Rail cuts 'leave south London commuters out of the loop'

Rail bosses were today accused of betraying commuters by planning to sever links to the heart of the capital.

Network Rail said it may cut the direct link between south London, the City and central London - known as the Wimbledon loop - after the Thameslink upgrade is completed in 2016.

Trains would terminate at Blackfriars, leaving thousands of people without a direct link to City Thameslink, Farringdon and other services from
St Pancras, such as Eurostar and trains to Luton. Those using First Capital Connect's Thameslink service from Sutton, Wimbledon, Streatham, Tooting, Mitcham and South Merton would have to change trains to continue past Blackfriars.

It is a fresh blow for south London passengers, after Southeastern said it will cut services from Victoria and Charing Cross to Deptford, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Kidbrooke, Woolwich Dockyard and Maze Hill during the Olympics next summer, to give more time for people to get on and off at the "event stations" - Greenwich, Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal and Blackheath.

The Thameslink Loop Line Campaign Group, a new alliance of passenger groups, councillors, MPs and London Assembly members, today accused rail companies of putting profits before people.

Chairman Colin Hall, a Sutton councillor and vice-chairman of London Councils' transport and environment committee, said: "Network Rail and First Capital Connect are letting down the thousands of commuters in outer London who rely on this service every day.

"We already suffer serious overcrowding and have to pay for Crossrail without getting any real benefits. Losing this lifeline is the final straw. We are determined to do all we can to save it." First Capital Connect said: "We are supporting the Department for Transport with the £6 billion Thameslink Programme which will double capacity at stations between Blackfriars and St Pancras International.

"Next year a number of stations on the Wimbledon and Sutton loop will get later trains and a new Sunday service. However, we are not responsible for deciding the future Thameslink route map which, in any case, will be implemented after our current franchise expires in 2015."