Minutes of ETUG Meeting - 22nd August 2024 at 19:00 hrs

 Minutes of ETUG Meeting - 22nd August 2024 at 19:00 hrs 

Held in the Conference Room of the Enfield Civic Centre

1. Chair’s Welcome 

Chair Dave Cockle welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2. Apologies 

Apologies received from: Peter Smith and Ray Knight

Members present: Aurora Yaacov, Charles Fetcher, Cllr Peter Fallart, Faye Medcalf, Peter Jeffrey, Phillip Ridley, John Prior, John Williams, Sean Cirillo and Guest Speaker: Chris Cole

      3. Presentation by Chris Cole 

1. Improving bus connections between Winchmore Hill and Edmonton: 

1. Increasing Routes 456 frequency: TfL currently has no plans to extend the hours of operation for Route 456. TfL has no plans to increase the weekday or Saturday frequency due to current demand levels. There are considerations for increasing the Sunday frequency, pending costs and a business case analysis.

2. Connecting Edmonton Green and Winchmore Hill with a direct bus service: Given the existing interchange options and the recent introduction of route 456, TfL has no current plans to introduce a new service or extend an existing route in the area. TfL continues to review the bus network as part of its regular operations and will make changes as necessary.

 B.  Superloop signage at New Southgate: Non-TfL stations, such as New Southgate (owned by National Rail), are in the final category for review and installation. There is currently no timeline for the implementation of Superloop signage across the network

Follow-up question for the next meeting: 

Has the TOC been approached about signage within the station?

C.   Improved safety at stops J and H at Meridian Water: Reduction of Speed limits from 50mph to 40mph. Looked at Islands for a possible solution. No solution as of currently. 

D.   Updated bus stop announcements: The Southgate Police Station stop was updated on 3rd June 2024. Enfield Police Station on 30th August 2024. 

E.   Improved Overground services: 

1. Improving the timetable on both Enfield Town and Cheshunt branches: Work for a 3 + 3 service commencing in Autumn with Greater Anglia. Evening spacing timetable during peak hours has been delayed until December 2025

Follow-up question for the next meeting: 

Is there sufficient rolling stock?  Or should procurement be included in OOC procurement?

2. Information regarding short-term arrangements: Times are available on the website, do your best to ensure timetables are told in advance before short-term changes. ETUG will ask for a follow-up for an announced timetable in disruption. 

D.  Silver Street step-free access: No funding to deliver step-free access. 

E.  Great Northern: An additional 2tph service could operate between Gordon Hill and Moorgate during the off-peaks. This is subject to funding approval from the DfT. If approved, it could be implemented in the December 2025 timetable change. 

Dave Cockle: Added a shortage of drivers was preventing such frequency increase. They are currently recruiting drivers for the increased service. 

Gordon Hill Station: Step-free access did not make it into funding. 

Dave Cockle: Asks if the Enfield borough has been given a priority list for step-free access.

Chris Cole answered: Depends on a priority list based on what the station serves such as hospitals, developments etc. Funding is also a factor to come from elsewhere. 

Feye Medcalf: Raised regarding the Crossrail 2 project if It's getting implemented?

Chris Cole answered: Land is currently safeguarded, therefore preventing any new developments on safeguarded land if the line ever gets built. Currently remains a long-term aspiration by both TfL, Network Rail and the DfT. 

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting held on 29th May 2024

No matters arising from the previous meeting.

5. Updates from Train Operating Companies

1. Greater Anglia

Best performing in the country

92% of trains arrive within 3 minutes of being on time.

2. London Overground

Punctuality at 91.1% on-time for services

3. Great Northern

86% on-time 

7.1% cancellations 

87% on-time for Thameslink 

Seeking 94 new drivers. To allow additional services, reliability and resilience. 

Drafting a timetable for the 4tph Gordon Hill to Moorgate. 

4. London Underground 

A 2-week closure is in place between Cockfosters and Wood Green. This is to allow work and preparation for the new rolling stock which is due to arrive in 2025. Rail Replacement services are in operation. 

TfL is continuing to expand 4G signalling across the network with a recent implementation on the Piccadilly Line between Kings Cross and Hyde Park Corner. 

6. Buses

1. Sullivan Buses withdrawn from TfL operations

Sullivan Buses has withdrawn from TfL services as of a recent

Temporary arrangements are in place for operated routes with some operating with a temporary timetable until full services can be reinstated. Other operators also operate routes until permanent contracts can be awarded.

Full timetables are expected to be reinstated on Route 217 from the 24th of August and the 31st of August on Route 299. Route 298 operates a special timetable every 30 minutes all days of the week, including in the evenings. Route W9 is also operating a temporary timetable once every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and continues operating every 30 minutes on Sundays and evenings. 

2. Bus performances over the last three months. 

1. Most Reliable High Frequent Routes: 

1. 251: 0.53

2. W8: 0.69

3. 192: 0.80

4. 184: 0.87

5. W6: 0.91

II. Least Reliable High Frequent Routes: 

1. 217: 2.97

2. 144: 1.56

3. 259: 1.46

4. 149: 1.45

5. 34: 1.31

III. Most Reliable Low Frequent Routes:

1. 317: 90.13%

2. 491: 87.53%

3. 384: 87.24%

4. 327: 86.14%

5. 231: 85.88%

IV: Least Reliable Low Frequent Routes: 

1. 299: 61.23%

2. W9: 61.85% 

3. 298: 64.53%

4. 313: 81.07%

5. 377: 82.95%

Superloop SL1's first stats revealed: SL1: 1.03

C. Updates on Network Changes 

There are no updates regarding Superloop 2 or the Meridian Water Bus Review. The Meridian Water is still expected to be published by the end of the year. The Mayor has asked TfL to develop proposals for the Superloop 2 network. However, no date or timeline is published on when further information on the network will be published. 

John Prior: Raised if the W6 is running up to standards? 

Faye Medcalf: Worlds End Lane has been closed affecting Routes 456 and W9.

Peter Jeffrey: Raised regarding cancellations on the 456 and the reliability of the vehicles. 

Aurora Yaacov: Raised on the travel experience on Route 329 with reported buses shaking on the route. 

A follow-up recommendation on a question regarding bus maintenance. 

Secretary to add this onto the tracker. 

Sean Cirillo: Added the maintenance depends on the operator and the garage specifically meaning sorting the case may be more complex. 

7. Environment Group Meetings

Scrapped and turned into a scrutiny panel. 

8. Updates on ETUG’s Website 

Total of 579 views over the last 3 months

Access to the blog continues to be mostly from Facebook followed by Google. 

57.2% opening rate on emails from ETUG’S Subscription 

1 new subscriber has joined over the last three months. 

ETUG continues to retain a total of 43 members including the committee. 

9. AOB

Cllr Peter Fallart: Has an aspiration for Lime Bikes to operate in the Enfield Borough

Faye Medcalf: National Centre for access for transport on the 11th of September.

Aurora Yaacov: Will commit her best to encourage others to attend future ETUG meetings. 

Sean Cirillo: Proposed some ideas on how to replace Item 7 on the ETUG Agenda as well as some other ideas for additional content to be added to the Agenda. He proposed replacing Item 7 with updates on Network Rail infrastructure improvements. 

The ETUG Committee has agreed to add Network Rail infrastructure on Item 5 alongside updates from Train Operating Companies, It will be renamed to “Updates on Rail Services”. Item 7 will be replaced with “Updates on the Transport Accessibility”. Faye Medcalf will provide updates on Item 7 in future meetings as well Sean Cirillo and Phillip Ridley will provide updates on Network Rail Infrastructure Updates. 

Dave Cockle ended the meeting by thanking everyone for attending 

Next Meeting 22nd November 2024

Minutes of ETUG Meeting - 29th May 2024 at 19:00 hrs

 Minutes of ETUG Meeting - 29th May 2024 at 19:00 hrs 

Held in the Conference Room of the Enfield Civic Centre

1. Chair’s Welcome 

Chair Ray Knight welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2. Apologise

Apologies received from: Phillip Ridley, John Williams, Peter Smith, Bill O'Brien, Lindsay Rawlings and the Hadley Wood Rail Users Group

Members present: Sean Cirillo, Dave Cockle, Cllr Peter Fallart, Peter Jeffrey, John Prior, Faye Medcalf and Guest Speaker: Chris Cole

3. Plan of action presented by Ray Knight

Ray Knight summarised ETUG’s aims to the whole group including improvements to the frequency of the London Overground services to 3 or 4tph and local Great Northern services to a similar frequency. 

Moving the terminus of the 192 to Enfield Chase station swapping the 231 bus route to Little Park Gardens.

These are some of the main aims listed. 

4. Presentation by Chris Cole 

Chris Cole responded to the ETUG Tracker of issues sent to him before the meeting:

1. Bus Stop & Rail Interchange at Bush Hill Park Station:

LBE has been funded to add fixed stops on route 377 between A105 and A10 in the 24/25 financial year. Planning work has just begun, more updates later in the year. 

2. Converting the current Hail & Ride Winchmore Hill, The Green stop to a permanent fixed stop: 

Winchmore Hill, The Green: LBE officers are reviewing comments on proposals consulted previously for three bus stops on A111 The Bourne. 

3. Superloop services alighting at North Middlesex Hospital: 

At Silver Street within Spring 2025, works will start on a staggered crossing on the  A406 Sterling Way improving access to the hospital. Interchange to other services are available from Silver Street station. Not stopping at North Middlesex Hospital allows faster and more flexible journeys on the SL1. 

4. Improving bus services between Chingford and Enfield: 

TfL has no current plans to enhance the frequency on the 313 and says the SL1, 34 and 444 also provide current connections between Enfield and the Waltham Forest borough. 

Chris Cole also mentions information can’t be communicated regarding Superloop 2 due to the political sensitivity in the current period. However did mention he expects more information to be published around the summer after the General Election.

Dave Cockle: Raised a point with Chris Cole regarding bus announcements on the 191 bus route at Enfield War Memorial alighting for Enfield Chase Station. Chris Cole responded he’ll try and get a response from TfL. Secretary to add this point to the tracker list. 

Peter Jeffrey: Raised another point regarding electric buses on the 456 routing to Rosewood Station, with reports on buses mounting on curbs.

Dave Cockle: A comment on Great Northern to lean on pushing on improving Enfield services compared to focusing on other areas. 

5. Matters arising from the previous meeting held 24th February 2024

Faye Medcalf: Mentioned more action is required for disability transport. 

6. Update from Train Operating Companies

1. Greater Anglia: 

94.1% on-time services, Investment in new benches and Tottenham Hale station, commuting is around 75-85% pre-COVID and won Rail operator runners-up of the year.

2. London Overground: 

No updated information.

3. Great Northern: 

82% on public performance measures. 4.7% cancellations. 72% public performance measure for Thameslink services.

4. London Underground: 

TfL is in the process of installing 4G phone signalling between the stations of Hyde Park Corner and Russel Square on the Piccadilly Line. These works should be live by the end of Summer 2024. TfL also aims to have the entire tunnelled sections of the Tube by the end of the year. 

Testing and work are continuing in preparation for the new rolling stock. The new rolling stock remains on target to be introduced in 2025 next year. 

Ray Knight: Attended a public transport meeting in April with Greater Anglia. Mentioned raising a point if their staff can be deployed at Seven Sisters station to tackle overcrowding when trains divert away from the West Anglia Main Line.

     7.  Update on Bus Services 

1. Route 307 converted fully on electric bus allocation: 

Charging infrastructure works have been completed at the Enfield bus garage meaning a full electric allocation to be be commenced. Buses are now running late in the evenings and on Sunday which they couldn't do previously. 

2. Meridian Water Bus Review 

TfL aims to publish its updated strategy regarding the Merdian Water bus review by the end of the year. 

3. Superloop 2 

TfL is proposing a new set of express bus services orbiting the capital called Superloop 2. An idea developed by Mayor Sadiq Khan if reelected he will implement the concept. 

The Enfield borough could receive a route from Barnet to Chingford via Enfield Town based on current proposals. However, information is minimal as no information is published regarding its specific routing, frequency, vehicle types or when they will be introduced. 

Sean Cirillo: He raised a point regarding the delays and the long gaps for TfL updating their strategy in the Upper Lea Valley corridor, specifically Meridian Water. 

Chris Chole responded he had a meeting recently with TfL to confirm the updated strategy aims to be published by the end of the year. Also added there were delays likely due to financial difficulties. No updated strategy on the wide Upper Lea Valley area as of currently i.e. Picketts Lock, Brimsdown etc. 

8. Update on Environment Group Meetings 

The previous meeting was cancelled. Meetings are being scraped and replaced with a scrutiny panel onwards.

9. Update on ETUG’s Website 

Total of 579 views over the last 3 months

Access to the blog continues to be mostly from Facebook followed by Google. 

57.2% opening rate on emails from ETUG’S Subscription 

1 new subscriber has joined over the last three months. 

ETUG continues to retain a total of 43 members including the committee. 

10. AOB 

Sean Cirillo reminded everyone if any issue arises. Please write to him so he can put it onto the ETUG tracker ensuring we can at least try and get a response from Chris Cole. 

Ray Knight ended the meeting by thanking everyone for attending 

 

Next meeting 22nd August 2024 19:00 hrs.