The Government should return to its 2016 plan for rail devolution before the South Eastern franchise is renewed, the London Assembly Transport Committee said today. Any agreement the Government reaches with a new franchisee should state that some routes could be devolved within the terms of the franchise.
The London Assembly Transport Committee produced the report ‘Devolving rail services to London - Towards a South London Metro’[1] in October 2015.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee says in a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport:
“Regardless of whether the Government accepts the widespread consensus on the need for devolution, we would urge the Department for Transport to guarantee that the service standards delivered in the new South Eastern franchise match those on National Rail services that TfL oversees, specifically on the London Overground network.
This would include commitments to increase the frequency of metro services, provide for additional station staffing, improve passenger information, and increase the accessibility of services.”
The letter says the benefits that could be delivered by devolution include:
- Higher capacity: TfL has invested in longer and more frequent trains on the London Overground, reducing crowding significantly.
- Better reliability: TfL has increased the proportion of trains running on time on the London Overground, enabled by strong performance management and incentives for the operator.
- Integrated fares: By integrating rail services with the fares regime for TfL services, passengers can expect simpler and cheaper fares.
- Better accessibility: TfL would improve station design and increase the number of station staff to allow a turn-up-and-go service for disabled passengers.
- Stronger accountability: Passengers will know they can hold the Mayor of London directly to account for their rail service.
The Committee also objected to the proposal to reduce the number of central London stations served by the franchise.
Notes to editors
- Read the report ‘Devolving rail services to London - Towards a South London Metro’
- Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- London Assembly Transport Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.