“Whatever one thinks about no service over Christmas, some long term closures are necessary for engineering works. Spare a thought for the people that have to work on the track and bridges at this time of year.”

“[i]"And why is it as Croydon passengers that we have to use platforms 15-19 at Victoria Station that double up as sidings such that you feel like you have to walk a good deal of the distance to Croydon just to reach the train at the very far end of ther platforms beyond dormant trains on platforms that are already placed well down the station beyond the position of platforms 1-14?"[/i]

It is well documented that the rail network is currently running at capacity owing to 30 years of under-investment by Tory governments. To direct trains from the south coast into platforms 14 and lower would require multiple cross-overs of lines because of the track geometry that makes the most efficient use of the space available. Multiple cross-overs would significantly reduce the number of available train paths owing to the additional time slots required to perform them

It's like the M25: all slipways come from the outside lanes to avoid cross-overs that would cause inevitable multiple vehicle pile-ups.

That's "why it is" (and I expect that many rail travellers benefit from the exercise). So it is not some form of conspiracy against rail travellers from Croydon.

It's refreshing to see that over the holiday period you're making up the time you spent on long-term sick leave during the year at tax-payers' expense, Mr Pelling.”

“Back in Parliament today and disappointed that Dazzer does not have the courage of his convictions to correspond in his own name. We will all not feel confident that he is the New Addington resident that he says he is until readers know that he is willing to say who he is and to be open. What is there to hide? I have absolutely no desire to know Dazzer's exact address or indeed which part of New Addington he lives in but we'd all have more confidence in what he says if he were not hiding behind anonymity.

As regards Dazzer's invitation to sort out his little comment in his question introducing the idea that there is something wrong with New Addington people I deprecate the aspersions on New Addington people that he has so now introduced into the string of comments. Dazzer's tone is not that of New Addington people who will always go out of their way not to cause offence so I just can not conceive of Dazzer being a New Addington resident.

New Addington people are amongst the best people in the world especially so in their manner, attitude, resilience, loyalty and strong sense of self-identity.

As ever with these commentaries we do though go well off the subject of the raliways. Again a rail service today where there is an inadequate provision when the trains do not have the regular commuters but still passengers have to stand all the way to London as mean minded train operators provide short trains. Operating above 100 % passenger capacity is regarded by operators and indeed government as acceptable even when we are to see huge 6 to 10 % increases in fares tomorrow.

And why is it as Croydon passengers that we have to use platforms 15-19 at Victoria Station that double up as sidings such that you feel like you have to walk a good deal of the distance to Croydon just to reach the train at the very far end of ther platforms beyond dormant trains on platforms that are already placed well down the station beyond the position of platforms 1-14?

It is just not acceptable and that's why I speak out to defend the interests of Croydon people and put Croydon first.”

“Dear Mr Ratnaraja, your loyalty to Mr Pelling is outstanding - but why are you trying to make him out to be some kind of god "We will never get an MP who works so hard for the People of Croydon. This Man spends most of His time in parliament" - excuse me for being a little bit ignorant but isn't that his job?"

Yes it is His Job. He could also be on holiday like the rest of the MPs or He could also go home at a reasonable time. Andrew is the only Member of Parliament who works all days except Christmas day.

Andrew could also claim a second home allowance and all travel expenses.

Though I am a Conservative I would like to give credit to an outstanding MP who has helped me as a resident of Croydon central and also has helped a number of residents in New addington.

I am a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ.

I don't hide the fact that I am loyal to Mr.Pelling. I am always loyal to People who have helped me and my People (The Tamils).”

“Patrick Ratnarja - Your comments do not warrent a reply”

“Mr Pelling,
My comments were to Mr Ratnaraja ABOUT you, who deemed to make you out to be some kind of God.....
I do not want to go down the politics of everything, but when you have the likes of Mr Ratnaraja causing you problems, then maybe he should be the one that you should be commenting to!!
By the way I DO live in New Addington, and for what reason would you think I would not? What is wrong with people from New Addington?. You need to sort out this little comment rather quickly don't you think?”

“Thank you very much for the supportive comments on this commentary page about my campaign.

Like Anon, A. Yardy I do at times use South Croydon Station when I walk there from home ( I usually though take the bus or the tram to East Croydon Station) and the 10.8% travelcard increases are just huge when inflation is set to fall to zero.

However for Dazzer who is so unfiriendly and uncharitable in his commentary and who publicly questions how hard I work I should say that with the exception of the most enjoyable break of thirty minutes watching of the fireworks up here and 90 minutes taking pictures of the growing crowd I am Dazzer working on constituents' correspondence up here in Parliament at 2.45 am in the morning. So contrary to your rather unpleasent remarks I am dedicated to the job and indeed having voted against the ridiculously long 26 day break for Parliament I am in here in the office in Parliament every day except Christmas Day during the Christmas break.

As regards your disparaging comments about pennies Dazzer - by the way do tell us all your real name if you have the courage to come out from your disguise and tell us where you really live - it is not pennies but a matter of millions that the rail companies take from customers from this failure to provide a service for two days and I will always speak up for the individual Croydon person against the large corporation on such matters.

You assert Dazzer that I am new to commuting but I commute every day. Indeed I have commuted every day of my working life from Croydon, indeed even as a child I did so on our local trains. I know that the Christmas Day service break came in the 60's but we did used to have a Boxing Day service - there was nothing on the main line at all this year - see full details on andrewpelling.org.uk of the shuttered station at East Croydon on Boxing Day. These non existent services are about profits not religious holidays. If the buses and the underground can run on Boxing Day why not our rail services here in Croydon ? Croydon people expect me to speak up for them on this in any case.

As regards my expenses there are expenses for this PC I am using and the paper I write to constituents on and the postage i use and the one full time member of staff I employ and I admit I do sometimes claim the 40 pence I spend on a cup of tea for the very many visitors who come to see me here. You can claim for the cost of biscuits but that's the maximum you can claim for entertainment - tea and biscuits. So there is no gravy train there - no transport pun intended. What is wrong is how some London MPs claim money for second homes. I don't. Why can't they commute like the rest of us ?

As regards negative's comments on privitisation I wholeheartedly agree with him that the Tory rail privitisation was a complete debacle. I think even ex-Tory transport ministers admit this now. It is though the Labour government's own version of privitisation now under Network Rail that is giving us this awful service - just like the dreaded PFI's this is one big rip off of the taxpayer and the rail customer.

Andrew Pelling MP
Putting Croydon First”

“Dear Mr Ratnaraja, your loyalty to Mr Pelling is outstanding - but why are you trying to make him out to be some kind of god "We will never get an MP who works so hard for the People of Croydon. This Man spends most of His time in parliament" - excuse me for being a little bit ignorant but isn't that his job?
I would rather NOT go down the political route, but please....
AND as for "Not like you guys sitting around at home with your family" - is this sour grapes because of the fact that we CAN and we have worked ALL year and a majority of us are able to - and we have not spent the last few days writing to National Rail companies trying to get back some pennies - gosh he must be so hard up!!!
P.S. You are NOT helping his cause, in fact you are hindering it!!!”

“Negative, why can't you use your own name to write? You are so negative without knowing the facts. Do you realise that Mr.Pelling is the 600th out of 645 MPs on expenses. He does not claim for his daily travel on train and tram to Parliament.

The voice of reason has no reason nor a voice. Looks like He or She does not read facts.

We will never get an MP who works so hard for the People of Croydon. This Man spends most of His time in parliament.Not like you guys sitting around at home with your family.

Why don't you People write with your own names.”

“Dazzer -well said
Pelling was a idiot seven years ago before I moved over here and it seems to me nothing has changed. Why is he bleating on? There has never in my living memory (a long, long time) been a train service on Christmas Day. Would you like to work on the 25th? I bet ¿1 he claims it back on his expenses one way or another. Pelling - It is better to be
thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Think on.”