Overcrowding, more regular trains and dealing with rising house prices were just some of the concerns raised by residents attending a consultation exhibition into the proposed arrival of Crossrail 2.
The trainline would almost double services from Kingston staions to central London per hour
Residents shared their views on the high speed rail network at a public consultation exhibition held at the YMCA in Victoria Road, Surbiton on Friday, November 21.
Part of a series of roadshows about the scheme, Transport for London (TfL) employees were present to gauge residents’ opinions on the project.
Julian Shoot, 57, of Waverley Avenue, Berrylands, said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea, the sooner they make a start the better.
“At the moment our service is really poor. The times of the trains are a problem, it’s not fit for the 21st century.”
According to TfL, 200,000 new homes and 200,000 new jobs could be made available.
Mr Shoot did however express concern that while the new homes would be a welcome addition, the newfound ease of accessing London could worsen the borough’s already inflated house prices.
He said: “It won’t be a cheap place to stay. Places like Tolworth and Chessington are quite cheap at the moment.”
The train line could see services into central London per hour almost double for some stations in the borough. Kingston’s service would rise from six to 12, Surbiton from nine to 12 and New Malden from 10 to 16.
Volunteers from Transport for London have been running consultations across London
Yvonne Robinson, 56, of St Mark’s Hill, Surbiton, said: “It’s definitely overcrowded, if there are more trains that will help.
“Surbiton station needs an upgrade and it will be great if you can get around London.”
Ian Blythe, 57, of Victoria Road, Surbiton, believes accessing central London is the top priority.
He said: “It would be nice to get the train from Surbiton straight to Angel Road for example.
“I want it to be easier getting into London really and this takes in quite a lot of the places.”
London mayor Boris Johnson said: “This consultation is key to helping us to fine tune the proposals and to ensure that everyone with a view on Crossrail 2 can have their say and is listened to.
“We know that there's massive support for Crossrail 2 and there is real excitement and momentum behind our efforts to get it delivered.”
- What do you think of Crossrail 2? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6315 or email jonathan.mitchell@london.newsquest.co.uk
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