Earlier this year tube bosses announced that they planned to discontinue weekday services to Olympia. This would relieve pressure on Earls Court station and allow up to five additional morning rush hour trains to be provided on the Wimbledon line.

But residents and businesses near Olympia have been campaigning against the changes and are on the brink of overturning the proposals.

Now Wandsworth’s transport spokesman Cllr  Russell King is urging residents who want the extra trains to make sure their voices are heard.

He said: “Passengers who travel into Earls Court on the District Line from stations south of the river know only too well what a difference five extra trains could make to their daily journey.

“At the moment they have to endure severely overcrowded conditions on their commute, with carriages almost full to bursting.  The proposals from London Underground to provide extra capacity in the morning rush hour would make a huge difference to people living in Wandsworth.

“Unfortunately, as a result of a well-organised and very vocal campaign by residents and businesses near Olympia, there is a risk that these plans could now be abandoned, unless tube chiefs get to hear the views of our residents.

“We need to inundate London Underground with as many messages of support for the changes as we possibly can. If people do not make their voices heard right now - then there is a very real danger that nothing will change and passengers living in this borough will be left with the same daily ordeal.  People need to act now. There are only a few days left in which to take part in the consultation and make sure their views are registered.”     

People can email enquire@tfl.gov.uk marking it ‘Olympia District line consultation’ or call Transport for London’s customer services hotline on 0845 330 9880 between 8am and 8pm seven days a week. Comments can also be left on the TfL website before July 15 where there is a special questionnaire. 

June 27, 2011