Passengers are at risk of getting “injured or killed” because of the overcrowding chaos at London Bridge station, a prominent MP warned the Government on Thursday.
Sir Bob Neill, Tory MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, said delays on Southeastern services - in the light of controversial timetable changes in December - and failures on Network Rail infrastructure were causing “chaos”.
It came after safety concerns were sparked for the second time in just over a month when hundreds of passengers were stranded on the concourse at London Bridge during the evening rush hour on Tuesday.
Speaking at transport questions in the Commons on Thursday, Sir Bob said: “At some point, someone will get injured or killed as a result of this.”
Labour MP Clive Efford, who represents Eltham, said one Southeastern train he was travelling on was so overcrowded that a passenger fainted.
He said: “What we have got here is the system has been cut back to the point there is no slack in it. Whenever there is a delay there is dangerous overcrowding. The Minister has got to address that before something serious happens.”
But transport minister Huw Merriman said services were being improved and revealed Network Rail was asking Transport for London for advice on crowd control measures.
Sir Bob said the problems on Southeastern had been caused by timetable changes that resulted in the loss of direct services on the Hayes line into Charing Cross station, and the “cutback” in services on the North Kent line into Cannon Street.
As a result, “unsustainable numbers of people” were having to change trains at London Bridge.
“I have seen the chaos there,” he said. “I have actually stood outside the station because it had to be closed on occasions. It’s not safe, Minister. At some point, somebody will get injured or killed as a result of this.”
Labour shadow transport minister Tan Singh Dhesi said the changes - which were not consulted upon with passengers - had caused “predictable chaos”.
Mr Merriman said the new timetable had been introduced “improve resilience” and save £10m after the sale of season tickets collapsed to 32 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
He said he had agreed the return of hourly off-peak services on the Bexleyheath line to Charing Cross following a campaign by Tory MPs Sir David Evennett and Louie French.
The new service will run hourly Monday to Saturday from May 22. This should also ease pressure on the Sidcup line.
A spokesman for Southeastern said the extra services were being added after “rigorous assessment” of passenger demand and not simply in response to the MPs’ request.
Sir David said: “I am absolutely delighted that Southeastern and the Rail Minister have listened to our concerns and campaign for the restoration of the hourly off-peak rail service on the Bexleyheath line.”
“The views of the rail travelling public in our area have now been taken into consideration and I know the restoration of the Charing Cross service will be widely welcomed by all who travel on the Bexleyheath line.”
Mr French said: “The reinstatement of off-peak Charing Cross services for passengers using Falconwood and Welling Station is a significant step in the right direction. This important change will help reduce overcrowding, cut journey times, and means fewer passengers will have to change stations at London Bridge to access the West End.”
