Minutes of ETUG’s AGM meeting - 29th February 2024 at 19:00 hrs

Minutes of ETUG’s AGM meeting - 29th February 2024 at 19:00 hrs

Held in the Conference Room of the Enfield Civic Centre

1. Chair’s Welcome

Chair Ray Knight

He welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2. Apologies 

Apologies received from Robert Taylor and the Hadley Wood Rail Users Group. 

Members Present: Dave Cockle, Ray Knight, John Prior, Sean Cirillo, John Williams, Peter Smith, Phillip Ridley and Cllr Peter Fallart

3. AGM

Ray Knight was re-elected as chair from the committee voting. 

Sean Cirillo was re-elected as secretary from the committee voting. 

All current committee members voted to retain their positions. 

The committee also agreed to amend the ETUG constitution to be referred to as an “apolitical pressure group for local public transport users” rather than “local transport users”.

4. Approval of the previous meeting held on 24th November 2023.

The committee approved all the minutes.

5. Matters arising from the previous meeting held on 24th November 2023.

No matters arising from the previous meeting. 

6. Updates From Train Operating Companies.

I. Greater Anglia 

Top performing train operating company. 

94.7% on-time for services 

Hertford East is busier than Hertford North.

Stansted express services were restored to run 4tph from its pre-pandemic timetable. 

II. London Overground 

95.19% of services arrive on time

1.55% Cancellations 

Extra late-night trains for London Overground from December 2024.

III. Great Northern

88% On-time for services 

80% For Thameslink services

4.95% for cancellations 

Post lockers installed at Winchmore Hill and Enfield Chase. 

IV. London Underground 

85.9% of services operated for the Piccadilly Line 

New trains are still on schedule to enter service in 2025. 

The committee agreed to acquire more information about the Enfield rail station upgrades

Phillip Ridley called on to start engagement for additional services into Stratford through adding additional platforms after the cancellation of the MSG sphere. This can be done via securing passive provision as a minimum aim. The committee also agreed to forward this via Chris Cole and other efforts. 

Sean Cirillo raised again regarding matters on Great Northern services being held at Alexandra Palace to be overtaken by a delayed Thameslink train.

6. Update on bus services 

New electric buses introduced on route 377

The route has officially converted into being fully electric from new buses introduced. The new buses also contain a new spec interior with an improved information display and wooden flooring. 

Route 307 is expected to be converted by the end of April

This should be once charging infrastructure works are completed at the Enfield bus garage. It's understood to be upgrading the existing electric grid as to why the route only has a partial allocation of its new electric buses.

Meridian Water bus review

The Meridian Water bus review has been postponed until this year. This is in accord with the timelines and the highway readiness alongside the first occupants of the development. 

Bus performances in the network

High-frequency routes, Routes W6 and W8 top first on being the best-performed routes in the borough

W6: 0.60

W8: 0.60

192: 0.95

251: 0.99

191: 1.05

329: 1.15

W4: 1.15

     2. Low-frequency routes, Route 491 tops on best-performed low-frequency routes

491: 85.71%

377: 82.50%

327: 82.62%

317: 80.95%

384: 79.21% 

Phillip Ridley proposed the committee to forward on calling for the Superloop service to stop at North Middlesex Hospital by utilising the current bus stands on the A406, The committee agreed to pursue this measure and will request Chris Cole to look into this.

7. Feedback from Environment Group Meetings.

There is no update from the Environment Group Meetings.

8. Update on ETUG’s website

ETUG’s Website 

A total of 197 views over the last three months. Top access to the website is either through Google or from Facebook, likely from ETUG’s Facebook page.

ETUG’s Subscription 

Total retention of 42 ETUG members, averaging 61.2% open rates for emails and 7.5% for clicks.

9. AOB

The committee agreed to put forward the following to Chris Cole:

1. To engage with Waltham Forest, Network Rail and the borough of Newham to secure provision on additional platforms at Stratford station. 

2. Work with TfL to improve the current Overground services on the Enfield Town and Cheshunt branches. 

3. To attend the public transport consultative group in Waltham Forest to give an idea of how Enfield council could perform something similar with public engagement. 

4. In light of the Superloop, an engagement with Waltham Forest to improve current orbital connectivity between Chingford Mount and Ponders End. 

5. Bus stop accessibility at North Middlesex Hospital for the Superloop service alighting.

6. Bus stop interchange at Bush Hill Park and Winchmore Hill, The Green stations by converting the current hail & ride alighting points to fixed stops.

Ray Knight ended the meeting by thanking everyone for attending. 

Next meeting Wednesday 22nd May 2024 19:00 hrs. 

Minutes of ETUG meeting - 24th November 2023 at 19:00 hrs

Minutes of ETUG meeting - 24th November 2023 at 19:00 hrs
 

Held in the Conference Room of the Enfield Civic Centre

1. Chairs Welcome 

 

Chair Ray Knight

 

He welcomed everyone to the meeting including the guest speaker Chris Cole, Head of Strategic Transport and Policy Enfield Council 

2. Apologies 

 

Apologies received from Basil Clarke, Phillip Ridley and Robert Taylor 

 

Members Present: Dave Cockle, Ray Knight, John Prior, Sean Cirillo, John Williams, Peter Smith, Peter Jeffrey, Cllr Peter Fallart and Faye Medcalf 

3. Presentation by Chris Cole, Head of Strategic Transport and Policy Enfield Council

 

Chris introduced himself to his role, position, and brief background on his past roles.

 

I. Sources of data summarised within the borough and used by the council.

 

LB Enfield -

• Traffic Sensors

• Cycle Counters

• Air quality monitoring

TfL -

• Bus and cycle analytics

National sources - 

• Census

• Rail

 

II. Key notes of transport data within the borough

 

• Enfield Town to Southbury, Ponders End and Edmonton Green, Fore Street have the busiest bus corridors.

• North Circular Roads and Great Cambridge Roads north of Cambridge Roundabout have the lowest speeds.

• Palmers Green, Green Lanes and Green Roads have the highest delays reported on bus routes. 

• Air pollution is more common along the North Circular corridor. 

• Enfield Road, Lea Valley Road, North Circular, Hertford Road and Palmers Green, Green Lanes are listed as bus priority for investments.

 

Peter Smith raised a question regarding “extending the 456 bus route to Crews Hill Station”

 

Chris Cole responded “TfL had made themselves clear they won't be pursuing the extension at this time, mainly on grounds of limited demand and a requirement for a bus turnaround facility.

 

Dave Cockle raised another matter regarding the low frequencies on our rail services in particular both the Overground Southbury Loop and Enfield Town services as well as the Great Northern services from Enfield Chase. 

 

We as a group agreed to forward the priorities we want implemented for bus and rail services. 

 

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting 

 

Routes 279 and the W8 to receive brand new electric buses.

 

5. Updates from train operation companies

 

I. Greater Anglia 

 

Train operator of the year (1st in the league)

 

95.9% of services arrive on time

 

1.4% cancellations 

 

Reinstating the 4tph to Stanstead airport during the peaks, all-new train railway. 

 

New waiting shelters are being invested, almost pre-COVID levels for inner London travel. 

 

II. London Overground 

 

3.6% cancellations

 

95% on-time

 

1st place for operator performance for services up to three minutes late. 

 

Trialled customer initiative to use less busy weekday services. 

 

III. Great Northern

 

89.0% of services arrive on time

 

5.74% of services cancelled

 

IV. London Underground

 

The first of the new 2024 tube stock was tested in Germany

 

Testing on the Piccadilly line remains on target to commence next year in 2024.

 

Sean Cirillo raised concerns over “Great Northern metro services being held at Alexandra Palace to be overtaken by a delayed Sevenoaks bound Thameslink train, creating delays for the Great Northern services, occasionally up to 10 minutes”

 

Dave Cockle responded, “Thameslink services are given priority over Great Northern metro services on traffic”.

 

6. Update on bus services 

 

I. New 377 electric buses 

 

New buses for the 377 have been constructed and registered. With the first one stationed at the Enfield bus garage. 

 

The new buses are expected to roll out soon, looking at next year subject to charging infrastructure and driver-type training being ready. 

 

II. 30 new electric buses have been ordered for the 279.

 

The same type of electric buses used on the 307 are placed for the route.

 

The new spec interior will be featured including wood effect flooring, advanced digital announcing information, sun roofing and high-back seating.

 

III. Superloop route SL1 is expected to commence on Saturday 9th December 2023

 

The first departure from Finchley will be at 05:00 AM with the last departure leaving Walthamstow at 00:50 AM. 

 

The frequency will run every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 15 minutes on Sundays and evenings. 

 

The route will stop at Friern Barnet Town Hall, Beaconsfield Road (New Southgate Station), Arnos Grove Station, Palmerston Road (Green Lanes, Palmers Green), Silver Street Station, Eley Trading Estate (Meridian Water), Crooked Billet, Forest Road/Bell Corner and Walthamstow Market. This is a limited stopping service.

 

The route will also operate with double-deck buses.

 

IV. Bus stats 2022/2023 usage data 

 

Both Enfield routes 279 and 149 routes are on the top ten busiest routes in London with the 149 at 2nd place and the 279 at 8th place.

 

399 and the 327 are on the ten least used routes in London with the 399 at 1st place and the 327 at the 8th least used. 

 

Both Enfield night routes the N29 and the N279 are on the top ten busiest night routes with the N29 at 3rd place and the N279 at 6th place. 

 

Top 5 busiest routes in the Enfield borough locally: 

 

1. 149: 12,034,285 

2. 279: 9,584,914

3. 141: 8,384,745

4. 102: 6,554,480

5. 34: 6,190,475

 

Top 5 least used routes in the Enfield borough locally: 

 

1. 399: 399: 8,381

2. 327: 48,612

3. 377: 244,606

4. 456: 338,952

5. W9: 623,475

 

Top 5 most recovered routes in the Enfield borough by usage from its pre-pandemic: 

 

1. 232: 99.7%

2. 192: 99.5%

3. 317: 99.3%

4. 313: 96.1%

5. N279: 96.0%

 

Top 5 least recovered routes in the Enfield borough by usage from its pre-pandemic: 

 

1. 327: 67.6%

2. 299: 68.7%

3. W9: 71.9%

4. 259: 77.0% 

5. 377: 77.8%

 

Peter Jeffrey asked, “if any review or amendments be made to the least used routes in Enfield?”

 

Sean Cirillo responded, “There are no current plans to amend or restructure the least-use bus routes, however, each route is reviewed”. He also expressed personal doubt the “W9 bus route may not survive in its current form in the long term. Mainly due to the route paralleling the 456 for most of its routing and taking patronage off the route.”

 

Ray Knight also raised concerns over “handling bus stops not in use, in particular, drivers sometimes alighting for you or skipping the stops.”

 

7. Update on environment forums 

 

No update on the environment forum. However, it's stated there will be a meeting next week with a TfL guest speaker expected to attend

8. ETUG’s website and Membership

 

 A total of 416 views on the website over the last three months totalling 1110 views of all time.

 

The top search engine for accessing the website continues to be Google and Facebook.

 

Two new members gained since our last meeting totalling 42 members in total. 

 

An average of 60.8% of email open rates and 5.7% for clicking on links provided for the last three months. 

 

9. AOB

 

Peter Smith announced, “There will be a meeting for the over 50s forum at the Enfield Council chambers with Joanne McCarthey will explain the role of the GLA and her responsibilities as well climate change and pollution”. This event will take place on Tuesday 28th of November at 10:00 AM. Non-members are welcome to attend. 

 

Sean Cirillo proposed “if having the option to attend via Zoom can be made permanent after successfully conducting it today with our guest speaker, Chris Cole as well John Prior”

 

All the committee voted to agree on this.

 

Ray Knight ended the meeting by thanking everyone for attending. 

 

Next meeting Thursday 29th February 2024 19:00 hrs.

Below is a link to the minutes viewed from the documentation: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13473k10erBkFQEKGLAqqX0GTl5HdrhCsHosg7Dmnl7I/edit?usp=sharing

Consultation Report: X34 between North Finchley and Walthamstow, part of the Superloop

Hi all

TfL has recently published the consultation results and the report for the X34/SL1 Superloop route. 

There's been some admemdents to current proposals: 

"The new express route will now serve South Chingford by stopping at two additional stops at the Crooked Billet Roundabout. These new stops are on the existing route proposed and therefore will have very little impact on journey times"

"We have added additional stop locations at Meridian Water to better serve the

development and provide improved pedestrian access. The service would now stop

at stop H (Eley Trading Estate) and stop J (Ravenside Trading Estate)."

"We are no longer proposing to reduce the frequency of the existing bus route-34 in

the evenings, so the 34 will continue to have a service of buses every 12 minutes in

the evenings. This is to ensure there is a reliable and frequent bus service during

hours of darkness for people to make local journeys between stops which may not

be served by the new express route."

"All issues raised in the consultation will be answered in a Response to Issues Raised

document, published in the coming weeks."

Link to the consultation report below:

https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/24801/widgets/70192/documents/46586