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Public Transport Liaison Panel
Tuesday, 18th October, 2016

Public Transport Liaison Panel Minutes

Date:
Tuesday 18th October 2016
Time:
9:30 a.m.
Place:
Room F10, the Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX
 

Attendance Details

Present:

Councillors Robert Canning, Pat Ryan and Chris Wright 

John Osborne - LBC

Ilona Kytomaa, Ray Simpson (Clerks) - LBC

TFL - Tim Williams

East Surrey Transport Committee - Charlie King

Mobility Forum - Stephen Aselford

OPEN - Jim Mansell

Tram Operations Ltd - Danny Stephen

London Trams - Andrew Chillingsworth

Arriva - Richard Simmons

Go Ahead London - Allan White, Jason Tann

Network Rail - David Hignett

LOROL - Sam Russell

 

Also in attendance: Councillor Louisa Woodley, Councillor Simon Hall and Vincent Stops.

Item Item/Resolution
MINUTES - PART A
A33/16 WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS, APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS

Apologies were received from Yvonne Leslie (Southern), Ian Plowright (Croydon Council), Huw Barrington (Epsom Coaches), Katherine Cox (GTR)

Councillors confirmed that their disclosures of pecuniary interest were up to date.

A34/16 NOTES OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT LIAISON PANEL MEETING HELD ON 21 JUNE 2016

Panel Members considered matters arising from the notes of the meeting held on 21 June 2016 and noted that in Minute 20/16 Charles King had asked for the item from TFL on the Mayor of London's plans for public transport, including hopper bus tickets and the new one hour bus transfer ticket. Mr King said that the Panel should be lobbying for all stations to be a part of the Southern Metro Services scheme.

 

Tim Williams from TFL said that they would be launching their Business Plan in November 2016 and would present a more up to date position on the scheme at the next Panel meeting in February 2017.

 

Panel members discussed terminal arrangements at Purley for bus route 412. Council officers stated that the proposed solution required kerb realignment, and that they would pursue this matter with TfL.

 

The notes were signed as an accurate record.
 

A35/16 TFL MATTERS:
- UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ADDINGTON BUS REVIEW
- THE CONDITION OF EAST CROYDON RAILWAY STATION
- UPDATE ON THE REBUILDING OF WEST CROYDON BUS STATION
- UPDATE ON TFL'S EVALUATION OF CHARLIE KING'S PROPOSALS FOR BUS SERVICES IN SOUTH NORWOOD
- GAPS IN BUS ROUTES IN CROYDON
- TEMPORARY BUS STOPS AT COULSDON BYPASS
- REPLACEMENT COUNTDOWN SIGN AT CROYDON FLYOVER

(i) Update on the implementation of the New Addington Bus Review


The Chair invited Councillors Simon Hall and Louisa Woodley to give comments regarding the 64 bus route. Councillor Hall responded saying that there were a number of concerns relating to delays and traffic congestion on and around Overbury Crescent. There was no service along Vulcan Way and Goldcrest Way. The reliability of 64 bus route was poor around the estate and the introduction of traffic lights on Lodge Lane needs to be considered. The estate he stressed does in particular need a reliable service.

 

Councillor Louisa Woodley reported that the road from Goldcrest Way up the hill to Vulcan Way was very steep and caused a real problem for those with mobility issues and that TFL needed to address this. Other panel members agreed that this area was a real problem for the able bodied as well as those with mobility issues. Many e-mails have been sent outlining the extent of the problem. Many of her constituents have had to regularly wait a long time for the 64 bus and then when it did arrive it all too often was full. She had been late for a number of her own surgeries as a result of delays she had experienced. A number of representations had also come to her from other local ward councillors regarding the unreliability of the 64 bus route.

 

Charlie King suggested the 130 bus turning left instead of right at the top of the hill would help to alleviate the delay and congestion problem. He added that the bus route could terminate at Central Parade. However, he was advised that TfL had rejected this idea after this had been put forward by bus operators.

 

Tim Williams suggested that TfL needed to receive a formal written account of concerns endorsed by Councillors in order for TFL to undertake the necessary action. This account needed to give precise dates and times of particular problems encountered. He did say that the re-routing of the 64 service would be costly.

 

Tim Williams explained that a consultation process was under way on bus services between Vulcan Way and Goldcrest Way, to which he could send a link to PTLP members. The TfL view was that the gap did not represent a long distance and that there was little demand for a bus along it, although Panel Members stressed the need for it.

Councillor Hall reported that there had been representations made previously by Members of the Public and Local Councillors which had been dismissed by TFL.

 

Richard Simmons (Aviva) in responding directly to Councillor Woodley's comments said that there could be a number of reasons for the delays which could include Controller problems, interchanges and transfer points. They were now aware of the problems and looking at measures of improvement. The reopening of West Croydon Bus station as a containment point has greatly helped. Addington Village will no longer be used as a containment point. He stressed that his company were all about providing the best possible service but did accept that reliability was a problem.

Richard Simmons explained that the information on which the tender had been based had been inadequate. Schedulers were now compiling new routes to be paid for by Aviva. Bunching of buses is an inevitable problem, particularly at peak hours, but measures are being taken to tackle this problem. It is anticipated that a new schedule with improved running times will be available from January 2017. Data on the 64 route is regularly reviewed as a matter of course.

 

Councillors Woodley and Hall said that they were happy with the response given by Aviva which showed that the matter was being addressed as a priority. John Osborne welcomed the response in view of the fact that the new route had only been in place for 7 weeks. He asked that a report be submitted to the next meeting updating progress along with the new timetable. The Council he said would address the concerns directly with TFL and that he would undertake a scoping visit with regard to the 64 route.

 

Councillors undertook to formalise their complaints into a joint e-mail and to put forward some constructive suggestions for improvements to the route.

 

The Chair confirmed that a further update would be requested for the next meeting in February 2017.

 

(ii) The Condition of East Croydon Railway Station

Charlie King said that Southern Rail needed to improve signage on platforms as there were no visible signs that you had arrived at East Croydon station but that the general condition especially platforms 1& 2 had greatly improved.

 

 

(iii) Update on the rebuilding of West Croydon Bus Station

 

Several Panel members commented on how pleasing on the eye the station now looked. John Osborne asked for Countdown signs to be installed at the station. Tim Williams asked him to send him a request for these in writing. Stephen Aselford stated that there were long queues now as a result of the reduction of bus stops from 6 to 4 and asked for bus information signs to be reproduced as the font size was too small to read. Charlie King stated that the signs were sited too high and that wheel chair users could not see them. Danny Stephen (Tram Operations Ltd) said that tailbacks to get into the station were causing delays for trams and stated that he would be pressing for the entrance to be made into a yellow box junction.

 

John Osborne stated that he would be pressing TfLfor a crossing from the station despite the agency's reluctance to do so, to reduce the risk of accidents. This was strongly supported by Vincent Stops.

 

(iv) Update on TFL'S evaluation of Charlie King's proposals for bus services in South Norwood

Charlie King said he had meetings regarding this and several main roads still did not have a bus route. The TfL representative stressed that it was essential that the Council should formally support and be on board with any new scheme. Tim Williams reported that their revenue grant was being reduced to zero and that he would update the Panel on the implications of this in due course.

 

(v) Gaps in Bus Routes in Croydon

The Panel were informed that more focus was being given to routes to Croydon University Hospital. The Mayor of London is looking at moving more resources to outer London from the centre of the capital.Tim Williams (TfL) reported that Croydon had been one of the first authorities to have bus priority meetings and would therefore be one of the first boroughs to be called to the next round of meetings. Panel members thanked Charlie King for his expertise and suggestions for new routes to fill existing gaps in local bus services and for securing more focus in this area.

 

(vi) Temporary bus stops at Coulsdon bypass

 

The Panel were informed that routes 60, 405 and 423 had all been diverted along the Coulsdon bypass by TFL and that no temporary bus stops had been put in. Cllr Wright added that he had received numerous complaints from local residents regarding the lack of temporary bus stops and that the situation had got steadily worse over the last year, not just along the bypass but over the whole borough. He stressed that this should not happen in view of the long lead-in times for road works. John Osborne echoed these concerns and specified that the issue related to "dolly stops". He suggested that TfL might conduct a review of the use of dolly stops.Tim Williams agreed to speak to his colleagues in bus infrastructure and Operations and update to the next meeting.

 

(vii) Replacement Countdown sign at Croydon Flyover

 

John Osborne reported that this was due to be resolved as a matter of urgency.

A36/16 UPDATE ON ANY FUTURE ENGINEERING WORKS ON TRAM LINES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO ELMERS END TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE

Andrew Chillingsworth (London Trams) said that they had identified bottlenecks in areas such as Wimbledon and Mitcham and were dealing with these. The priority at the moment was Elmers End where a feasibility study was being carried out as well as the testing of two new trams. Funding due to be secured in next year's business plan will finance double tracking and entrance platforms at this station.

A37/16 GTR ACTION TO RESOLVE THE CURRENT INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE

Panel members noted the email giving an update from Katherine Cox (GTR) who was unable to attend due to strike action. The Panel expressed their frustration and disappointment but praised the patience of all passengers with regard to the strikes. It was observed that some people had lost their jobs as a result of arriving late at work due to train delays and cancellations. The Chair asked that comments be fed back to Southern Rail expressing the inconvenience being experienced by passengers as there are 11 more strike action days planned before the end of the year.

A38/16 UPDATE ON TEMPORARY RAILWAY TIMETABLE AND GTR SOUTHERN AND THAMESLINK 2018 TIMETABLE CONSULTATION

Panel members noted the email giving details of the temporary timetable which was introduced in July 2016.


As of September 2016 the full timetable has now been restored covering areas - Tonbridge and Reigate to Redhill and London Victoria/London Bridge and services between Seaford and Brighton. A fully restored timetable should be in place by the end of October 2016.


Charlie King commented on the proposed 2018 timetable and felt that this was good news for Croydon. There is a consultation document which the Council (John Osborne) is expected to respond to by December 2016.
 

A39/16 UPDATE ON BOOKING OFFICES AND TICKET HOSTS AT SOUTH CROYDON AND OTHER RAILWAY STATIONS IN CROYDON

The Panel were informed that there were station hosts being introduced on a pilot basis at eight stations but none of these were in Croydon. The Panel asked that a further update be given at the next meeting.

 

The Chair highlighted a problem at Sanderstead station which is experiencing congestion in the evening rush hour: only one platform (the up platform) is staffed and some passengers have to show travelcards and passes at the opposite platform to the one they need to show their tickets, as the ticket machine they need to use is not functioning properly, thus causing delay and inconvenience. The Chair requested an update on this issue at the February meeting of the Panel.

A40/16 UPDATE ON STEP-FREE ACCESS AT COULSDON SOUTH, SELHURST, REEDHAM, WADDON AND NORWOOD JUNCTION STATIONS

Dave Hignett (NWR) confirmed that funding had been made available to install step-free access at a number of stations which included Coulsdon South and Selhurst. There will also be new lifts with bridges at both stations. The other stations listed above have not been included in the programme as yet. John Osborne welcomed progress being made and noted that TFL had carried out scoping work on derogation to use platforms 2 and 3 at Norwood Junction station and that improvements on the Brighton Mainline might have a major impact for improvements at this station.

 

Panel members discussed issues at Reedham station. Charlie King suggested that simple improvements could be made at low cost but that TfL had produced plans which were unsatisfactory and unnecessary costly. He also asked for local residents' associations to be included in future consultation on this railway station.

 

The Chair thanked Dave Hignett for his report and asked that the presentation given by Dave Hignett to the Mobility Forum be sent out with the minutes of this meeting.


 

A41/16 NEW LONDON OVERGROUND OPERATOR

Sam Russell (LOROL) reported that the new contract with Arriva Rail London would commence in 2- 3 weeks. There will be performance targets and penalty clauses built into the contract which TFL will enforce and which will force the company to deliver on their targets. There will be no services running on Christmas/Boxing Day as engineering works are often scheduled to take place during those days. The Chair asked for the timetables service to be circulated with the minutes of this meeting and ended by saying of this how impressed he was as the service was very reliable.

A42/16 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Tim Williams (TFL) reported that there was to be a major restructuring at TFL with the next round of cuts likely to be at the end of the financial year. He confirmed that this would not affect representation at the Panel meetings.

 

The Panel noted that Skanska were dealing with the lack of lighting by Fairfield Halls since the closure of this venue.
 

A43/16 SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
- BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE PRESENTATION

The following items were suggested :-

 

- Presentation by British Transport Police
- Presentation on the Mayor's vision for transport - this may include plans for improvements to air quality, bus services and the extension of the tram system to Crystal Palace
- Update on improvements to the 64 bus route
- Update on temporary bus stops
- Update on issues at Sanderstead railway station
- Quality of training of Drivers/Training Programme (June 2017 meeting)
- Best Practice (June 2017 meeting)
 

A44/16 DATE OF FUTURE MEETING:TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2017
MINUTES - PART B
  None
The meeting ended at 11.58 am.