Charles Horton
Managing Director, Southern Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd
Hertford House
1 Cranwood Street
London EC1V 9QS
30th April 2015
Dear Charles,
Overcrowding at Denmark Hill station and train capacity during rush hour
Many of my constituents are very concerned about overcrowding at Denmark Hill station.
One constituent who commutes from Denmark Hill to central London tells me that the 08.04am - from Sevenoaks in Kent to London St Pancras – is regularly overcrowded by the time it reaches Denmark Hill meaning people are not able to get on the train. She also says that the trains are usually only 4 carriages long.
My constituents pay for and rightly expect a decent service from Govia Thameslink. It’s totally unacceptable for people to be left on crowded platforms waiting for the next train simply because their scheduled service does not have enough capacity.
People should not have to worry about being late for work or have the stress of travelling in a crowded carriage. There is also the potential danger of having lots of people jostling on crowded platforms. It’s hard enough for people travelling to work but impossible for people travelling with young children or if you’re elderly or disabled.
I’d be grateful if you would send me a full report outlining the immediate steps you are taking to reduce overcrowding and improve capacity at Denmark Hill station.
I look forward to your reply at the earliest convenience.
Best wishes,
Harriet Harman