Wednesday 25 November 2009

Article 3

TFL is 'rude and unresponsive' 


Transport for London has been branded a rude and unresponsive anti-resident organization by the liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn. 


Ed Fordman has spoken out about the ongoing Overground and Jubilee line closures. 


He said: "I think the way TFL is conducting itself is near offensive and a disgrace. This is a major issue for residents and traders and TFL has failed to respond in any way. The closures have gone on too long and unexplained and uncommunicated."


WEST Hampstead traders have slammed the ongoing weekend closure of the Jubilee line, saying it is putting them out of business.

The upgrade of the line, which also affects Swiss Cottage, has seen frequent closures of huge swathes of the line on most weekends.

Traders and restaurant owners in West Hampstead say they cannot cope with any more pressure given the current economic climate.

Siba Kannan, from Elephant Walk restaurant, said: "It has been going on for months and it is definitely affecting West End Lane and the businesses here. This is a destination place at the weekend and the closures are making it very difficult for us. Businesses have been suffering, especially restaurants and bars because we are not getting as many customers - it is killing off trade.

"It has been going since for months and it is not on. Given the current economic climate this is not helping us at all - it is making it worse. We are all dying a silent death here and it is very concerning. There are hundreds of people who are being affected."


A TFL spokes woman said "Once the Jubilee line upgrade is completed customers will benefit from faster journeys and an increase in capacity of 33 percent. Our contractor tube lines in responsible for installing new signaling which will result in a more reliable service fro Londoners. The only way that we can do this is to close the line in part or full at quieter times such as weekends.

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