Bellenden Residents' Group (BRG)

The Government has extended its deadline to 14 September for comment on the Thameslink franchise consultation. This gives you a chance to email your comments if you use the services covered by the franchise, especially the service to St Pancras via Blackfriars from Nunhead, Peckham Rye or Denmark Hill.
 
SRUG has now submitted detailed comments on the franchise (copy here: http://goo.gl/rYnXt) and latest information about the issues are available here: http://www.bellenden.net/Thameslink
 

Here are links to the responses to Network Rail's consultation on their draft 20 year RUS (rail utilisation strategy) for the railways in London and SE England, which are especially relevant to our SRUG interests: 

SRUG comments on the draft London & South East RUS (Rail Utilisation Strategy) cover several major topics. Read more - click on main heading above.  Click here for the full version.

The off peak 2tph (trains per hour) service was stopped by the train operator Southern Rail in mid-December. A few trains still run during peak hours. There was an outcry as there was not adequate information and consultation and few users of the service knew about it until the last moment. Tessa Jowell MP carried out a user survey and we are promised the results soon. The franchise for Southern's services is up for renewing this year, and she has written to the potential franchisees saying she will support any bid that reinstates the East Croydon link and looks at the uneven distribution of trains in the peak. Southern Rail are due to conduct a review of the new timetable in February.

Rail cuts

DO YOU use rail services to London Bridge or services to East Croydon from our local stations?

Do you know that the East Croydon to London Bridge two-trains-an-hour service, which goes through East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Peckham Queens Road and North Dulwich stations, is being cut this month?

An important transport route from Peckham to a busy shopping hub will be cut just before Christmas. Rail timetables run by Southern Railway Group change on December 14 and will remove any direct link to East Croydon, resulting in passengers having to change trains to do their shopping or get into their cars at the busiest time of the year.

http://www.southwarkweekender.co.uk/00,news,13325,440,00.htm

Do you use rail services to London Bridge or services to East Croydon from our local stations?

Do you know that the East Croydon to London Bridge two trains an hour service, which goes through East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Queens Road, and North Dulwich stations, is being cut in December?

This cuts our local link to East Croydon and Gatwick, and cuts two trains an hour to London Bridge.

If this affects you, whichever constituency you are in, please respond to Tessa Jowell's on-line survey – see below.