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Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Tim Jordan (25th May 2004 - 13:04:21) Hi I'm in the process of moving to Liphook and I noticed in the Petersfield Herald that the train service to London is going to be cut during the rush hours. Anyone know anything more?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mike Grimes (25th May 2004 - 22:48:31) I heard that SWT were proposing to cut a number of services that stop at Liphook and Liss, including 3 morning peak services, from December 2004 because "it would be preferable to have a more reliable service than to have more trains" although the spokesman failed to say what "less trains" was preferable to. It was suggested that this might lead to more pressure at Petersfield as passengers would no longer board at Liphook or Liss. This appears to be a result of SWT failing to meet reliability performance targets (easier to do if you run less trains) - I would like to see overcrowding (or crowding as we are now supposed to call it) included as part of the target so that, in order to meet well intentioned targets, genuine improvements would need to be made - not just reducing the number of trains. We are told that this is just a proposal at present and a consultation excercise will take place. Does anyone know how to make one's voice heard? Are there any recorded examples of passengers wishes making a difference in cases like this?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - katy (26th May 2004 - 13:32:16) I moved to Liphook in 2000, and since then the trains have already been cut once off peak, from a half hourly service to the one an hour at present. Not very useful if you just miss a train!..The excusses used then were to make the trains more reliable and run on time. Perhaps if they close the station altogether they could have 100%reliability!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Alex Cameron (30th May 2004 - 17:14:27) Yep, according to Private Eye, its a simple case of - Less trains = less punctuality problems = better statistics = looser regulation / higher public subsidies This seems to be a trend of the times though - Royal Mail just announced record profits from their worst performance in living memory. Now what really needs to be talked about is the "No Smoking" policy which was allegedly implemented for reasons like "bringing SWT into line with other operators", "feedback from customers" etc. My feedback in a letter to the chairman consisted of 2 words, both unprintable here. Having a cigarrette while i watched the world go by on the way to London was one of only comforts on those awful nazi cattle trucks. Now obviously i'm a smoker, and i respect the choice of others not to smoke and/or not to breathe in my fumes either. I don't smoke through meals, around children etc and i find that most non-smokers are very mutually supportive about my right to smoke should i choose to. I have no problems whatsoever about having to sit in the end carriages - its not fair for non-smokers to have to walk through the smoking carriage to find a seat. But from my discussions with guards/conductors etc (and a driver, incidentally) there is a lot more behind it than the frivolous reasons already given, namely the new trains with ubitiquous smoke detectors. Couldn't they have found a slightly more promising compromise?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Jenny (2nd Jun 2004 - 11:18:52) Alex, Thank you for being someone else who misses smoking on trains. I used to love smoking and reading a book on the way to work and now one half of this has been taken away from me! Apparently this is a result of feedback from customers - well i have brought a monthly train ticket every month for the last 3 years and i don't recall being asked!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - rob (9th Jun 2004 - 23:31:14) Still no information from anyone about how to find out more about the services they propose to cut, and how to express a view. Does anyone have any idea?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - katy (10th Jun 2004 - 09:23:43) Rob, There has been quite a lot of info in the Liphook Herald regarding the trains over the past few weeks, but I haven't got any old copies to look back on. From memory the services would be cut in 2005. They propose to cut 3 early morning trains from Liphhook including the 7.29am. The 3 services to be cut are very popular with Liphook/Liss folk as they are relatively quick in to London. The newspaper articles said South West trains were unaware if the army's proposal to sell land in Bordon for more housing which could lead to many more commuters using the Liphook rail link. It also stated facts about the growth in Liphook etc etc. There were comments from H.C.C. and various other bodies I believe. Sorry my details are a bit sketchy - maybe the Herald may have some more details this week - or try their website?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Tim Jordan (10th Jun 2004 - 17:02:07) I emailed SW Trains to ask for more details and it took them 3 weeks to tell me " The draft timetable has not been finalised but there will be a cut in Liphook services. Consultation is ongoing between HCC, user groups and SW trains" All I want to find out is if I'll still be able to get to Waterloo for 9am without having to drive to Haslemere! Tim

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - rob (10th Jun 2004 - 23:02:57) Thanks for these helpful comments. Not much point in "consulting" us, I suppose, if they're so clear they've already made their minds up. But who are these "user groups" who have kept these things so privately without even so much as a little poster at Liphook station to warn us? And how can we get to make our views clear to them or SWT? As Tim says, this will mean a huge amount of extra traffic on the road to Haslemere - and a huge amount of frustration given you can't even get a season ticket for the car park there, I believe, unless you go on a waiting list. This is madness - for carbon dioxide emissions and global warming if nothing else!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Finchie (16th Jun 2004 - 12:21:59) I asked the ticket man at Liphook station today and he said as far as he knew the WHOLE waterloo schedule is being COMPLETELY revised with the objective of reducung conjestion between Clapham and Wateloo. He had no other information other to say that he had also heard that they are planning to lengthen the platform at Liphook - probably indicating that it will be one of the stop offs for the faster trains. The date for the new schedule to be implemented is 10th Dec. So I'm booking my holiday now to give it a few weeks to bed in ! With any luck we'll hear about the new schedule before then (and it will only be down to luck). I'm sure it will go just as smoothly as the introuction of the new rolling stock :-)

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Paul Robinson (21st Jun 2004 - 08:15:13) Spotted on e-bay this morning. Item number 2251702614 BR South East Railway Station sign 'LIPHOOK' currently for sale at £20.00 with no offers. Is this the thin edge of the wedge or just a sign of the times? Paul Robinson

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Steve (21st Jun 2004 - 13:05:41) Firstly, you are joking aren't you? Secondly, why were you looking for rail things on ebay? Are you a spotter?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Finchie (21st Jun 2004 - 15:07:48) Attached - from SW Trains following my enquiry as to what their plans are. A very specific and revealing letter that says pretty much NOTHING other than they have done bugger all in the last 36 years. I'll get back to them about what "we are looking at stopping an additional service at these two stations (Liphook, Liss)during the morning." actually means - pretty ambiguous as far as I can work out. The optimist in me thinks they were planning an additional service from Liphook which they are no longer going to do .... The pessimist is me keeps thinking about that sign for sale ! -----> Thank you for your email of 15 June 2004, with regard to the services on the Portsmouth to London Waterloo line. We have been working for some while now on a completely new recast timetable for South West Trains. This is the first such exercise, where we have planned starting with a clean sheet of paper, for 36 years. Our aim is to build upon and incorporate timing benefits that aid our overall train performance, whilst also seeking to provide train service enhancements that have been requested by users for some time. Another aim is to match the pattern of service provided during the peak hours more closely with that operating during the rest of the day. The timetable will be introduced in December and henceforth all timetable changes will be annually in December as part of an EU wide agreement amongst the various national railway administrations. In respect of the Portsmouth line the train service has been characterised by slow services calling at all, or nearly all, stations en route. For the larger stations where the vast majority of regular travellers emanate, they have at present only one fast up morning peak service at 0617 from Portsmouth Harbour. This has caused 'bunching' of demand towards that particular train and a degree of standing passengers from Haslemere onwards Our planning has thus focussed upon the provision of 2 fast and 2 stopping services each hour on the Portsmouth line. We feel that such a service would meet the requirements of the larger stations for more fast services whilst still providing the required number of seats on trains serving the smaller intermediate stations such as Liphook and Liss. Consultation has been ongoing for some time and detailed discussions have been held with Hampshire County Council as well as East Hampshire District Council and Waverley Borough Council. Further discussions are taking place with these authorities in respect of our proposals for Liphook and Liss but, at the moment, we are looking at stopping an additional service at these two stations during the morning. I recognise that everyone will not welcome such changes but we do believe that the new service, in conjunction with our new Desiro trains, will deliver a very significant improvement for many daily travellers on this route. I hope this information answer all points raised within your correspondence to a satisfactory conclusion. Kind regards Paul Makin Customer Relations Officer

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Alex Cameron (22nd Jun 2004 - 09:23:39) I recently got a letter from SWT, probably regarding my 'feedback' about their no-smoking policy. The letter began by thanking me for my enquiry, and then went to say they had noted that i was 'entirely satisfied' with the response i had been sent. Yeah. The only small hitch in that otherwise mediocre plan was that a) i never received a response, and b) there is no way i would ever be satisfied with SWT. Ironically, i've been a non-smoker for 8 days now. Long live Allen Carr!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mike Grimes (23rd Jun 2004 - 01:12:00) Has anyone seen the proposed timetable? If not I'm sure that sight of it might inform the local debate - even if we are not being listened to. Can the Parish Council get more information here? I'm not sure that EHDC and HCC are going to represent us fairly here, after all, when do they ever have to travel to London?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Les (23rd Jun 2004 - 09:48:04) I makes me chuckle to hear all this whining about the trains to/from London. What I can’t get my head around is that if you don’t like the hassle of catching a train and standing for 1-1/2 hrs why work there? Anyway, I always thought you got paid extra for working in London - It was called “London Waiting” or has this conveniently been forgotten!. Plus, how many of those people who commute to London (or wherever) by train still get a very nice company car, (or car allowance) which is sat on their drive at home so that their other half can use it use. If the timetable is changed and your normal train is cancelled – catch the earlier or next one, so what. If that's not convenient either live nearer your place of work, or work nearer to your home. Some people are never happy unless they have something to moan about – Come on get in the real world!.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Finchie (23rd Jun 2004 - 15:06:07) Great point Les. I'll just pop down to the Co-op to see if they have any local jobs advertised in the window - save all that horrible commuting lark.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Julian (23rd Jun 2004 - 15:35:18) Nicely put Les! We moved from London to Liphook late 2003. It's the best thing we have ever done. A lovely area, nice people, great pubs, good golf, fantastic walks and lots of enjoyable outdoor things to do! I have never been of the opinion to "live for work" - live where you want, and enjoy it . . . you could loose your job tomorrow and be stuck living around the corner from your old employer! I commute up to London from Liphook, and the journey is a very pleasant one. Seats are always available on the train at Liphook, regardless of the departure time, and the scenery is pleasant. Reducing train services (those that stop at Liphook) should not present any problems, and if it did, could anyone seriously see South West Trains getting away with it? If timetables are changed, all you have to do is travel at a slightly earlier or later time. If required you can travel for 5 mins to Haslemere and get a faster train from there (if you don't mind walking the entire width of the platform). Referring to Liphook-to-London Waterloo services, faster trains seem to save about 5 minutes on ADVERTISED Journey time. In the real world they are about the same. They hurtle towards London at speeds in excess of 70 Mph, and then sit and wait for a platform slot at Waterloo for up to 10 minutes. In this day and age, with more people working from home so who needs to go to London anyway? ADSL/Broadband is alive in Liphook (and the surrounding areas), so why not work from home a few days a week? It’s fast and connecting to your company network remotely is pretty much the same as working from your desk in London. You may even change you r job in a year or so where you can work from home 100% of the time. Move to Liphook, enjoy the good life, and worry less about work and trains. If you want to worry about trains, you have no need to – at Liphook you can always get a seat, and the service is good. Reducing trains will simply mean that we will have to get a slightly earlier or later train from Liphook which will get you to London Waterloo on more or less the same time as the old "breakfast express" services. If you want to drive in to Haslemere to get a train, don’t – there is no parking to be had anywhere. No, I don’t work for SWT, and yes, I am a smoker. Good luck! Julian.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Alex Cameron (24th Jun 2004 - 01:48:40) Steve - lmao ;) For those interested here's the direct link to the eBay item: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2251702614 Viewing this guys other items suggests the seller is a serial thief - he must have pilfered all the way across the South East!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - rob (27th Jun 2004 - 17:07:45) Wow. V surprised that people who don't care about train times and frequencies have such strong views about those of us who have to worry about such things! If you think the trains are regular and comfortable (and that Haslemere is only five minutes away from Liphook), you must be living on another planet. Very suspicious about the SWT letter, especially the bit that says "... another aim is to match the pattern of service provided during the peak hours more closely with that operating during the rest of the day ...": that means one train an hour from Liphook, doesn't it? Even if it's two, it's not nearly enough given how many people want/have to travel up for work from the non-fast stations between Portsmouth and Waterloo. And anyway, isn't it a totally barmy concept to try to provide the same amount of capacity at peak times as during the rest of the day! In any other market, supply usually adjusts to meet demand. We wouldn't get very far if the National Grid tried to adopt the same policy as SWT! Still await any comment from the District/Parish councils. Surprisingly coy on this one, aren't they? Rob.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mark Boosey (18th Aug 2004 - 10:47:24) Thought I'd drag this topic back to the top as I'm sure some people would be interested to hear about the "Meet the Managers" session SWT is holding. If I remember reading the sign right you'll be able to talk to all the important SWT managers from 5pm onwards at Waterloo on the 20th August (this Friday). Might be a time for everyone to voice his or her concerns about the possible train cuts. Having been a commuter to London from Liphook for a few months now I have to say I'm not too dissatisfied with the morning service. Having said that the total lack of trains to Liphook from 5pm onwards is something I have a problem with. I’ll be having a word with them about that for sure and will also be asking about the Winter timetable. The way it is going it looks like we might all one-day have to commute from SWT’s overly favourite station, Haslemere!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Barry (24th Aug 2004 - 09:29:22) Anyone know what the building work at Liphook station is?I heard that they are lengthening the platform. Could this be true?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - S (24th Aug 2004 - 14:30:51) Yes thats true, they are lengthening the platform but reducing the amount of trains stopping here. Seems a great idea eh?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mark B (27th Aug 2004 - 09:00:33) The platforms are being lengthened because SWT, in their wisdom, have bought lots of those new trains on which most of the doors can't be opened at Liphook (because of the drop). Only the doors on front half of the train are opened at present when the trains stop at Liphook meaning some carriages, even though they’re on the platform, can’t get out. Also talking of trains I've heard that the new Winter timetable has been leaked on the net. There is no change to the number of trains stopping at Liphook according to the gossip at Waterloo, there will be some changes to times though.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mike Grimes (27th Aug 2004 - 09:44:29) Yes, but if you look at the extent of the platform works it seems that they would only allow the doors of 8 coaches of an 8 or 12 car train to open (i.e. the new 450 class blue ones). Are they not running 10 coach 444 class (white ones) on the Portsmouth line? If so the doors of rear 5 coaches will remain firmly shut - even after the platform extensions.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Tim Jordan (23rd Sep 2004 - 09:47:00) Not sure if anyone is interested but you can "see" the new winter timetable at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ It comes into effect on 13th Dec. Nuggets of interest are that for Liphook you will get a 0745 slow to Haslemere then 755 from Haslemere into London for 0855 The 1751 from Waterloo now leaves at 1800 but does not stop at Liphook (no change) , just a bit later and slower. The 1815 stops at Liphook and gets in at 1911. So for me, the timetable is if anything better, which is good news as my house looks set to go through soon! (Touch wood) Hope its OK for any other user out there. Cheers, Tim

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Dr Beeching (20th Oct 2004 - 13:06:55) The new timetable can be viewed via www.thetrainline.com . You'll have to put in a proposed journey and if you date it post 13th December you'll see the new times. There are some winners and some losers. My 08.23 train to Godalming which takes 18 minutes at the moment will change to 08.21 and will take 31 minutes. The journey is over 70% longer and this is progress!!??

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Mark B (20th Oct 2004 - 14:36:03) It turns out the new timetable is bad news for most people I think - longer journey times and a high percentage reduction in peak rate services (plus more changes at Haslemere). Here is a brief summary of some main journeys to and from Waterloo for commuters... * = change at Haslemere TO WATERLOO ---------------------- 06:41 - 07:44 07:19 - 08:21 07:28 - 08:32 07:45 - 08:55 * 08:21 - 09:31 * 09:09 - 10:14 10:09 - 11:14 then 9 mins past every hour until 17:30 TO LIPHOOK ------------------------ on the hour until 15:30 (must change at Haslemere). then... 15:30 - 16:34 * 16:00 - 15:00 * 16:30 - 17:34 * 17:00 - 18:01 * 17:30 - 18:33 * 18:15 - 19:11 19:00 - 20:02 * 20:00 - 21:04 * then on the hour until 22:45. Then... 22:45 - 23:55 23:45 - 00:55 (last train) As Tim and the railway wrecking Dr Beeching say above full journey details can be got from www.nationalrail.co.uk or thetrainline.com I think the worst point anout this new timetable is that from London to Liphook almost every train without fail shoots straight past Liphook - a change at Haslemere must be made. Also I found the below link quite interesting. The SWT MD admits on their website that services are going to be worse under the new timetable for Liphook and Liss... http://www.e-motionmagazine.co.uk/SWTEmotion/LiveChat/Timetables.htm *sigh*

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - S (20th Oct 2004 - 16:12:09) What I don't understand is WHY? We have more houses now, more commuters, more London workers moving to Liphook, more money for SWT yet LESS blimmin trains. Liphook is growing beyond belief, we will soon be as big as Haslemere and Petersfield yet we will have a second rate train service. Are they thick or just plain stupid.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - katy (21st Oct 2004 - 08:26:12) It's an absolute disgrace - the trains were already cut from 2 per hour off peak to one an hour off peak a couple of years ago and now they are making us change at Haslemere. In the words of Victor Meldrew "I don't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!" Maybe Alex could champion our MP to fight our cause? After all, reading the other links, it seems like our MP has a lot of spare time on his hands and could do with something to get his teeth in to. If he actually did something to support the area we might know who he is!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Barry (21st Oct 2004 - 09:50:37) When we change at Haslemere,approx how long do we have to wait to catch a train to Liphook,do you reckon it's going to be a long wait at Haslemere?

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Barry (21st Oct 2004 - 10:06:22) Actually,i was just looking at the website,it looks like you would have to wait approx 5 minutes at Haslemere. See below for an example of 19:00 train from Waterloo Depart:LONDON WATERLOO 19:00 Arrive:HASLEMERE 19:52 Depart:19:57 Arrive:LIPHOOK 20:02 DURATION: 1:02

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - S (21st Oct 2004 - 13:38:31) Yeah but my wife has to do that every day, sometimes the change is 5 mins, sometimes 10, sometimes 30 mins and often an hour.

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - Alex Cameron (21st Oct 2004 - 17:58:20) And there you are Steve, having to wait even longer to home after slaving over a hot stove andfinishing your knitting. Its all just too much!

Re: Anyone know about the cut in Liphook trains? - S (22nd Oct 2004 - 09:08:00) Yes, nice scarf it is too. I'm looking forward to the new car she's knitting. It's got a go faster stripe and whale fin spoiler. I'll fit right in late at night at Sainsburys.

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