Network Rail has said it may cut the direct link between south London, the City and central London, commonly known as the Wimbledon loop, after the Thameslink upgrade is completed in 2016. Local MPs Tom Brake and Paul Burstow, with the support of local Lib Dem Councillors, are building momentum in their campaign to stop the planned termination at Blackfriars in 2016 after planned upgrade work.

As a result of the change, trains would terminate at Blackfriars, leaving thousands of commuters without a direct link to several London stations and other busy train stations throughout the south east. It is seen as yet another blow for South London commuters, after Southeastern confirmed other cuts from Victoria and Charing Cross, two commuter hotspots which, combined, are linked to the majority of stations in the south London area.

The service under particular scrutiny, the Wimbledon Loop, is a popular and frequently used one, and is regularly used by Sutton residents to travel to the Eurostar station, as well as Luton Airport.

Executive Lib Dem councillor, Simon Wales, stated: “Network rail is letting down the thousands of commuters in outer London who rely on this service every day. We already get a raw deal when it comes to rail services, suffering serious overcrowding and having to pay for Crossrail without getting any substantial benefits. Losing this lifeline is the final straw and that’s why we are determined to do all we can to save it.”

Tom has been in regular contact with Theresa Villiers, Transport Minister and also representatives from Thameslink to express the worries and concerns of Sutton residents. He was also seen at Hackbridge and Carshalton stations to meet commuters and to explain the campaign.

If you would like to learn more about this campaign, have a look at the Facebook group:

Please sign the petition and pledge your support for the campaign:

http://sutton-libdems.org.uk/en/petition/save-train-services-to-central-london