2235 GMT London Sunday 20 December 2009 Editor © Muhammad Haque KHOODEELAAR! TOLD YOU SO! Crossrail is a DIVERSION of money and resource that London people need. Lewisham area anger, as reported by the SLP, confirms it. Scrap Crossrail. Serve London's transport needs.

2235 GMT

London

Sunday

20 December 2009

Editor © Muhammad Haqueaque

KHOODEELAAR! TOLD YOU SO! Crossrail is a DIVERSION of money and resource that London people need. Lewisham area anger, as reported by the SLP, confirms it. 

Scrap Crossrail. 

Serve London's transport needs.

[To be continued]

______________________

From the web site of the 'SOUTH LONDON PRESS'

"Mock funeral for Lewisham to Charing Cross rail service

Friday, 18 December 2009

Richard Hibbert and Cllr Philip Peake carry a mock coffin to mark the end of the rail service

Michael Stringer

CAMPAIGNERS fighting cuts to their train services staged a mock funeral procession on Saturday to mark their last direct train to the West End.

Rail operator Southern has axed the service to Charing Cross from stations along the Sydenham corridor, including New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak, Forest Hill and Sydenham.

More cuts to services on the same line will come up in May, with the number of trains to and from London Bridge being reduced from six trains an hour to four after the East London line extension opens.

Richard Hibbert, chairman of the Forest Hill Society, organised the demo on Saturday last week.

He said: “These cuts will have a severe impact on many people’s lives.

“Saturday was an excellent occasion with a mixture of both mourning and cheer.

“It was incredible how many people still weren’t aware of the cuts and that they will no longer be able to get directly to the West End.

“We know the railways are a limited service but it needs to be shared out equally.

“We will keep up the pressure on the Department for Transport (DfT) who could easily solve these issues.”

The DfT says the East London line will reduce passenger numbers on the services from May, and the Charing Cross link had to be cut to make way for new Southeastern services from Kent.

Transport undersecretary, Chris Mole MP has snubbed a meeting with local politicians from all parties who were concerned at the cuts.

Bosses from Southern will meet Lewisham councillors at a meeting on Thursday to discuss the changes.

Email: michael.stringer@slp.co.uk