Local London Assembly Member, Joanne McCartney AM, has called for Great Northern rail services running through Enfield and Haringey to be increased sooner than planned, in response to a recent timetable consultation. Ms McCartney said that this would ”accommodate the gradual increase we are seeing in passenger numbers” and a “turn-up and go service” in the future could further encourage “more Londoners to come back to using public transport”.
Great Northern service levels were reduced during the pandemic to two trains per hour in the off-peak period on the branch north of Alexandra Palace to Hertford North and this continues to be the case. The timetable consultation recently run by Great Northern proposed restoring this to four trains per hour next May- which is equivalent to the level of service prior to the pandemic.
Ms McCartney has urged Great Northern to restore services earlier, now that restrictions have been lifted and Londoners are gradually returning to public transport as the economy opens up.
In her response to the consultation, Ms McCartney has also called for Great Northern to go further in the longer-term and look at implementing their previous proposal to increase this frequency to six trains per hour.
Local London Assembly Member, Joanne McCartney AM, said:
“Understandably, train services were reduced during the recent lockdown. While I welcome proposals to increase the frequency back to four trains an hour from next May, I believe Great Northern could bring this uplift forward to accommodate the gradual increase we are seeing in passenger numbers.
“This is also an opportunity to go further in the long-term. With the new trains now running on the line, having a ‘turn up and go’ service in place in the future, of six trains per hour, would encourage more Londoners to come back to using public transport and deliver a much better passenger experience.
“This will not only have environmental benefits by reducing reliance on cars, but it will also provide more space for passengers on platforms and in carriages to ensure better social distancing whilst the virus is still in circulation”.
Notes to editors
- More information about Great Northern’s timetable consultation, which has now closed, can be found here;
- Great Northern’s previous proposal of introducing six trains per hour in the off-peak period can be found in a previous timetable consultation, here;
- Joanne McCartney AM’s response to the Great Northern’s timetable consultation is attached;
- Joanne McCartney AM is the Assembly Member for Enfield & Haringey.