17 January - Buses cancelled, trains slow
The
quarterly Transport meeting was once again a disappointment, not because the
Committee is sub-standard or the Chairman is useless
but because invited guests fail to take it seriously. The lady who delivers
excuses on behalf of TfL simply failed to show up. No one knows why. The police
are always shambolic and had failed to respond to their invitation to the
meeting which led in turn to the Committee not preparing any questions for them.
Why should they when they so infrequently show up?
Murphy’s Law and all that, but just before the meeting began a policeman showed
up on a video feed from Lewisham. A substitute officer (“the guvnor is tied up”)
probably even more ignorant than the regulars usually are. With no prepared
questions available the Chairman politely told the copper that he would be let
off the hook, and muttered his real opinion after the video feed went off air. I
can only guess at what he said because the acoustics were even worse than usual.
There were no spare chairs available so my recorder was consigned to the floor and the
audio quality is very poor. Barely audible.
The highlight of the meeting used to be the chaps representing Network Rail and
Southeastern Railway. Clearly enthusiastic about their jobs and now all we get
is a lady representing both organisations who can present a few facts but is
generally unable to answer questions.
On top of all that Cabinet
Member Richard Diment was present only on Zoom so as to keep the
remnants of his flu bug away from us and the Highways Manager was entirely
missing, probably for the same reason.
Unsurprisingly the meeting was over in under an hour.
The Chairman said he was trying to arrange a meeting with the operators of the
poorly performing 229, 428 and 429 bus routes but they would only accept a day time
appointment. Councillor Sally Hinkley who like me lives in a part of Belvedere that
used to be served by ten buses an hour but is now down to six and about to
reduce to five, said she had to make alternative arrangements to get to the
meeting when her bus app showed no 229s in the following half hour.
The Chairman said something inaudible about road safety at which point the Cabinet
Member commented that the police do one speed check operation in Bexley each
week and next week they will be in, well perhaps I had better not say except
that I will be looking out for them on my daily trip to Bromley. Only the
foolhardy who drives without regard for tyres or suspension does more than 30 on
that section of road so being caught out is probably deserved.
The railway lady said that the underpass at Bexley station had been
filled in as
planned but the lifts are not as reliable as they should be. Southeastern
operates 109 lifts across its network and is building up a stock of spare parts
because contractors have been too slow to obtain them on demand.
36 refreshed class 376 coaches are coming this year with the first arriving last
month. What refreshed means beyond new upholstery, floors and grab handles was not explained but if you
are hoping for air-conditioning, forget it.
Punctuality which is generally above industry averages dipped a little in
December because of weather related speed restrictions but is now affecting
fewer than 2% of services. (Within three minutes of scheduled arrival times.)
Lines are being reopened more quickly following trespasser incidents because
of the deployment of drones. Two operate from a control centre at London
Bridge with more to come. This is quicker than sending search parties out on foot.
There will be no trains through Dartford on 7th, 8th and 14th through to
22nd of February and again on 1st March and 5th April while ten million
pounds is spent on 400 yards of track and ten new crossings. There was no
information about the availability of replacement bus services for the
loop line trains which will have to terminate at Slade Green, Barnehurst and
Crayford. The timetable will be amended.
A Metro Study is scheduled for publication in the Summer of 2026 planning for rail services until 2055 and the
Chairman wondered if it could possibly account for the new planning regulations
which will see even more housing clustered around railway stations.
Councillor Hinkley asked a number of questions relating to the statistics on
cancellations and late running but no answers were forthcoming.
On buses it was once again Councillor Hinkley
taking the lead. Without any input from TfL she
observed that the Committee makes comments and offers reports and gets promises in return but
nothing ever improves. The Chairman agreed. In a context which was lost by the
poor acoustics he referred to TfL as “shocking’.
He did however hold out a flicker of hope that the SL3 might serve Bexley as
there had been contact with the Deputy Mayor who reluctantly gave a luke-warm reception to the
idea. “The door is slightly ajar.” The SL3 has resumed the original planned route along Penhill Road after
the short term diversion along Hurst Road which brought it close to Bexley
station. This is thought to be because the new electric buses are better able to
negotiate Bexley’s narrow roads and sharp bends than the longer ‘Boris buses’ rather than a two
fingered salute to Bexley Council.
Councillor Davey repeated his view that the SL3 should make an extra stop in his
West Heath
ward. This may have more merit than his idea to cut the Lion Road stop.
Sally Hinkley, her again, was first to speak under the roads heading. Living
just a few yards beyond the AW1 CPZ boundary and suffering the inevitable
parking displacement problem she was pleased to see the Belvedere Station Zone is
scheduled for introduction on 26th February.
Her comment led to a discussion on
the generally crazy signage associated with
the AW1 Zone. Councillor Davey said the signs in his West Heath Zone were just
as bad. As
reported earlier, the next set of Parking Permits being printed now will be for six hours of validity.
Bexley showing up well against other London boroughs in
the pothole stakes was
reported and the Highways team was congratulated. My regular trips to Bromley, just
the one fixed route of course, lead me to suggest that Bromley offers a much
bumpier ride than Bexley which nevertheless has a few whoppers. I hit a really
bad one in the dark in Penhill Road about a week ago. Bexley tends to fix
the worst of the holes by extensive resurfacing. The associated picture is of Hadlow Road, Sidcup.
On a personal note once again; what is the point of placing yellow warning signs
by the side of roads approaching Sidcup which provide a long essay in a tiny
font on something or other, I know not what? how am I expected to read them
while driving by?