BGORUG

TRAVELLERS - WILL YOUR FARE INCREASE WHEN LINE CLOSES? 

As Overground rail line closure looms, commuters are urged to check their fares won’t be higher. As preparations are made for the start of an 8-month line closure starting on 4th June, the Barking – Gospel Oak Rail User Group strongly urged rail travellers to attend Transport for London advice sessions being held at stations. The Group today launched its new leaflet2 drawing attention to the “drop-in” advice sessions that Transport for London (TfL) is holding through the rest of this month and in early May to advise passengers how to make their journeys while the line is closed. 

BGORUG members attending the first advice session at Barking station on Monday 18th April were dismayed to learn from the advisors that some passengers could be paying higher fares when using alternative routes. The line is popular with commuters because it does not pass through Zone 1. Glenn Wallis, BGORUG Secretary said, “TfL was asked by BGORUG to ensure that regular passengers would not be paying more in fares when having to use alternative routes. Unfortunately, it seems that some passengers certainly will be charged more.” 

Passengers likely to be affected are those having to make additional bus journeys or those who have to change trains in Zone 1. “Passengers who have to change trains in Zone 1 must plan a route that does not involve passing through ticket gates,” said Glenn Wallis, “Otherwise they will be charged a Zone 1 fare.” WILL YOUR FARE INCREASE WHEN LINE CLOSES? 

Please find attached a copy of a letter sent today by email to BGORUG's nominated contact at Transport for London. It seeks answers to the queries around fares protection for passengers making their diverted journeys during the line closure that were thrown up by the 'drop-in session' at Barking on Monday.

Should BGORUG ever receive answers to questions posed, we will of course let you know!

BGORUG will produce its own notes of the meeting with TfL on 10 March if no minutes are forthcoming from TfL.

I would draw your attention to the following:

• The document produced by Waltham Forest Council back in Februaryhttp://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20160304_Gospel%20Oak%20to%20Barking%20Electrification.pdf It was apparent at the Monday "drop-in session" at Barking station that there was great annoyance that the information contained in this document had got into the public domain. At the meeting with TfL on 10 March, we were told that this document was "inaccurate", but it has never been explained what the inaccuracies were. BGORUG used this document as the basis for its 27 February Bulletin http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20160227_newsletter.pdf 
• At TfL's request on 10 March, one of our members put a considerable amount of effort into producing this paper which was submitted to TfL on 21 March. We are still awaiting TfL's promised considered comments on this paperhttp://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20160321_electrification_blockade.pdf 
• The same BGORUG member also produced a paper showing how electric 4-car trains could run on the Barking - Gospel Oak Route from mid-2017 http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20160331_4car_trains.pdf TfL did finally acknowledge receipt of this paper but have not replied further, so far
• On Monday, a new TfL webpage went live. BGORUG asks you to look at this web page https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/london-overground-closure?cid=london-overground-closure  and compare it with the Waltham Forest Council report of last February and see if you can spot any differences between them?
• Our urgent press release, issued yesterday is now posted on our websitehttp://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20160420_press_release.pdf This was issued to urge passengers to check if their fares would increase when making their journeys while the line was closed.