Norwood has 13 bus routes running through or on the boundary of the area. We have three night bus services and the Superloop 6 (previously the 68X) has recently been introduced. Tulse Hill, Gipsy Hill and West Norwood rail stations are within our area, West Dulwich just outside and at least three more stations are within reasonable walking distance for some people. Brixton station for London Underground services and Denmark Hill and Crystal Palace for London Overground are a short cycle or bus or train ride away. Yet many people who live, work or visit this area have concerns about public transport.
Norwood Forum is seeking your views on what is good and bad about our public transport. What could or should be done to improve it and what do you most value? Have things got better or worse since COVID? And/or do you think the focus should be on making it easier for people to walk or cycle or to use a car, taxi or cab?
We will collate the responses and consider how and where best to take the issues, including Lambeth, TfL, Network Rail and the train operating companies and other decision makers
Some starters for ten:
Cost
Are trains in particular are expensive to use and/or do you find pricing complicated
Should the 60+ card, Freedom Pass and other passes be able to be used at any time? Or would this make crowding worse for those who must travel at peak times?
Is the Hopper fare useful and what do you think about the proposal for only off peak fares on Fridays?
Cuts in services
Evening train services have been reduced a lot recently. Has this made it more difficult for you to go out or get to/from work and other places?
Do the cutbacks in bus services in central London mean your travel is more difficult?
Reliability of services
Complaints have been made about the reliability of the 315 especially since the Sreatham Wells LTN went in. Is this your experience?
Have any other bus services which you use also suffered late running or early termination?
There seems to have been a lot of cancellations and very late running of Thameslink trains recently. Has this affected you?
Are there places where buses are held up by car parking or lack of enforcement of controls.
Frequency of services
The 315 only has buses timetabled to come every 20 minutes and sometimes these are reduced to two an hour. Is this a problem for you?
Other bus routes and some train services are 4 an hour even in the peaks, with less timetabled in the evenings and Sundays. Has this caused you to delays or changed your plans?
Destinations
Is there anywhere you travel to frequently or would like to do so which does not have a direct link? For example to London Bridge and the City by bus? Trafalgar Square now that the 3 has been routed instead to Victoria.
Do you think orbital services going east and west should be improved and if so how?
Is the extension of the 315 to St George’s Hospital going to help you or are you worried that it will make the service even less reliable.
Have you used Superloop 6. If so what are your thoughts? If not why not?
Should there be more bus services running in or near residential areas e.g. along St Julian’s Farm Road?
Rail Stations
You can get between the street and West Norwood without using steps which is good for people with mobility difficulties, who have buggies etc or luggage or are cyclists. However Tulse Hill station which is much busier and is an interchange does not and nor does West Dulwich. Gipsy Hill only has step free access to one platform and particularly steep walks/wheels to and from the station.Do any of these restrictions on access cause problems for you?
None of the stations have level access between the platform and the train. Does this mean you don’t use the station at all or when there is no member of staff to help? Should there be raised sections of the platforms instead?
Bus stops
Are there any stops which you use that should have a shelter?
Should Countdown be provided or put back at more stops? Or are apps OK?
Are there places where the nearest bus stops seem to be a long way away?
Do you have problems working out which stop to get on or off a bus?
Engineering, construction and road works
Have engineering works disrupted your travel plans eg because there is no replacement bus service?
Have road works caused you problems by delaying or curtailing your bus service?
Have construction works closing stops inconvenienced you?
Have these temporary changes been well publicised, signed and explained or not?
Special services
Should there be more school bus services or private school mini buses/coaches?
Do you rely upon Dial a Ride, Hospital Transport or similar to get around? Should these be improved and if so how?
Should there be more space for cycles, wheelchairs, buggies etc on trains and buses?
Planning and operating public transport
Would it be better if the Mayor of London was given responsibility and funding for all public transport in London?
Finally if the Fairy Godmother said she could grant you one wish only of improvement to public transport what would it be? If the wicked witch said she was going to take away everything what would you most want to keep?
Please share your thoughts using this link, and in time for the next newsletter (17 March) we will collate them and come back with our ideas on where and how we can take these important issues forward most productively.
Note
Other Stations
Streatham Hill
Streatham
Herne Hill
Buses
2, 3, 68, 201, 249, 315, 322, 415, 417, 468, SL6, 432, P13.
Things ain't what they used to be!