Crossrail 2 - will it mean fewer Earlsfield trains?

This blog has covered Crossrail 2 a number of times over recent years. However eagle-eyed reader Ian has picked up an issue that could have huge consequences for Earlsfield commuters. The current consultation closes this Friday, so have a read of Ian's post below and make sure you submit your comments, however short, to the consultation by the end of the week.

Ian writes:

"Crossrail 2 starts in 2030 and while this seems a long way away under the current proposals did you know that Earlsfield would have a reduced rail service after CR2 opens?

According to Network Rail the current peak service of 17-18 trains per hour would be reduced by about 35%:

"On current assumptions this would leave 10, possibly 12 trains per hour serving Earlsfield at peak times; i.e a train every 5-6 minutes on average". 

(email from Chris Curtis, Head of Crossrail 2, Network Rail)

Trains from Shepperton, Chessington, Hampton Court and Epsom would no longer stop at Earlsfield but would instead divert from Wimbledon via the new Balham Crossrail station.

Earlsfield is not officially included in the current CR2 consultation (and the reduced rail service is not mentioned) but the consultation website is open to comments from all.

According to Network Rail the reduced Earlsfield services would be less crowded because:

• Waterloo is not the final choice of destination for most commuters
• Over half of commuters using services running through this station would choose to use CR2 to other destination stations instead.

The current public consultation for CR2 ends on Friday 8th January 2016.

Have your say: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail2/october2015/consultation/"

See maps of the proposed route: http://crossrail2.co.uk/consultation/.