Southeastern Metro devolved to Transport for London? Big advocate becomes new Transport Secretary
A big advocate of transferring Southeastern Metro services to Transport for London over previous years has become the new Transport Secretary.
Heidi Alexander replaces Louise Haigh and was formerly Deputy Mayor for Transport under Mayor Sadiq Khan.
In 2019 she stated:
‘Transferring responsibility for key rail assets to TfL would be the first step towards a long-overdue transformation of the transport network in south and southeast London.
“The current rail franchise system is broken beyond repair, with large dysfunctional franchises not fit for purpose, and a lack of coordination between the rail operators and the providers of the infrastructure.
‘The time has come for the whole of London to have an integrated, frequent and reliable rail service fit for a global capital city with a high-quality suburban metro which would also stimulate economic growth, new jobs and homes.’
Previous devolution attempts
That remark was made when London’s Mayor was again pushing for control over rail services in south east London which followed a previous effort which came extremely close to succeeding.
Previous Mayor Boris Johnson had seen approval from then-Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin for Transport for London to work together on devolution issuing a document in 2016. Even the arduous task of getting Kent County Council onside had been achieved. And then Chris Grayling arrived.
Since then Metro routes have bumbled along with many trains in ever worse condition with mass station staffing shortages seen in recent years – which are thankfully now reducing. At points up to 100 stations saw ticket offices closed and in many cases no staff on site at all.
Fares continue to rise while TfL were frozen widening the gap ever further and cuts enacted as government took direct control.
Lagging recovery
Passenger recovery has unsurprisingly lagged compared to TfL rail modes post-pandemic even with the arrival of the Elizabeth line, as the London Overground recently reached 2019 levels while SE Metro was someway behind.
The advent of the Liz line summed up the failure of DfT control. Instead of enhancing services from afar to link with Abbey Wood for cross-platform interchange, Southeastern promptly cut services weeks of the line fully opening. They also removed most of the loop line trains heading from the Sidcup line instead shifting it to the Bexleyheath line, which already had areas with fast buses to Abbey Wood.
From December they’ll be three more trains from Sidcup line to Abbey Wood in each direction but it’s far from the all-day service previously seen.
To compound issues elsewhere SE cut two of four services along the Greenwich line in 2022 which also pass Abbey Wood ensuring remaining services were bunched together leaving a 27 minute gap including to fast growing areas such as Dartford.
Again it has improved since but we’re still someway from previous service levels in many areas, and it’s hard not to see DfT control as woefully inadequate at regaining passengers compared to TfL.
Cost
Of course what Labour stated in opposition may not now happen in power.
It’ll cost money to take over Metro routes. Even if TfL believe they can gain ample passenger growth given Metro routes serve stations seeing the highest levels of housebuilding in the country, the Treasury may not be so agreeable. Short term investment for long term revenue isn’t always looked on kindly.
TfL state that restoring cuts and the return of turn-up-and-go will benefit passenger growth alongside improved staffing. Many, many SE Metro stations lack staffing and ticket gates – if they exist – are often left open.
We’ve seen before that staffing stations without any increase in services can still boost counted passengers substantially. TfL took over Abbey Wood station from Southeastern years before the Elizabeth line commenced.
Within months counted passengers were up 50 per cent. People actually had to buy a ticket. Of course some still barge through the gates but generally many people who’d chance it before now will pay.
It’s different though at pretty much every other Southeastern station on the Greenwich line.
Housing growth
Kidbrooke is another great example of how things could be different. With 6,000 homes being built around the station, including hundreds from TfL’s property arm Places for London, Southeastern presided over a new station opening that saw initial plans for ticket gates removed after planning approval granted.
Despite major housing growth on all sides the station sees one member of staff – and often none with the new station building locked.
It’s ripe for improvements and is the kind of quick win TfL often target.
Lewisham station is another with thousands of new homes around the station on all sides. One recent tower includes passive provision for a new entrance. Not taken on.
On the other side near Lewisham’s tallest tower and further large developments a relatively easy win of opening an entrance is not being taken forward.
Problems
Taking control would mean issues being overcome around train stabling, depots and where drivers are based and work which routes. These aren’t easy but in 2016 we came pretty close to overcoming them and embracing the vast potential Southeastern Metro has – and is so often squandered while long distance routes gain attention.
Limited capacity at central London terminals means any net increase in services above 2019 levels are unlikely, but with improved staffing, reversion to 2019 service levels as well as improved trains that are currently unloved should easily boost passenger numbers.
As for whether the government in power now agrees even with a Transport Secretary friendly to the idea, well, if it doesn’t now with Heidi Alexander and Sadiq Khan both holding power, will it ever?
This does have a now or never feel but with the new train tender would it put a spanner in the works?
As a network it’s underperforming. An example is Lower Sydenham station. Surrounded by a few warehouses for decades over the past five years many new homes in high density blocks now sit to the right when approaching London. Another is just starting now.
The station however is stuck twenty years in the past. No staff seen today and checking online it’s another listed as seeing ticket office closed due to short staffing. Ticket gates? Dont be crazy. TfL would do a better job. Easy revenue being lost as many journeys see paying entirely optional.
I didn’t know the next blocks at Lower Sydenham were underway. Not a line I use too much is the one to Hayes. Having had a quick look though I see it’s back to pre-pandemic passenger numbers at the station according to recent data. Lewisham Council last month also approved another development not too far away.
Its a good example – of many – of how Metro routes and stations aren’t changing as areas transform. It also has just two trains an hour on Sundays which is very poor for a built up part of London. So much scope to improve. It costs of course in the short term but potential is massive.
Are Southeastern going to start refurbishing the 36 Class 376s and to give them a new Southeastern blue livery just like the Class 375, Class 707 City Beam and Class 395 Javelin trains that do have Southeastern blue livery. And the Class 465 and Class 466 to be replaced by new trains in the next few years.
And to become part of the London Overground network with new names to be given just like the 6 Overground lines that have already been renamed and rebranded. I don’t think it will ever happen. Southeastern will keep their metro services as long as they improve more extra services and to bring in new trains to replace the Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers units.
Nice, let’s draw the lines orange and call it tfl ‘overground’
This would be lovely!
I’m sure that being in the TfL map has intrinsic value on its own, and it’d help bringing more homes and services to the South East London areas…
That, plus a Bakerloo Line Extension, would put lots of places under a much brighter light 🙂
I remember Grayling having ideological objections to South Eastern coming under the control of London (Labour) government. Who knows where we might be now if TfL had been able to take over the franchise.
Important that the government does bear in mind that commuters from Dartford and beyond will share the train lines with Londoners so Mayor Khan and TFL would have to take their requirements into account. It would be good if those living in Kent and the other home counties received free train and bus travel at 60 like Londoners rather than just buses at state retirement age.