Fighting hard for better transport

Louie French and Councillors at Albany Park Station

Whether it’s fighting Southeastern trains, TfL buses, or Labour’s anti-motorist policies, local people know that I am on their side in trying to improve our transport.

On Southeastern, I have successfully stood up for local commuters against the timetable changes introduced over a year ago. I was the first MP to raise this in the House of Commons and I met with Southeastern and the Department for Transport more than any other MP to emphasise the urgent need to reconsider the timetable changes and to ensure my constituents’ voice was heard. Following extensive lobbying and the results of my Southeastern survey, Southeastern made significant changes to their timetables. This includes the reinstatement of Charing Cross services on the Bexleyheath line, more peak-time services, more Abbey Wood services on the Sidcup line (more from December) and the doubling of trains serving Albany Park Station. Whilst I welcome that Southeastern listened to our calls for extra services and capacity, I recognise that further changes are still required to ensure the timetable delivers for the needs of Bexley passengers which I will continue to fight for.

I will also continue to lobby for more step-free access stations which follows the £6million we secured for an Access for All transformation for Bexley Station which includes the new footbridge, lifts, and CCTV.  

I also recognise the importance of our local bus network, particularly to connect communities within Old Bexley, Sidcup and Welling. I will continue to press Sadiq Khan to listen to local concerns about the Superloop not stopping between Sidcup and Bexleyheath, and also issues with the performance of other services across the constituency.

I will continue to oppose Labour’s anti-driver agenda including their price per miles plans, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, blanket 20 mph zones, and Blackwall Tunnel toll. Whilst the Conservatives are backing drivers by pledging to block road pricing, reversing ULEZ expansion in London and ruling out top-down blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones, the Labour Party manifesto sets out their plans to increase the Mayor’s powers including over Transport which risks strengthening Sadiq Khan’s hammering of motorists in Bexley which is supported by the local Labour Party.

I have also recently secured £8.5million to help Bexley Council improve our roads and I will continue to stand up for drivers in Bexley.

News

New Southeastern timetable on right track

Further to the progress already secured for the Southeastern timetable including the reinstatement of Charing Cross services on the Bexleyheath line and the restoration of 4 trains per hour for Albany Park Station during peak times, I am pleased that Southeastern have continued to listen to me an

Access for All at Bexley Station

Passengers at Bexley Station are now benefitting from the £6 million of investment we secured for an Access for All transformation for the Station from the Government. This includes a new footbridge, lifts, CCTV and refurbished toilets.  

Louie welcomes Southeastern train services getting back on track

Louie French, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has welcomed the confirmation from Southeastern that there will be better spacing of trains on both the Sidcup and the Bexleyheath lines from June, as well as the restoration of four trains per hour to Albany Park station after a hard-

Louie’s September meeting with Southeastern

Louie French MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup met with Southeastern's Director of Operations to discuss the Southeastern timetable and push for further Albany Park services.

Continued push for timetable reversals at January meeting

Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup met with Southeastern’s Managing Director, Head of Stakeholder Relations, Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP, alongside Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford to press for improvements to services and the timetable.