Fighting against Southeastern timetable changes

Louie French on 707 train

I am extremely concerned and frustrated over the timetable changes on local Southeastern services from December last year. 

I am concerned over the impact of these changes on local train users including commuters, patients, school children, people with mobility difficulties and weekend users. Specifically, I have expressed concern over the loss of the circular service on the Sidcup line serving Abbey Wood Station for the Elizabeth Line, the ending of off-peak services to Charing Cross on the Bexleyheath line and the reduction of services serving Albany Park.

Since the announcement of the timetable changes, I have been fighting against these changes and have met with Southeastern Managers to emphasise the impact of the changes and the lack of consultation, as well as urging an equality impact assessment to be undertaken. I have also raised my concerns over the impact of the changes with the Rail Minister in the House of Commons chamber, attended local train stations to seek train users' views on the changes and launched a survey for all train users to complete so that I can represent all local concerns and views.

Following the raising of local concerns, Southeastern have expressed their willingness to receive the feedback from my survey to take into account for a potential timetable review and change so I am encouraging all local train users to complete this survey to ensure I can represent all views and provide a greater push back to these changes.

Given that Bexley does not benefit from direct access to the Underground, rail services are the principle means of transport into and out of London, as well as for travelling to other areas in the South East. As such, it is important that our frequency and links to a range of Central London stations is preserved and I will continue to stand up for this.

You can view Louie’s summary of the Southeastern timetable changes here where you can also complete his survey or below.

You can view details of Louie's meetings with Southeastern here: September's meeting, October's meeting, November's meeting.

You can view Louie raising the issue of the timetable changes in the House of Commons here and more recently in Westminster Hall here.

Southeastern Timetable Change Survey

  • Southeastern Timetable Change Survey
  • Your details
1. Which local train station do you use the most?
2. Which London train station do you use the most?
3. How often do you use Southeastern services?
4. When do you most often use Southeastern services?
5. What is your main reason for using Southeastern services?
1 Least 2 3 4 5 6 Most
7. Will you use the added Blackfriars service on the Sidcup line?
8. Do you use the Sidcup line for Abbey Wood Station to access the Elizabeth Line?

News

Louie welcomes Southeastern train services getting back on track

Louie French, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has welcomed the confirmation from Southeastern that there will be better spacing of trains on both the Sidcup and the Bexleyheath lines from June, as well as the restoration of four trains per hour to Albany Park station after a hard-

Louie’s September meeting with Southeastern

Louie French MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup met with Southeastern's Director of Operations to discuss the Southeastern timetable and push for further Albany Park services.

Continued push for timetable reversals at January meeting

Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup met with Southeastern’s Managing Director, Head of Stakeholder Relations, Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP, alongside Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford to press for improvements to services and the timetable.