On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:12:27 -0800 (PST), Mwmbwls
wrote:

http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/document/3159/get

All motherhood and apple pie stuff - What specific measures would you
add to give the London Travel Watch document teeth or should that be
legs?

I like to see much more detail about how the National Rail network would
be developed to give consistent, frequent services that provide
sufficient capacity. I'd like to see some bravery around improving
signalling capacity, removing conflicting junctions and better
co-ordination of service patterns. I'd certainly want to see ELLX Phase
2 completed and I'd be brave and double and rebuild the Canonbury tunnel
to get Overground up to Finsbury Park. Electrification of the GOBLIN
would also be an absolute priority as would extra stations and further
improved interchange.

The Travelwatch document says nothing about interchange and while a few
bits and bobs have been done nothing that is genuinely useful or is a
real addition to transport connectivity has been delivered in recent
years. Much more can be done in this area - a proper rebuild of Finsbury
Park would be a good start after 20 years of inaction.

I'd like to see a move towards more tram lines and the reintroduction of
trolleybuses for busy routes or networks that don't justify conversion
to trams.

I'd like to see more innovation in the bus network and a more flexible
framework for minibus services that will create new links and open up
parts of the network. I'd also like to see certain key trunk links that
don't exist being put in place quickly. This includes more orbital
services. I also see a place for some Express routes too. Linked to the
Interchange programme I'd like to see more bus stations created and a
step change made in bus shelter comfort and provision. I wouldn't waste
any money on reinventing the Routemaster.

I'd like to see a commitment to Chelsea - Hackney being implemented. I'd
also like a full review done of tube services to see if or how they can
be further improved beyond the planned upgrades. I also believe there is
scope for a programme of new lines and possibly some extensions and I
believe the lessons from places like Madrid, where lines can be built in
next to no time, should be learned for London. Current proposals to
renew and upgrade the tube would continue. I don't really know what I'd
do about the Metronet situation as it's hideously complicated.

There's a bit of me that would quite like to see the DLR line to Charing
Cross but I don't believe sufficient capacity would be provided so that
would have to go into a new tube line. However I would like to see DLR
do more in South London and I'd complete the proposed line to Dagenham
Dock but with perhaps a further link on to connect with the District
Line.

I would completely review and almost certainly change TfL's policy
towards service information provision. I would like to see a minimum of
two TfL Travel Centres in each London borough where face to face access
to information on *all* forms of transport in London would be provided.
Ideally these centres would have a cafe as well as Internet access to
information as well.

On ticketing I would review and fine tune the plethora of concessions
that now exist. I would want to see the roll out of Oyster and PAYG
completed for National Rail as a matter of absolute urgency. I would
use the PAYG system to allow single journey multi modal through
ticketing - e.g bus to bus for a single fare. While this might be quite
expensive in the short run due to revenue loss I think the generative
effect would be very high (as it was in New York with Metrocard).

There's my 2p worth.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!