Campaigners are calling for better frequency and reliability of services from Worcester Park station, as commuters report regular overcrowding and cancelled trains
A campaign calling for a return to pre-Covid train service levels at an overcrowded South London station has received a boost.
South Western Railway (SWR) committed to a consultation on a ‘timetable refresh’ for Worcester Park station this autumn. This follows a popular petition calling for improved services, which highlighted the decline in service frequency and reliability since the pandemic, before which off-peak trains ran every 15 minutes.
Commuters say the reduced service has led to regular overcrowding at the station, with some recalling instances where this has resulted in train cancellations.
Liz Martin launched the petition a year ago, calling for the pre-Covid service frequency of four trains an hour to be restored or improved upon. In her petition, she stated: “Living in Worcester Park, within the London Borough of Sutton and conveniently located in Zone 4, should afford residents access to reliable and frequent public transportation options.
“Sadly, changes in the SWR service have significantly impacted daily commutes and the overall quality of life for many in our community. Worcester Park, being an integral part of Greater London, deserves better connectivity.”
The petition has since gone on to attract 3,170 signatures, at the time of writing, with Liz also noting that her petition had received more engagement than SWR’s own engagement exercise. Many petitioners commented on the impact of the reduced service on the local area, with overcrowding on the station’s platforms a being a key concern.
Local resident Sofia said: “During rush hour and typically when the train reaches Worcester Park, it is standing room only if you can manage to get on the train at all.”
She said she had even seen trains cancelled due to overcrowding, causing a chain reaction effect on other services.
“It’s actually quite stressful and I’m not sure how the company can even justify the current level of service versus how much they charge,” she added.
Worcester Park is in TfL’s fare zone 4, making journeys into Central London cheaper than from stations further out. According to Worcester Park resident Richard Johnson, this makes the station an attractive, lower-cost alternative for rail users travelling from parts of nearby Surrey.
However, he believes the current frequency and reliability at Worcester Park could push people to seek other modes of transport.
He told the LDRS: “The problem is if one train fails – and it often does – it means you have got to wait an hour at the station. Because of that issue, it means a lot of people are using other routes and other means.”
He added: “We then end up with a situation where you are putting people back in the car where they can get a reliable form of transport.”
Richard also believes the current service levels run counter to TfL and local councils’ aspirations to promote public transport. Worcester Park station sits within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, on the border with the London Borough of Sutton.
“It’s no good just talking about public transport and wanting it to thrive and then with the other hand undermining it like this,” he told the LDRS.
However, the petition received a boost earlier this week when SWR confirmed it was now moving ahead with a formal consultation on a “timetable refresh”.
SWR said it had spent months speaking to thousands of passengers, businesses, community groups, stakeholders and elected representatives across its network about the potential changes. It added that Liz’s petition had helped inform the first phase of its engagement, with a formal consultation now planned for autumn.
In their email, SWR said: “The timetable refresh represents a significant opportunity to reshape services across the SWR network, ensuring we make the best possible use of our infrastructure, resources and people while delivering improved outcomes for the communities we serve.”
A spokesperson for SWR told the LDRS: “We welcome all feedback from customers and stakeholders as part of our timetable refresh. Every suggestion will be carefully reviewed as we balance enhancing connectivity and meeting demand with improving overall performance and delivering value for customers and taxpayers. Responses will be provided through the formal consultation process at the appropriate time.”
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