Bellenden Residents' Group (BRG)

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.

From SLP 7 September 2010: Lewisham Council are considering the issues for extending the Bakerloo Line into SE London. There are several possibilities outlined in the Lewisham report. Even though it would cost over £2bn, it is not out of the question. It is a long term project and planning has to start now. Read article... or Read report (part 1,  part 2)

from ITV London Tonight 12 October   

click here for broadcast clip: http://www.itv.com/london/boristransportplans57650/

THIS IS FROM THE TRAM FACEBOOK PAGE:  INDOMIE Thursday 15 October 2009 2.50pm
Some of you may have seen this week’s announcement of the Mayors new Transport Strategy for London (not to mention today’s steep bus fare increases too!)

You can read the document at http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/default.aspx but I’m afraid there is very little in there about South East London and no mention of the Cross River Tram at all [or the South London Line]! There is now a vague mention of a possible extension of the Bakerloo Line sometime after 2020, but this is subject to further research. It’s an option that has been looked at in the past and ruled out on cost and technical grounds – hence the preference for the Tram. There is a real danger now that our needs will be pushed further down the list of priorities as any Bakerloo extension is unfunded and could well fall foul to a change of Mayor in the future. We seem to be going around in circles!

Southwark News 15 October 2009  John Prendergast

Another blow was dealt to transport users in Southwark this week when the Cross River Tram (CRT) and the South London Line (SLL) were omitted from the Mayor of London's transport strategy.

Boris Johnson's transport plans for the next 20 years did not make a single mention of either project, suggesting both are far from being on his radar. The CRT, which consisted of 16.5km of tramway commencing at Euston and making its way down to Waterloo, branching off towards Peckham and Brixton, now looks like it will be removed from his agenda altogether. This is despite a vociferous and well run campaign backing it. Those in favour of retaining the SLL are currently attempting to make their voices heard at TfL, amongst other bodies.

The minor crumb of comfort for transport users in Southwark, as reported by the 'News' in March, is that the extension to the Bakerloo Line extension will be more seriously explored, although any movement on the project will not take place until at least 2020.

A spokesman stated details of extended routes were not available at this stage. He added: "The Mayor is well aware that Londoners living in the south of the capital are crying out for more tube services and research has shown extending the Bakerloo Line south from Elephant & Castle could have serious benefits in terms of regeneration and access to jobs.   read more...

ITV London Tonight News  12th October 2009    -  http://www.itv.com/london/boristransportplans57650/
Proposals in Mayor's draft Transport Strategy to extend the Bakerloo Line from Elephant & Castle through Peckham to Lewisham. But no funding provision - is it anything real?
 

Southwark News 8 October 2009

Ian Brown stated that the proposed extension of tube services was part of TfL plans but that they were a long way off fruition.

He said "we are keen on those [plans] , but it would be irresponsible to say it would solve anything to the SLL time scale..."  Read more

South London Press 2nd October 2009  Jenny Clover

tube map 2012 with South London Line  - Tube map created by SRUG

Here is a map showing the Underground Tube map superimposed on a Google map. This shows how poorly served South East London is in terms of the Tube. It shows why the Overground services into the central London stations are so important for SE London - as they are our substitute for the Tube.

 The public meeting on 30th September 2009 was a historic event. see copy of agenda. Over 200 rail users turned up to the Institute of Psychiatry, at 16 De Crespigny Park, near Denmark Hill, to hear rail user campaigners explain the devastating impact of the cuts in direct rail services to central London, planned by the rail industry, and to hear how TfL and Network Rail explained the reasoning behind these plans. Further reports on the meeting will be posted later.

Key information given to the meeting by SRUG was:

• a Tube map showing the way TfL sees our rail services - with Queens Road, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill totally disconnected from central London, but the new East London Line Extension taking us to Canada Water and Clapham Junction;
• a Tube map showing the South London Line on the map and as a key part of the integrated Zones 1 & 2 south London transport infrastructure.
• a comparison of the two maps - showing them side by side
• summary of the impact of the planned cuts station by station;
• summary of key actions to take to support the campaign.