Minutes of ETUG Meeting - 29th May 2024 at 19:00 hrs
Held in the Conference Room of the Enfield Civic Centre
Chair’s Welcome
Chair Ray Knight welcomed everyone to the meeting.
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
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.
Presentation by Chris Cole
Chris Cole responded to the ETUG Tracker of issues sent to him before the meeting:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Matters arising from the previous meeting held 24th February 2024
Faye Medcalf: Mentioned more action is required for disability transport.
Update from Train Operating Companies
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.
London Overground:
No updated information.
Great Northern:
82% on public performance measures. 4.7% cancellations. 72% public performance measure for Thameslink services.
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
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.
Meridian Water Bus Review
TfL aims to publish its updated strategy regarding the Merdian Water bus review by the end of the year.
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.
