Network Rail has now told campaigners  that “stacking” (sharing of platforms) at London Bridge from 2015 is feasible so the South London Line could continue to run.  In Network Rail’s view this was “not ideal” and they would not recommend. Transport for London / London Rail (Peter Field) refused to state whether the Mayor’s view would be any different when questioned at the public meeting.
200 plus people packed the Institute of Psychiatry for the SE5 Forum public meeting attended by Chris Rowley for Network Rail, Peter Field, Director London Rail (Transport for London) and Tim Bellenger, Research Director, London TravelWatch (LTW). Residents, user groups, staff and employers all spoke about the South London “life-line”. Professor John Moxham for Kings College Hospital said the problem was not waiting times at the hospital but how long it took to get to the hospital. It was bad enough already but losing the South London Line service would make things much worse for patients, staff and the local community. He said patients’ being able to get to hospital was a pretty fundamental right. It had been a long fight to get disabled access at Denmark Hill station. When we lose the South London Line the alternative of changing trains at Peckham would put things back for patients. Kings, Guy’s, South London and Maudsley and now University College London are demanding retention of the South London Line service into London Bridge.