Since Parliament dissolved at the end of last week, Greg Hands, who is now no longer the local MP but the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea and Fulham, has been making the most of his mornings to meet commuters at local tube stations including Fulham Broadway, Parsons Green and Putney Bridge.
Greg talked with morning commuters on their way to work on three mornings this past week, about the Government’s record on the economy as well as their opinions on the London Underground and other local transport matters. Residents were also able to raise with Greg other local issues or problems they may have.
Some of the topics which frequently came up in discussion were the new trains which have come into service on the District Line, as well as other improvements in service and capacity. For many years, whilst the local MP, Greg led a long-running campaign for more frequent and upgraded trains on the District Line, and especially on the Wimbledon branch. Chelsea and Fulham has the highest number of Tube users of any London constituency. In 2011, 14,000 residents responded in a TfL consultation which resulted in five more rush-hour trains running through Fulham during the morning peak.
Greg himself was a guest of Transport for London when visiting one of the very first S-Class trains, when they were introduced on the Hammersmith & City Line early in 2013. The new 'walk-through' S-Class trains, which are one carriage bigger than the Line's old trains, came into operation for the first time at the end of February 2014 on the Wimbledon Branch Line, which runs through Fulham and through Sloane Square. A total of 80 new District Line trains will be phased in gradually until all are in service by 2016.
The S-Stock is unique as it is the first train on the Tube with a walk-through gangway between carriages - the inside of the train is one continuous length, providing improved capacity, security, and passenger flow. The new trains, which are built by Bombardier in Derby, can accommodate 865 passengers, 17 per cent more than current stock, and have wider doors and walkways, as well as air conditioning. They are also better adapted for wheelchair users, and CCTV enables the driver to see into every carriage for increased safety and security.
Welcoming the new trains, Greg said: “It’s been great talking to local people outside the Tube in the mornings. It allows me to get a first-hand sense of the issues that are most import to people. It is clear that the continued recovery in the economy means a lot to people.
“It’s also clear that these new trains are fantastic news for everyone in Fulham and many stops beyond. I have been campaigning for more trains on the Wimbledon branch for years. These new trains will now add significantly more capacity on the line, making for more efficient, comfortable, and smoother journeys. The air-conditioning will also be welcome during the coming summer months. I travel by the District Line at least twice a day between Fulham, Chelsea, and Westminster. It’s always nice to see one of the new trains rolling into the station. I enjoy using them and many residents have told me they do too.”
The District Line is also used by more than 700,000 people each day. At peak times the Wimbledon branch of the District Line operates at 92 per cent of capacity with some trains operating over capacity and many passengers unable to board at stations such as Parson’s Green and Fulham Broadway.
Similar S-Stock trains were introduced on the on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines September 2013, and have proved popular with passengers. The District Line's existing trains are more than 40 years old. They started service in 1969/70 and were manufactured in two batches in 1969, with a further supply in 1977.
By the end of 2016 there will be 191 of the new trains on 40 per cent of the Tube network running on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.