Rupa Huq Raises Concerns over Elizabeth Line Performance
Writes to Mayor about the continuing delays to the service
MP says she is getting a consistent stream of complaints about the line
August 8, 2024
Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq has written to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Seb Dance, his Deputy Mayor responsible for transport, about the recent performance of the Elizabeth line.
She was prompted to contact them following complaints about another series of delays on Tuesday morning (6 August) which she describes at ‘just the latest in a long line of complaints I have received on this service since it started operation and particularly when through-running commenced.”
Passengers had informed her that there were very few services running during the morning rush hour and this led to significant overcrowding.
Dr Huq said in her letter, “My constituents depend on these services for their commute and want to know what steps are being taken to prevent this happening again.”
She added that the service at two of the stations in her constituency, West Ealing and Acton Mainline, was ‘particularly patchy’ and the alternative of taking the Central line was less than satisfactory due to a steep decline in reliability with long waits a West Acton, a station she often uses.
She asked the Mayor and Deputy Mayor about measures that were being taken including steps to prevent emergency track repairs during rush hour and the progress in discussions with Network Rail for infrastructure modernisation works on the Great Western Main Line. In addition she asked for an update on the timescale for the modernisation of the Central Line.
On social media she said that her son had told her that the reason for the consistent delays was the deterioration of the aging overhead cables in this section.
Passengers being escorted off the stricken train when overhead cables failed last year
The MP revealed in her letter that a family member had been injured as a result of the large gap between train and platform on the Elizabeth line platform at Ealing Broadway. She said that, while she welcomed the announcement of extra staff at the station, putting up ‘a few posters’ was not particularly reassuring.
The persistent reliability problems that are occurring on the section of the line between Paddington and Ealing are understood to be due to the electricity supply not having been designed for a Metro style service like the Elizabeth line. The infrastructure is owned and operated, not by Transport for London (TfL), but Network Rail and was installed with the less regular Great Western Railway services in mind.
TfL has previously pointed to improved reliability and passenger satisfaction since the Elizabeth line opened. The western section faced particular challenges with the introduction of full services as it had to accommodate both Elizabeth Line trains and other services on the same tracks, leading to delays and disruptions. This has now benefitted from infrastructure upgrades, better management of service patterns, and an increased focus on resolving initial teething problems.
TfL says that complaints about overcrowding and delays have decreased, indicating that the measures taken to improve the service have been effective and that there has also been a rise in ridership on the western section, which suggests that the line’s improved reliability and service frequency are encouraging more people to use it.
We have contacted the Mayor’s office for a response to Rupa Huq’s letter.
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