A) GTR May 2018 Timetable Changes (Yvonne Leslie, GTR)
B) West Croydon: Transfer of Overground Services
(Muhammed Mashud, TfL)
C) Crystal Palace Stadium: Impact on services
(Muhammed Mashud, TfL)
D) Cashless Trams & Hopper Fares (Ian Plowright, Croydon Council)
E) Upgrading of Ticket machines (Yvonne, Leslie, GTR)
F) Train Station Skipping Update (Yvonne Leslie, GTR)
Minutes:
A) GTR May 2018 Timetable Changes
The Chair highlighted to the panel the public concern felt after the introduction of the new timetable and the large number of delayed and cancelled trains.
Yvonne Leslie (Govia Thameslink Railway) informed the Panel that the changes had been made to increase capacity, particularly in the South East. Yvonne stated that GTR believed the changes with Southern had been successful, but acknowledged that there had been significant problems with Thameslink and Great Northern. This was caused by delays in writing the timetable which meant three months’ worth of work had to be condensed into a three week period so as to be ready for the timetable change deadline, which was bi-annual. The problems following from this were that certain incorrect assumptions had been made around driver placement and staffing.
The Chair enquired as to why this had happened, given that the timetable had been in consultation for two years, and asked how long it would take for the issues to be fixed. The GTR representative replied by stating that the logistical work had to be done in the final months so as to be current. The timeline for fixing the issues stemming from the change was not yet agreed, but trains would be removed to ease the overall network until July, when a temporary timetable would be issued. Until the temporary timetable some services would receive bus replacements where cancellations had been particularly high.
A member of the panel stated that the Southern delays and cancellations had been just as bad as the other networks, and that no substitutions had been implemented despite early knowledge of which trains would be cancelled. It was also raised that trains running through stations where cancellations were particularly bad had not been making additional stops.
It was also said that receiving timetable updates was difficult for people without internet access. The GTR representative agreed that it had been hard to produce a hard copy of the timetable due to frequent changes, but that the information was also available in stations, and by phone or email.
Action point – for Yvonne to report back to the Panel when the timeline for fixing the timetable has been agreed.
B) West Croydon: Transfer of Overground Services
The TfL representative informed the Panel that TfL had worked with Arriva and the Council on the signage to indicate how to transfer between the Overground and local operators, as well as installing a buzzer to allow disabled access through the carpark.
The Chair asked whether an impact assessment had been carried out before the platforms had been changed, as the buzzer for the disabled access can take a long time before an ambassador arrives to open the gate, and the carpark afterwards can be difficult to navigate.
A member of the panel added that additional signage to the front of the station could be used to make changing between the Overground clearer. The TfL representative agreed this would be possible, but as the building was a Council asset, they would need to agree this. The Officer said the Council would be willing to work with TfL on this, but that it was not a full solution to the problems which had been presented by the platform change.
The Officer added that the Council had previously funded half of the London Road entrance, which had effectively increased disabled access to Overground services before the platforms had been changed. A member of the panel added that having changed the platforms and not the timetable had given very little time for passengers who needed to make transfers, and instead seemed to be focused at giving train operators greater recovery times.
Action point – for Officers to consult with TfL on providing more signage to the front of the station.
C) Crystal Palace Stadium: Impact on Services
The Officer told the Panel that with the new planning development for the Stadium’s approval, targets for the club to improve transport access had been built in to the agreement.
The East Surrey Transport Committee representative informed the Panel that on match days the 130 bus does not go to Thornton Heath, and there are reduced services between Norwood Junction and East Croydon. The Officer noted this.
Stephen Aselford suggested that there be warnings on routes that do not go near the stadium on match days in the days preceding, to inform customers and allow them to plan ahead.
Action point – to consult with TfL about warning customers of bus diversions before match days.
D) Cashless Trams and Hopper Fares
The TfL representative noted that the consultation on this had been positive, and Hopper Fares on trams would be starting in the next month (July).
A question was asked as to why there were six stations on tram routes with ticket machines which did not sell tram tickets, given these were the only viable places to purchase tickets in the evening. The TfL representative explained to the panel that he did not have details to hand on why this was, but that they would be circulated.
Action Point – for TfL to circulate information on why machines at these stations do not sell tram tickets.
E) Upgrading of Ticket Machines
The East Surrey Transport Committee representative informed the panel that many ticket machines were not selling tickets until 9:35am, meaning people could easily miss trains in that 5 minute window from when trains departed at 9:30am. The panel also heard that where there had been services that arrived very close to, but before 9:30am, Freedom Pass holders had been allowed to take these trains if the next service was not for a significant length of time. Despite this many station staff were no longer allowing this.
Charles explained that both GTR and the Department for Transport had been contacted on the matter and each said the other was responsible.
The GTR representative acknowledged that there was a problem with those machines and would keep the Panel updated as to when this was corrected. They also stated Freedom Pass users should not be using trains before 9:30am but where there had been historical easements, these should remain in place.
Action Point – for Yvonne to inform the panel when ticket machines have been upgraded.
Action Point – for Yvonne to let Charles know if DfT or GTR are responsible for easement in relation to Freedom Passes.
F) Train Station Skipping Update
The GTR representative informed the Panel that this had been addressed in the last meeting. The Officer acknowledged that many of the services where station skipping was taking place had stopped after the May timetable change.