HC Deb 13 April 1994 vol 241 cc186-7W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, concerning daily flows of rail passengers on the London, Tilbury and Southend line to Fenchurch Street what is (a) the approximate number of passengers carried in trains departing from Barking for Fenchurch Street on a normal weekday between the hours 0700 and 10.00, irrespective of their boarding stations, (b) the best estimate available of the number of passengers departing westbound on the District line from Barking, between those hours and (c) the numbers of passengers joining westbound District line trains between Barking and Bow Road between those hours; and what assessment he has made of the total effect of withdrawing all main line trains between Barking and Fenchurch Street between 22 July and 5 September next.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 12 April 1994]The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) The London, Tilbury and Southend—LT and S —line currently carries 22,000 passengers on all its services into London during the peak hours of 07.00 to 10.00.
  2. (b) London Underground Ltd.—LUL—says that in 1990, 4,300 passengers boarded westbound District and Hammersmith and City lines trains at Barking between 07.00 and 10.00 am each weekday.
  3. (c) The same survey showed that the number of passengers on westbound district line trains between Barking and Bow Road during the morning peak were as follows:
Number
Barking—East Ham 14,900
East Ham—Upton Park 21,600
Upton Park—Plaistow 26,200
Plaistow—West Ham 30,400
West Ham—Bromley-by-Bow 30,600
Bromley-by-Bow—Bow Road 31,300
LT and S management have made the following assessments and arrangements.

The temporary timetable, which will be in operation during the closure of Fenchurch Street will provide 16,300 seats into Liverpool Street. Although, due to limited track and platform capacity, it will not be possible to run extra Great Eastern trains into Liverpool Street, additional capacity will also be provided on Great Eastern services form Southend Victoria and Colchester, and it is expected that some LT and S passengers will travel from Upminster to Romford in order to connect with these services. Passengers at the eastern end of the route will be encouraged to use Great Eastern services.

Passenger numbers are traditionally reduced by 13 per cent. during the summer period and LT and S management estimate that this will rise to 20 per cent. during the closure of Fenchurch Street.

LT and S management estimate that the maximum number of passengers needing to transfer to LUL services for onward travel by tube is in the range of 1,300 to 2,800, and LUL has been advised accordingly. In addition to its normal services, starting in May, LUL will provide an extra four trains an hour during the peak period on the Hammersmith and City line from Barking.

By diverting many LT and S trains into Liverpool Street, it is hoped that the effect of withdrawing mainline trains into Fenchurch Street will be minimised and every effort is being made to advise passengers of their alternatives before 22 July. Additional staff will be on hand at Barking to assist with passenger transfers, and LT and S management are continuing to work with local rail user groups to offer the best possible service during the closure.