London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM has again raised concerns over the shortage of carriages and subsequent delays that have blighted Enfield commuters since Transport for London (TfL) have taken over services running between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town. When TfL took on services running between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town commuters were promised greater reliability of services, lower fares, and better trains.
TfL’s London Overground took over operations on 31st May and responding to resident’s concerns about depletion in services, Joanne McCartney AM wrote to in a response to the Managing Director of London Overground Rail Operations Limited (LOROL) asking for an explanation and about compensation. LOROL responded they received a mixed fleet of carriages from Abellio Greater Anglia, some of which have not been in use since 2012 and required urgent repairs and maintenance.
Joanne McCartney AM today raised her concerns over the deterioration of services and reduction of eight carriages to four with the Mayor of London at Mayor’s Question Time, and the Mayor said he was fully aware that there had been some teething problems and agreed that this is “not good”. The London Overground is one of the most successful rail services in the country with a passenger satisfaction score of 91% but the current situation on the West Anglia line diminishes TfL’s reputation.
Ms McCartney urged the Mayor to ensure that TfL make commuters fully aware of the service delay refund that is available if your journey was delayed by 30 minutes or more by displaying posters at every station along the route.
Local Labour London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney said:
“I was pleased when TfL took on services running between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town but I am very disappointed to have received complaints from residents about the deterioration in services.
“A reduction in carriages from eight to four is unacceptable. The resulting overcrowding and delays has left passengers understandably annoyed. TfL need to repair the carriages to provide eight-car trains as promised with urgency.
“I today urged the Mayor to display posters at every station to apologise and inform passengers of TfL’s service delay refund scheme which many passengers on the Liverpool Street to Enfield Town line will be entitled to. The Mayor can say that he passionately told people that there will not be miracles straight away, but he accepted that a depletion in services is not good and will look at how best to inform passengers of the refund scheme.”