TfL sees renewed hope over running suburban services
“Glimmers of hope” are emerging over Transport for London’s plan to take over suburban rail services in and out of the capital, the transport authority’s head has said.
Responding to a question put to him by RAIL at a Westminster Forum Projects conference on London’s transport system, Mike Brown, Commissioner at TfL, said Transport for London has been asked by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling to look into the viability of running commuter services out of Moorgate.
Brown added that TfL has “made it clear we think we should contribute to the discussion about the reconfiguration of the Greater Thameslink franchise more generally when that comes up”.
He told delegates: “This is not some power-crazed push by me because I have nothing to do in the afternoon. It is actually because I know us being involved in a concession model in the commuter areas in and around London gives a better outcome for passengers in terms of reliable services, better accessibility, more stations being staffed all day, and bringing fares and ticketing in line with our integrated network to secure more affordable and seamless travel into central London.”
Brown outlined his plans for the commuter network, saying that if devolved, there would be an improvement in service patterns. He cited TfL’s takeover of the Silverlink metro routes a decade ago as a success story.
“How I look at this is a way of ensuring we can find a model that the transport body in London can input in the specification for services, that allows more investment decisions to be made, and allows better outcomes for passengers on a regular basis,” he said.
“People always say to me ‘the only reason the existing London Overground network is such a success is because there was a huge amount of investment in it’, and I say ‘absolutely’.
“Does anyone think for one second there would have been that investment had we not got hold of it, because there wouldn’t have been. The outcome is a nearly 300% increase in passenger numbers on the North London Line with a metro service that was unimaginable a few years ago.”