Fares not fair
The Chancellor in his autumn statement has promised to abandon the promised rise in petrol duty for motorists.
But he is still happy to increase rail fares by RPI + 1%
607 bus stop at Christchurch Ealing
Since EPTUG raised the issue with TfL they have reviewed the situation and decided that the 607 will revert to using stop X from early December 2011.
Chiswick Business Park
The final instalment of
the bus service contribution (which now totals over £1.1 million) was
received from the developers in October 2011. Until that date, it
was not possible for LBHounslow to sign a Sponsored Route Agreement with
London Buses.
The report required to allow the SRA to be signed is now progressing
through the Council’s system and it will hopefully be formally signed
off by the Lead Member at the end of November. London Buses need
about 8 weeks to mobilise, after the SRA is signed, and they still have
some issues to resolve with LBH and LBEaling. If all goes smoothly
the changes should take effect in February 2012.
Improvements to Gunnersbury Station
Chiswick Business Park
must improve Gunnersbury Station to the reasonable satisfaction of LBH
before they can occupy Building 6, for which construction is about to
begin. There’s a report on the Sustainable Development
Committee’s agenda for 7 November 2011:
http://memberservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=212&MId=7102
item 6.
There have been some objections and this issue is in active discussion
between LBH, the Business Park, London Underground and Network Rail at
present.
Footbridge to Bollo Lane for Chiswick Park station
The footbridge must be completed before occupation of Building 7, which has no firm start date. The footbridge already has planning approval but the developers have recently modified the design and are believed to be about to seek a new approval. Hopefully this bridge will be constructed in 2012 or 2013. There was an exhibition in November 2011 in connection with a proposed development on Colonial Drive.
MPs say THERE'S A GOOD CASE for HS2 but...
- they warned the government it would be "unacceptable and counterproductive" if investment in high-speed rail led to cutbacks in rail investment elsewhere.
- "the government must do more to promote local and regional growth strategies to ensure we get maximum economic benefit from high-speed rail."
- they suggest that noise impact 'may be less than feared' but urge ministers to try to build the new line close to existing transport routes if possible.
- "Claims by ministers that HS2 would reduce carbon dioxide emissions 'do not stand up to scrutiny'".
- "viable alternatives to HS2 have not been investigated thoroughly, that the value of potential productivity gains delivered by HS2 have been greatly inflated and, lastly, the technical feasibility of being able to run 18 trains per hour is a risk."
8 November 2011
EPTUG says YES to HS2
7 November 2011
At our AGM the membership voted by a majority to support the current HS2 scheme.
There were 4 abstentions as some members thought we should not take a position on a national issue.
Success at the Lido Junction
Back in 2009, EPTUG got involved with West Ealing Neighbours in trying to introduce pedestrian safety to the Lido Junction in West Ealing. The EPTUG suggestion was to include an all-red phase into the traffic signals to make crossing easier and quicker. The other transport expert in the meeting thought this would be unaccceptable to Transport for London but TfL have agreed to it
Overcrowding on the Great Western line
22 November 2011
The
new vehicles will mean an extra 4,500 seats will be available for
customers into
Two
three-car Class 150 trains - six carriages - will also be leased and
refreshed to operate weekday commuter services between
6 July 2011
Informed sources tell us that there will be improvements in the capacity offered from local stations to Paddington before the commencement of Crossrail, though at the present time no date has been made for their introduction.
It would appear that First Great Western are to hire some available trains to replace those on other services which will be cascaded down to the Thames Valley line.
We will be keeping the situation under review.
Photo by Tom Doran
taken at Southall
Crossrail not to lose branches or stations for savings
Crossrail latest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11418800
but the rebuild of Ealing Broadway Station has been put back to 2018.
See also Transport Watch May 2011
According to Crossrail Bulletin for May 2011:
"Crossrail services will commence on the central section in late 2018".
This will be
"followed by a phased introduction of services along the rest of the route"
So expect Crossrail trains through Ealing from December 2019.
Chiltern Line
Turnham Green on the Piccadilly Line
Overcrowding on the Great Western line
We handed out survey forms to early morning commuters at Southall, Hanwell and West Ealing travelling towards Paddington.
We received 265 replies. To see the results click here.
Photo by Tom Doran
taken at West Ealing showing that
some passengers have given up trying to get on the 2-car train
to Ealing Broadway-Acton Mainline-Paddington.
There will now be a 15-minute wait for the 5-car Heathrow Connect train which may be just as crowded.More photos
We met the minister Theresa Villiers MP (above) to discuss the early provision of more rolling stock.
Ealing Central & Acton MP Angie Bray, who was also present, told her that waiting until Crossrail starts operation was not a suitable answer.
The minister agreed the current situation is totally unsatisfactory and told us there will be new rolling stock in 2014.
Read the report we presented to her.
2 March 2011
Rail firms will be fined for running overcrowded trains
In a white paper this year the government is planning to change franchise agreements to incentivise Train Operating Companies to provide extra space for passengers on overcrowded trains.
Watch this space ...
Ealing
Broadway Interchange
Ealing Council's consultants' report on possible new arrangements for buses at Ealing Broadway has now been made public. The council intend to take forward 3 of the simplest and cheapest options. These are estimated to cost between £4m and £10m. If they get funding from TfL they plan to put these to public consultation.
In the meantime Ealing Friends of the Earth would like to offer a new alternative arrangement for traffic and buses which should make life easier for bus passengers.
Route PR2 to be withdrawn, Routes 79, 206, 223 and 224 to be modified
440 not stopping at North Acton Station for 2 years
A few years ago route 440 northbound was diverted to go past North Acton station and stop there.
Now, because of building works, the stop outside the station has been removed. When we asked TfL to put up a temporary stop, this is the reply we received:
TfL
Network Operations team have advised the following:
The bus stop was closed as a result of nearby works; a new block of flats for students is being built in the vicinity. Because the stop will be closed for at least two years, we would not provide a temporary stop in this instance. The nearest alternative stop is at Chase Road, which is thought to be an adequate distance away.
It seems to us that a bus stop outside a station is pretty important and should not be removed. However if the bus is not going to stop outside the station it should no longer make the one third of a mile detour round Portal Way and Wales Farm Road.
