Station Manager Corner

[Michael Palaeologus]

Well done Barry. Looks to me like you will soon be called to take up a Cabinet appointment ..

[Ladygooner]

Barry, you deserve a Knighthood at the very least!

[AllyCat]

Hello Barry

Hope you enjoyed your holiday...

I have a question that I don't know if you can answer... I use Peckham Rye station and quite often the trains at Platform 4 are quite short. When they arrive into PR they pull right up at the end of the platform about as far away form the steps as possible - and therefore although you can be waiting for a train on the platform you sometimes have to run half way up the platform to get on the last carriage.... (and we all know we shouldn't run on the platforms!)

Why can't the drivers make sure they pull up near the stairs?

Thanks!

[Ted Max]

AllyCat, I suspect you mean Platform 1 - the one nearest the church? Platform 4 is for the Dartford/ Sevenoaks services.

[SMBJones]

FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY FOR PASSENGERS

AS GOVIA RETAINS THE SOUTH CENTRAL FRANCHISE

Govia today welcomed the announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) that it

had successfully retained the South Central rail franchise, the business it currently

operates as Southern.

The new franchise, which will retain the name ?Southern?, will start on 20 September

2009 and will run for five years ten months until 25 July 2015. The final year is subject to

performance and there is a two year extension available at the discretion of the DfT.

Commenting on the DfT's announcement, Keith Ludeman, Chairman of Govia said:

?I am delighted that the DfT has retained Govia to operate one of the UK?s most

important and operationally complex rail franchises.

?This is a commercially robust rail network which we know well and have operated since

2001. During this period, Govia has overseen a ?1 billion investment programme in

rolling stock, depots, stations and staff. This has established an excellent platform from

which we can now launch the new franchise, further improve service quality and expand

and grow the passenger market.

?Chris Burchell will continue to be the Managing Director of Southern, and will lead the

team into and during the new franchise. Chris and his team will work closely with the

DfT, Transport for London and other stakeholders to oversee a period of significant

change on the network whilst implementing our innovative and value-for-money

franchise plans designed to grow capacity and improve passenger perceptions of

service and security.

?The new franchise will deliver a comprehensive package of benefits to passengers,

including train, station and security investment, improved operational performance and

innovative retailing.?

Govia?s bid for the franchise features the following benefits for passengers:

? Additional capacity: an additional 10% carrying capacity across the network by

December 2013, including the extension of eight car trains to ten cars on key

Metro routes and a significant increase in capacity on peak time Metro arrivals

and departures into London Victoria and London Bridge, and peak time services

into Brighton.

? Further investment in trains and stations: a ?76m investment programme

including ?23m of interior improvements to trains and ?28m to improve facilities

at stations, targeting those areas of greatest benefit to passengers. In addition,

staffing at almost all Greater London stations to be extended to provide cover

from the first to the last service.

? Focus on punctuality: further focus on maintaining and improving the current

record levels of punctuality performance through a period of significant change

arising from the Thameslink programme and other major initiatives.

? Improved passenger access and integration at stations, making it easier to

use the Southern network: over 1000 more car parking and 1500 secure cycle

parking spaces to be installed; ?3m to be invested to provide real-time

information at every station, new help points to be installed at 40 stations and

information about connecting bus services provided at 35 stations. Thirty station

travel plans to be developed and their recommendations implemented.

? Improved security: 100% of trains and stations to have CCTV and passenger

information systems by 2011. A new 38-strong Safer Travel Team to be in place

by Spring 2010, to include British Transport Police and Rail Enforcement

Officers.

? Easier ticket buying: a ?3m investment in 120 new ticket machines by early

2012 plus the introduction of a new Smartmedia system by early 2012. Similar to

Oyster, Smartmedia will make ticket buying easier and enable automatic top-ups

for season tickets at 26 stations outside London and 18 stations within London.

? Enhanced revenue protection: new automatic ticket barriers at 22 stations,

supplemented by additional stations funded by the DfT to increase the number of

gated stations from 28 to 49. These improvements will be supported by a team of

100 Revenue Protection Officers and the Safer Travel Team (who will also have

revenue protection responsibilities).

? Improved overall passenger experience: introduction of a new Service Quality

Management System to monitor, measure and improve every aspect of a

passenger?s journey with Southern, supported by comprehensive customer

service training for all front line staff.

Any further information required please refer to Southern's Website

Kind regards

Barry

[SMBJones]

Hi, I agree that the area which the trains stop is not ideal, it is not something I could change over night and this has to go to our operations department.

However, I have written an email to the commercial director of Southern and my line manager and outlined the issues regarding the "Stop Boards" these are the markers which tell a driver to stop at a particular part of the platform, for example you will see "4 Car" "8 Car" signs. This something that I have put on my priority list however this may take a few weeks. Please bear in mind if this was agreed then there will be a lot of alterations to train dispatch plans not to mention the fact that every driver would have to be notified, and this is only the beginning, something that you would think that would be simple to implement is in fact a big task.

Rest assured I will chase this continually untill a resolution is made

Watch this space

Regards

Barry

AllyCat Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hello Barry

>

> Hope you enjoyed your holiday...

> I have a question that I don't know if you can

> answer... I use Peckham Rye station and quite

> often the trains at Platform 4 are quite short.

> When they arrive into PR they pull right up at the

> end of the platform about as far away form the

> steps as possible - and therefore although you can

> be waiting for a train on the platform you

> sometimes have to run half way up the platform to

> get on the last carriage.... (and we all know we

> shouldn't run on the platforms!)

> Why can't the drivers make sure they pull up near

> the stairs?

> Thanks!

[AllyCat]

Oops - yes, I did mean Platform 1 Ted!

Thanks for the swift response Barry.... I appreciate it's a big task and your actions are most appreciated.

Lets see what happens!

[SMBJones]

Not sure how many will read this, however Northern Line is running, Mornington Cres, Tooting Bec and Charing X are closed. Balham is open on my route and may get you to parts of London for your commute

Barry

[Strawbs]

Morning Barry,

Love reading your thread, you are doing a great job.

Just a quickie on the oyster readers at peckham rye, for some reason I would say 3 out of 5 times it wont read my oyster yet at all the other stations I have a 100% hit rate. I then (after trying both ticket booth things) take it to the people who are watching the ticket booths and they read it and it comes up green every time (it is a season ticket so no way it will not work). Anyhoo are they testing and fixing things as they are going along i.e. not reading the oysters properly or are they just duff readers?

thanks

Jules x

[Ladymuck]

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Morning Barry,

>

> Love reading your thread, you are doing a great

> job.

>

> Just a quickie on the oyster readers at peckham

> rye, for some reason I would say 3 out of 5 times

> it wont read my oyster yet at all the other

> stations I have a 100% hit rate. I then (after

> trying both ticket booth things) take it to the

> people who are watching the ticket booths and they

> read it and it comes up green every time (it is a

> season ticket so no way it will not work). Anyhoo

> are they testing and fixing things as they are

> going along i.e. not reading the oysters properly

> or are they just duff readers?

>

> thanks

>

> Jules x

Hello Mr. SMBJones,

and welcome back. Hope you had a lovely holiday.

I would just like to echo Strawbs' posting...my Oyster (which has weekly travel cards on it - and therefore should work) does not work at Peckham Rye, but does work at e.g. L. Bridge, Waterloo, Charing X etc. Just a mini-challenge for you this time!

Kind regards,

Ladymuck.

PS: MOST thoughtful of you to provide news re. striking tube stations - and helpful! Thank you.

[SMBJones]

Jules/Ladymuck

Sorry to say the Oyster readers are absolutely fine, they have been checked today. My conclusion is that your Oyster cards are not reading properly because they are in a purse or wallet, or you are not tapping the centre of the pad that reads your information. Sometimes if you are a little too quick they will not read.

I can honestly say this has been tested today and all ok

Hope this helps

Barry

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Morning Barry,

>

> Love reading your thread, you are doing a great

> job.

>

> Just a quickie on the oyster readers at peckham

> rye, for some reason I would say 3 out of 5 times

> it wont read my oyster yet at all the other

> stations I have a 100% hit rate. I then (after

> trying both ticket booth things) take it to the

> people who are watching the ticket booths and they

> read it and it comes up green every time (it is a

> season ticket so no way it will not work). Anyhoo

> are they testing and fixing things as they are

> going along i.e. not reading the oysters properly

> or are they just duff readers?

>

> thanks

>

> Jules x

[indiepanda]

I get the train from Peckham Rye with my weekly travel card on my Oyster and I haven't had any problems getting it to read it, so I don't think it is a universal problem.

[Strawbs]

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Jules/Ladymuck

>

> Sorry to say the Oyster readers are absolutely

> fine, they have been checked today. My conclusion

> is that your Oyster cards are not reading properly

> because they are in a purse or wallet, or you are

> not tapping the centre of the pad that reads your

> information. Sometimes if you are a little too

> quick they will not read.

>

> I can honestly say this has been tested today and

> all ok

>

> Hope this helps

>

> Barry

>

>

>

> Strawbs Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Morning Barry,

> >

> > Love reading your thread, you are doing a great

> > job.

> >

> > Just a quickie on the oyster readers at peckham

> > rye, for some reason I would say 3 out of 5

> times

> > it wont read my oyster yet at all the other

> > stations I have a 100% hit rate. I then (after

> > trying both ticket booth things) take it to the

> > people who are watching the ticket booths and

> they

> > read it and it comes up green every time (it is

> a

> > season ticket so no way it will not work).

> Anyhoo

> > are they testing and fixing things as they are

> > going along i.e. not reading the oysters

> properly

> > or are they just duff readers?

> >

> > thanks

> >

> > Jules x

Just to let you know it happened to me again this morning. Took it out of my wallet and no read at two ticket booths, guy read it with his machine adn then it went green. Slightly rude ticket booth watching lady attendant then abruptly told me to stand back and she managed to get it to work but trust me it took her two goes..

I think something is not quite right with the readers if Im honest as there was about 10 people behind me all needing to do the same thing..

J

[Izodia]

How long have you had your Oyster card? I've had one wear out. It would work at stations but stopped working on buses. When I took it to a ticket office apparently it was giving a very weak signal and the guy changed it for a new one.

[Strawbs]

Izodia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How long have you had your Oyster card? I've had

> one wear out. It would work at stations but

> stopped working on buses. When I took it to a

> ticket office apparently it was giving a very weak

> signal and the guy changed it for a new one.

Had this one since Jan 08 so that def might be it but I never have any trouble at any other station, I just zip right through, will look in to it though for sure..

[damzel]

Possibly a little petty but this really annoys me on a daily basis...

I'm wondering if anything can be done with the screens at the top of the stairs at Peckham Rye. The one on the right alternates between showing the Next Departures info and Announcements. This is really annoying as without fail, when I've checked for my destination and departure time, my eyes move to the current time at the bottom of the screen to see whether I need to run or not and bang! the screen switches over to Announcements and there's no time on the screen.

Can the Next Departures screen always be that? Or if not, can the Announcement screen show the current time?

[Nero]

Also, there is no big clock at Peckham Rye ticket hall. There needs to be (an accurate, radio-controlled) one!

[SMBJones]

Hi

I have forwarded this to my colleague at HQ, I will keep you updated

Barry

[SMBJones]

Hi

I will order the clock once the works are complete at peckham Rye, there are additional monitors (flat screen)on order to display LUL info, Engineering works etc so will have them put in place at the same time

Barry

[SMBJones]

Hi

Sorry it has taken so long to reply to this, at last I have located the dismantled help point that you refer to, unfortunately this has nothing to with the railway or Southern but in fact Southwark

I admit it is a bit of an eyesore and would suggest speaking to the local council

Barry

TheePope Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks for all the hard work Barry.

>

> One things been bugging me for a while - a "Help

> Point" appeared outside ED station (near the post

> box and bus stop) about a year ago, it's never

> been connected and just stands there looking a bit

> forlorn with some wires hanging out. There's one

> in a similar state at Denmark Hill station. Not

> sure it's within your remit but could if it is

> could it either be connected or removed please?

>

> Thanks again.

[Michael Palaeologus]

Blimey Barry - its a Sunday and you are on FIRE!!

Go and lie down or have a nice walk. You deserve it.

[AnnieW]

Is this the right thread to ask for an update of when Oyster Prepay will be available on les overground trains, including East Dulwich etc?

Is it in place for us to get prepay before the end of this year? Or are we in for a long wait?

[TheePope]

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi

>

> Sorry it has taken so long to reply to this, at

> last I have located the dismantled help point that

> you refer to, unfortunately this has nothing to

> with the railway or Southern but in fact

> Southwark

>

> I admit it is a bit of an eyesore and would

> suggest speaking to the local council

>

> Barry

>

>

>

> TheePope Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Thanks for all the hard work Barry.

> >

> > One things been bugging me for a while - a

> "Help

> > Point" appeared outside ED station (near the

> post

> > box and bus stop) about a year ago, it's never

> > been connected and just stands there looking a

> bit

> > forlorn with some wires hanging out. There's

> one

> > in a similar state at Denmark Hill station. Not

> > sure it's within your remit but could if it is

> > could it either be connected or removed please?

> >

> > Thanks again.

Barry - thanks very much for checking, I'd figured it was to do with the railways as there's one outside Denmark Hill, but as you suggest it's Southwark. Apparently they were installed in Spring 2008 and have never been connected or finished and are now beginning to rust. I'll follow up with the council - thanks again.

[SMBJones]

Good morning, although too late for some of you... sorry to report that Tulse Hill Station is closed until further notice. Unfortunately a main water pipe has burst causing significant damage which is also affecting the electrical supply to the area and station

Sorry for inconvenience, however this one is out of my hands.

Barry

[SMBJones]

Tulse Hill now open

SMBJ

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Good morning, although too late for some of you...

> sorry to report that Tulse Hill Station is closed

> until further notice. Unfortunately a main water

> pipe has burst causing significant damage which is

> also affecting the electrical supply to the area

> and station

>

> Sorry for inconvenience, however this one is out

> of my hands.

>

> Barry