Metropolitan Line to axe off-peak fast trains (From Watford Observer)

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Metropolitan Line to axe off-peak fast trains from Amersham

12:40pm Thursday 20th October 2011 in News By Mike Wright

Off-peak fast trains between Amersham and London are due to be axed on the Metropolitan Line as part of shake-up of the line’s timetable.

Transport for London, which runs the service, said it will be adding more trains to the route at peak times to ease overcrowding.

Then changes, which will come into effect in December, have been criticised by rail users of stations like Chorleywood and Rickmansworth who say they penalise passengers travelling in the day.

Anita Metcalfe, who has lived in Moor Park for 35 years, said it would not just impact older people but also those working unconventional hours.

She said when she went to London in the less-busy off-peak times she timed arranged her journey around the fast trains.

“It is easy to say ‘well it will be older people and those not working and therefore they have the time',” she said.

“But there are a lot of people who work flexi time and do not commute in during rush hour as well.”

Mrs Metcalfe added that there had been little consultation with rail users and the first she had learnt of the changes was through her local councillors.

However Transport for London said the axing of the off-peak fast train was part of range of measures aimed at reducing peak-time congestion.

Among the planned improvements are new and more modern trains and increased peak-time service.

Angela Back, the general line manager for the Metropolitan line, said: “In December a new timetable will be introduced to the Metropolitan line in order to accommodate the growing demand on the line and to enhance reliability.

“These changes will also allow the introduction of more of our new S stock trains which have air conditioning, more space, lower floors and dedicated wheelchair space making passengers journeys much more comfortable.

“There will be two extra stopping trains per hour from Amersham during the peak creating greater capacity on the line and easing overcrowding.

“Fast trains from Amersham and Chesham will continue to run during peak times however during off peak they will run as stopping trains.

"These trains will extend past Baker Street and run to Aldgate allowing passengers to travel further in to London.”

Comments(10)

wharfer says...
1:37pm Thu 20 Oct 11

No mention by Angela Beck of the 31.7% reduction in seats on the new trains and the fact that two of the main morning peak trains into the city have already had, since July, extra stops introduced south of Harrow. Thus most passengers from Chorleywood and generally all of those boarding at Rickmansworth have to stand in unpleasant cramped conditions for the whole journey which already takes longer. Additional stopping trains may help to ease the congestion down the rest of the line but please let us have our "fast" trains back!
Tfl managers also have short memories. The service ran through to Aldgate on an all day, everyday basis during much or the 1990's and the reason given for cutting it back to Baker Street was the difficulty of offering a reliable service due to the knock on effect of any disruption south of Baker Street. As a regular traveller on this line enduring regular disruptions to service I cannot see what has improved since then to make this any less likely. Now there is also the added inflexibility due to alternate trains running to/from Chesham where there is little scope to regulate the service.
Fifty years ago when the A stock trains currently being withdrawn from service were introduced, an off-peak journey from Chorleywood to Baker Street took 34 minutes, I understand that the new timetable in December proposes a journey time of 47 minutes. Please contradict me if I am wrong Ms Beck, but if this is the case I fail to see how this can be called progress. It seems to me that the once proud Metropolitan Line has become the new "Misery" Line and I find it hard to believe that anyone propossing these changes actually ever travels on it.