Transport for London is to proceed with plans to scrap the weekday London Underground service to Kensington Olympia despite objections from local councillors and London’s passenger watchdog.
In place of the Kensington Olympia service, London Underground plans to run additional services on the Wimbledon branch.
It say the changes would reduce delays and provide capacity for “4,000 more passengers on the Wimbledon branch” and has promised to maintain a weekend service to and from the station.
Local councillors have expressed concern that the changes would make it harder for visitors to travel to Olympia when the Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre closes.
Nicholas Paget-Brown, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Highways at Kensington and Chelsea Council, previously described the plans as “short termist and unwise.”
In August London TravelWatch warned that closure of the wheelchair accessible Olympia station would force passengers to take “long and inconvenient diversions.”
Earlier this year London Underground extended its consultation period over the proposals.
On Wednesday LU Managing Director Mike Brown said: “There was an overwhelming response to the consultation and we would like to thank everyone who took part.
“After taking into account all the responses we received, and in light of the benefits that the changes will deliver, we have decided to go ahead with the changes; these will come into effect in December.”
TravelWatch Chair Sharon Grant predicted: “Those who cannot manage steps will find life tough as a result of this change.
“In future, passengers at Olympia would need to follow a lengthy route by road to reach the southbound Overground platform to reach the District Line, without needing to use steps. And at West Brompton (the alternative interchange point), the southbound District line platform has no step free access.”
