own area that's covered by their own department. What a stark contrast with Paul Burstow and his failure to save St Helier Hospital while a health minister. Maybe competence has something to do with it too.
Michael Pantlin
says...
7:20pm Mon 21 Jan 13
jackson80 wrote:I would not wish to see a tram come to Sutton at the expense of splitting our excellent hoppa bus routes at the top and bottom of the High Street. There always used to be an idea on the back burner to extend the Northern tube line from Morden to Sutton by putting in a junction with the Wimbledon Loop line at Morden South Station but it would now have to pass through or under a huge mosque now occupying the site needed for the short extension.
Nice work people of Sutton and our Lib Dem MP's for all your support! Bringing the tram to Sutton is a bad idea.... unless it is direct to Wimbledon.
Andrew-R
says...
11:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13
All the problems and delays emanate from incidents north of Blackfriars, and impact directly on our SW London services. Delays this evening were caused by an incident at Harpenden (27 miles north of Blackfriars, and 36 miles from Wimbledon), and resulted in 3 consecutive southbound peak time services via Wimbledon being cancelled - so more than a 2 hour gap with no trains.
If the service was a standalone loop, the service would be much more robust, without conflicting movements with long distance trains.
Having to change trains at Blackfriars would be cross-platform or at least at the same level northbound, and southbound easily achieved with lifts if needed for those with luggage.
I'd much prefer a reliable and robust service with onward connections than one that collapses at the first hint of trouble up north!
Mattforest
says...
9:39am Tue 22 Jan 13
The core section of the Thameslink route is a single point of failure and events such as a broken down train block the entire line, not to mention problems to the north disrupting service as mentioned by others.
I've just travelled on this service today and most people disembarked at Blackfriars or City Thameslink, which is a couple of minutes walk away from Blackfriars.
This was a great opportunity to improve the reliability of the loop, and would have been more than worth the small price tag - a couple of minutes changing trains, or a short walk to City Thameslink.
sfocata
says...
9:31am Wed 23 Jan 13
andy_c
says...
6:35pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Anthony F says...
11:54am Mon 21 Jan 13