I am very pleased to report that the work to upgrade the signals and points on our track has now started. This is being funded with the £300 million which I obtained from the Government after arranging a meeting with the Prime Minister last December. This should lead to fewer breakdowns and therefore fewer delays.
The other piece of vital infrastructure work is to widen the track around East Croydon and to grade separate the Windmill Junction near Selhurst. This is the pinch point on the entire Brighton mainline and would increase capacity by 30% and avoid many of the current delays. I have been assured that this is a top priority for the next major capital works programme (called “Control Period 6” which starts in 2019), and if re-elected I will stay on top of making sure that this promise gets delivered.
It is disappointing that the industrial dispute is not yet over. I will keep up the pressure to resolve this dispute, but I am pleased to see in the manifesto my idea that on strike days a minimum service must still be run. I will push to make sure this is delivered and also continue to push for the franchise to be broken up if re-elected.
