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News and Comment December 2022

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14 December (Part 2) - Closely Observed Trains

Take your pickI found Hugh Neal’s Maggot Sandwich particularly interesting last Sunday and he made some interesting points about Southeastern’s ludicrous decision to cut off the Elizabeth line from anyone who does not live close to Abbey Wood station and abandon the route to Charing Cross. How does any of that encourage the use of public transport?

I needed to get to Richmond via Waterloo last Saturday and assumed, perhaps wrongly, that it was the last day for that service along the Woolwich line. Checking the National Rail Journey Planner I was surprised to see it recommending the Liz line to Canary Wharf and the Jubilee line to Waterloo.

It seemed like a good idea which I hadn’t thought of. Changing at London Bridge is a horrible time wasting experience not to mention waiting ages for the half hourly service at Abbey Wood. It is wise to be there early to ensure you don’t miss it which is not nearly as attractive as a Liz line train every few minutes.

What I had not bargained for is the ten minute walk from one Canary Wharf station to the other (and just missing a Jubilee) so the journey to Waterloo took ten minutes longer than a direct Southeastern train but the longer journey time is probably better than boosting Southeastern’s revenue. (Ignore this recommendation if you are disabled or otherwise less than fit, you will just have to accept that no one cares about you. †)

Hugh’s report on the new timetable makes it very clear that Southeastern’s excuses for using Lewisham junction are total nonsense, the points are there to be used and it is a railway responsibility to maintain them. Railwaymen have been doing that since before George Stephenson was a lad. Hugh went on to suggest that North Kent line trains can get to Charing Cross via Greenwich (as they did before railway managers totally lost sight of what customer service is). However maybe Hugh has forgotten that Greenwich to Charing Cross trains ceased because of the nonsensical points excuse too. The track layout was changed and new flyovers built with the express purpose of minimising points use.

God forbid that passenger convenience is given priority.

The admission that Hugh writes the Neighbourhood Watch section of the Bexley Magazine created a wry smile hereabouts although I accept that the dates may not quite add up. When back in 2011 he used a metaphor about pitchforks and flaming torches as part of a criticism of Council Leader O’Neill it was me who was on the receiving end of a a police threat of arrest and eventually a meeting in the Borough Commander’s office where it was suggested that I was probably a violent arsonist. Favourtism?

And the totally dishonest Boris Johnson has elevated his local counterpart to the House of Lords and collect £300 a day.

God protect this country from corrupt politicians.

† Sarcasm or something. My 52 year old daughter has had MS since she was 16 years old. I think I know something about the transport difficulties and expense that a disabitiy causes.

 

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