If Transport for London (TfL) refuse to listen to local residents who want the Olympia branch of the District Line retained, a package of transport improvements must be carried out in the area, with ‘Boris Bikes’ installed and extra bus services laid on, argues Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council.
TfL wants to increase capacity on the Wimbledon branch of the District line by withdrawing weekdays services on the Olympia spur – which it claims is ‘underused’.
However, residents around Olympia are worried about the loss of their local service – especially as the station is the only one in the area that provides easy step-free disabled access.
TfL is now considering that proposal but the Council has called for the hugely popular Barclays Cycle hire scheme to be extended to Olympia if the idea is refused. The Council also now wants to see increased frequency of the 28 bus. This would be particularly useful for disabled residents who would lose their step-free access if the Olympia service is significantly reduced.
Cllr Harry Phibbs, cabinet member for community engagement, said:
“At a recent meeting with TfL, local residents made it abundantly clear that they did not want the Olympia line to be downscaled. If TfL decide that they have no alternative it is absolutely vital that they offer local residents a package of measures that would improve other parts of the local transport infrastructure. A Boris Bike terminal outside Olympia and more number 28 buses would go some way to appease local feeling. We have raised a number of other issues and concerns with TfL and await their response.”
Brendan McGrath of the My Olympia Campaign, said:
“It might prove to be quite tricky to replace the tube service with alternative public transport and it would be difficult to put on a replacement bus service due to the one way system in Earls Court.
"One alternative would be to reduce the Olympia service to two trains per hour instead of three. This would allow TfL to extend the line to Edgware Road and put one extra train per hour on the Wimbledon branch. This solution would still protect Olympia and ensure diabled people could use the step-free access.”
Over 300 residents attended a public meeting to discuss the proposed reduction in service in July. As a result, the Council demanded to know from TfL:
- Whether the resignalling works scheduled to take place at the Earls Court bottleneck could be brought forward to allow the extra trains on the Wimbledon line as well as the retention of the Olympia service
- Why, if it is technically possible that Olympia service can be retained for special events, the service cannot be retained the rest of the time.
- Whether the extra trains to Wimbledon cease when special events at Olympia are taking place.
- If Olympia is closed or downgraded what extra bus services, extra Overground trains and measures to ease local road congestion will be provided.
The Barclays Cycle hire scheme will be rolled out throughout west and southwest London by the summer of 2013, with bays installed at Westfield by Spring 2012.
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