Crossrail 2 to come via Balham? Post Reply

[pie81]

I'm not convinced that Crossrail will significantly reduce the northern line crowds for the SW london stations.

The vast majority of people getting on the northern line at rush hour are going to the City. (Hence why there are hardly any Charing cross branch trains). Those people aren't going to take Crossrail instead.

[papinian]

I'm not convinced that Crossrail will significantly reduce the northern line crowds for the SW london stations.

This used to be my view, but then I realised that Crossrail (1) will have been open for many years by the time Crossrail 2 opens. If you can get Crossrail 2 to Tottenham Court Road and take Crossrail (1) from Tottenham Court Road to Farringdon or Liverpool Street that becomes quite attractive, depending on where in the City you work. Equally, if you are in Canary Wharf, you can take Crossrail to Canary Wharf rather than trying to get on a Jubilee Line train at London Bridge.

However, it does very much depend on things like how busy the different services are and what the time and hassle involved in connecting between Crossrail and Crossrail 2 will be. I hope that TfL have done a good job working this out. I do believe that they think it will have an impact - that is why they are so focused on having Crossrail 2 link to the Northern Line somewhere (Balham if not Tooting Broadway).

[pie81]

Hmm fair point papinian, I suppose if you work in the city but not near a northern line station (ie you have to change anyway) then a crossrail 1/2 route might be better than the northern line. As you say it depends on the interchange and how busy the services are relative to each other.

Tfl quote an expected reduction of 30% in northern line crowding - I would like more info on how this statistic has been calculated but can't find any - which annoys me, the information must exist so why not publish it.

[tooposhtopush]

I've just received the letter from TfL explaining that there is going to be digging under my house and now I read this from Sadiq Khan

Mr Khan has written to TfL managing director Michele Dix to question why Tooting Broadway has been ruled out so quickly when the extra expense was found.

Mr Khan said: "I understand that building a station at Tooting Broadway may be more complicated, however it must not be ruled out as a viable option.

"Local people need to have all the information – the cost, the timescales, the impact on local amenities – so they can make an informed decision on what is the best option for our area.

"I support Crossrail 2 wholeheartedly, but as your MP I want to make sure we get the best deal for Tooting, and that’s why I’m keeping the pressure on TfL to keep local residents informed and at the centre of the decision on where the station should go.

"I’m worried that many people who will be affected by this will miss out on having their say – and so I’ve called on TfL to write to everyone in the area too."

From the way he writes he makes it sound like we have a choice, surely we're being informed as to what is going on but there isn't a real choice to me made is there?

[pie81]

Yes agreed tooposh - it looks like minds have already been made up despite th consultation.

I'd also like to see some other options being offered ie not just "tooting or balham" but how about "neither"? or what about Earlsfield which is directly between clapham junction and wimbledon and so fits much better with the rest of the route.

Either balham or tooting options are going to add hugely to the cost and disruption, and indeed the eventual journey time, as both add a big loop to the route - especially balham. I am still unconvinced about the quoted 30% reduction in northern line traffic in this area which is supposed to make this diversion worthwhile.

TFL if you are reading this, please can you publish some back up for that 30% figure, otherwise it just looks plucked out of thin air...

[Nev123]

I also got the letter about the tunnel being directly below our house. And have just found this map which confirms it really will be right below us https://mm-evt.maps.arcgis.com/apps/web ... 733d5b7ffd

I am not sure how to feel having it go directly below?? In general I'm not against the idea of crossrail 2 but now a little bit of 'nimby-ism' is creeping in! I also agree it does seem a bit of a detour to go via Balham. But I suppose it's to link up with the northern line.

[KatherineHepburn]

I wonder how the shaft at the Springfield hospital site will affect the proposed redevelopment planned?

[WCN]

Looking at the map, I completely agree with pie81 - going via Balham or Tooting is a huge detour and must surely only add to the cost. Why not Earlsfield? That seems a much more direct route.

[Beketaten]

Because Earlsfield already has a train station, and is linked to Clapham Jct. I think Tooting is still the best location, if the geological difficulties can be overcome, because it is adding a new link to the area.

[Goldhawk]

http://sadiqkhan.nationbuilder.com/cros ... or_tooting

More info here - reply from TFL to Sadiq Khan's questions

Suggests Balham would cost £500M vs £1 Billion for Tooting and take 2 further years to build

[a.dad]

Hi
We are locals campaigning against TfL siting an access shaft at Wandsworth Common.

The new crossrail proposal will take out a large chunk of the common that a lot of us enjoy. Our local schools use the common for their sports, our kids walk along it on their way to school and it's generally a wonderful place that needs to be cherished and protected! The proposed construction will also cause havoc on the roads around the site - Bolingbroke Grove, any road running off it & Northcote Road as well most likely. Problems that will last for the duration of the 5 to 6 year build period.

We are pro-Crossrail in Tooting - we think the area and St George's in particular deserves good transport connections. But we do not want to lose space on our beautiful common - once it is gone we will not get it back again! So we are trying to safeguard it for our kids and the future.

For more info and to see how you can object to the Wandsworth Common TfL proposals please join us on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/SaveWandsworth ... rossrail2/
and on Twitter at: @savewandscommon
It would be great if you could follow us/retweet/like us etc and generally help to raise our profile by mentioning to your friends! It is surprising how little is known about these proposals by the local community despite the big impact they may have. Please pass on the message.

A very big thanks for all your help!!
SaveWandsworthCommonAgain

[Annabel (admin)]

Hello all I've promised to post a picture of the latest protest on the Common against proposed Crossrail2 route.

It's also been covered in the Guardian...

The fight to save Wandsworth Common is back.

It comes after the proposed switch of the Crossrail 2 route from Tooting Broadway to Balham brought back the threat of a shaft on the green space.

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/new ... eats_back/

[Broken Dad]

it seems madness for Balham to sacrifice itself and be destroyed for many years just in order to help commuters from elsewhere. Our commute will be swamped even more by those other commuters changing here in order to get on the Northern Line, we lose Waitrose and probably get horrendous and deeply disruptive works for nigh on 10 yrs.

[actuallyadad]

Oh no more terrible NIMBY attitudes from the locals! How depressing.

We need transport infrastructure for the future! These same kids of ours which play on the common today also need transport for the future.

It's only a tiny part of one of the many commons which will be lost. A bit of construction traffic is not a big deal.

No idea why people keep banging on about the regeneration of Tooting. It already has TWO tube stations. So if anything is holding back the regeneration of Tooting, it is not the lack of transport!

[actuallyadad]

PS - You are concerned that we will lose Waitrose? That is hilarious! Imagine only having Sainsburys nearby...