Join our campaign for Platform 6 lift at Upminster Station

· Step-Free Campaign for Our Local Stations

  • We want to make it as easy as possible to use public transport, especially for older or disabled people and families with push chairs. The government does too and has made a pot of cash available to modify stations under its Access for All scheme. We are working with C2C to bid for a lift to Platform 6 at Upminster Station which can help constituents get to Romford and then connect to Crossrail. This will be especially valuable for those with cases who want to get to Heathrow on Crossrail or older people, parents with buggies and disabled people who want to go to work, shop or socialise in Romford. If we can show community support our bid stands a better chance of success. 
  • As such, we have been out at the station and around Upminster trying to gather signatures in support of our campaign. If you would like to write an email in support of our campaign, please include your address and drop a line to [email protected] or Alex can give you a copy of the petition to sign.
  • I have now met Transport Minister, Nus Ghani MP, in parliament to push our campaign. 
  • We know constituents also want a lift at Hornchurch Tube. This comes under the Mayor of London’s remit and he advised when I wrote to him that neither Hornchurch nor Upminster Bridge meet his criteria for step-free funding. Our Assembly Member, Keith Prince AM, has met the Mayor to discuss this and is continuing to push for change.

· C2C Passenger Survey

  • Thank you to those constituents who filled out the C2C Passenger Survey we handed out over the summer. Much of the feedback focused on poor communication around delays and engineering works, and we have raised this with C2C and Network Rail. Meanwhile after making representations, departure boards for District Line services from Upminster are to be introduced.

· Gallows Corner

  • I raised local concerns about delays, congestion and pollution at Gallows Corner with the Mayor of London and Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling. The government has now made tens of millions of pounds available to the Mayor if he can put together a credible business plan for improvements to the junction, and Keith Prince AM and I will be pushing the Mayor to take advantage of this central government cash.

· Lower Thames Crossing

  • Government wishes to build a new river crossing beyond Dartford to relieve traffic on the bridge and cut journey times to Kent and round the M25. The link road will pass through North Ockendon and I have met the project’s Chief Exec and his team to discuss this further. Local events and a ten-week consultation are taking place to gather residents’ views on the plans. To learn more, visit http://www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay

· New Railcard for 26-30 year-olds

  • The first digital-only railcard will go on sale nationally before the end of the year, giving 26-30 year-olds discounted rail journeys. Follow @_railcards for how to sign up.

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