For the past 3 years I have been campaigning for longer, 10-car trains to be used at Earlsfield station during rush hour, and in April this year we got the go-ahead for this vital upgrade.
The good news is that the engineering work needed to bring these trains to Earlsfield is still on track to arrive this time next year, providing much-needed relief to all of us who use Earlsfield station at peak times. The less good news is that no trains will call at Earlsfield during peak hours between 5th and 28th August 2017, while the upgrade work takes place (full details are available from South West Trains). This has the potential to be hugely disruptive for local residents.
Other stations along the line are also affected, so working in partnership with Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, we've been in touch with South West Trains and have now received confirmation that dedicated rail replacement buses will start from Earlsfield and run to Clapham Junction, Vauxhall and Waterloo. So while this still means commuters will face 3 weeks of disruption, there will at least be alternative transport provided to try to minimise the impact.
Please spread the word to Earlsfield friends and neighbours about these arrangements. Do also let me know if you have any other ideas to improve matters during the engineering works, so that I can raise them with South West Trains.
If you'd like more background information on our community campaign for this upgrade to Earlsfield's rail service, you can read more here.