News

Olympia residents face reduced weekday train service

Summary:

Additional Wimbledon district line trains to be implemented by Tfl instead.

Image:

By Scott McWhinney

Olympia residents face a reduction in weekday trains after TfL announced new Wimbledon branch services this week.

Five additional trains will run on the Wimbledon branch of the district line during the morning rush hour from December benefiting those using stations beyond Earl’s Court on the line.

The extra capacity is being created by the removal of weekday trains from Olympia to make space at Earl’s Court for the extra Wimbledon capacity.

Ravi Govindia, Wandsworth Council leader, said: “This is terrific news for people living in Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon who have had to put up with increasingly overcrowded trains in recent years.”

During consultation 80% of the 18,000 people involved were in favour of the proposal.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Hammersmith and Fulham Council Deputy Leader, said: “Residents in the south of the borough have complained for years about being squeezed like sardines into stuffy carriages on the Wimbledon branch – so extra trains on this line are very welcome.

“However, these improvements should not come at the expense of people living around Olympia.”

The council suggested that extra bus services, Overground trains and congestion easing measures should be put in place for Olympia if their Underground service is cut.

But TfL argue that Olympia already enjoys a comprehensive Overground service with four trains every hour with each one carrying 600 passengers.

TfL’s Mike Brown said: “There was an overwhelming response to the consultation and after taking into account all the responses we received, and in light of the benefits that the changes will deliver, we have decided to go ahead with the changes from December.”

The weekend service to Olympia will continue and TfL say they will put on extra trains at the busiest times of the year.

Related Articles