Mayor not interested in Blackheath Trains (Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats)

Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats <mail@greenwich-libdems.org.uk>

Mayor not interested in Blackheath Trains

December 20, 2009 12:00 AM

Boris Johnson refuses to act over Blackheath train cuts

Local residents in Greenwich and Blackheath will be disappointed with Mayor of London Boris Johnson's response to their concerns about the new timetable between Blackheath and London. At his Question Time on 16th December Boris Johnson replied as follows to a question about the new timetable which started on 13th December:

"The overall rail service at Blackheath following the December 2009 timetable change is very similar to the service beforehand. There has been a small reduction in service at Blackheath as a consequence of Southeastern providing a new direct service between Orpington and Lewisham, which has been a key aspiration of many passengers in south-east London. There are also more trains between the Greenwich route and central London as a result of the service changes. For these reasons, I do not intend to make any representation on this issue"

Greenwich Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Webbewood said in response "I doubt if Blackheath commuters will agree with Mayor Johnson that there has only been a small reduction when the number of trains leaving Blackheath for London between 8am and 9am has been cut from thirteen to ten and when the Blackheath-Woolwich link has been completely broken during peak hours. We have a situation where the railway company has been forced to cut trains on the orders of the Labour Government and where the Conservative Mayor of London isn't interested."