AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR RAIL USERS No 147 £1.50 April 2016 Picture: STEVEN ROBERTSON
Success in the snow See page 2 PAGE ONE PICTURE THE CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL FREIGHT The statistics of success 125 mph Our cover picture by Steven these encouraging statistics Robertson shows the new should make arguing the case Borders Railway bringing the for rail easier but, as the Borders convenience and comfort of Railway shows, planners are trains to an area of Scotland hopeless at estimating future rail fast food which had been deprived of demand. Picture: ROBIN PATRICK them for 40 years. They said 650,000 would use the Everywhere the railway is railway in its first year. In fact, the chalking up success after railway carried 500,000 after less delivery success. More people are now than five months operation. travelling by rail than at any time since the 1920s, according The fantastic news should clear the way for further station and By Lee Davies to figures from the Office of Rail [email protected] and Road. line reopenings. Instead, it seems the politicians Fresh seafood is being delivered Railfuture has every reason by train from Cornwall direct to are just as out of touch with to be sceptical about ORR London. The first load of fish, the public on the question of statistics, which we have shown live lobster and crab, was landed are repeatedly under-counting privatisation, now being openly in Cornwall and loaded on the passenger numbers at some touted by some as a solution to 10.00 InterCity 125 passenger stations. Network Rail’s problems. To try to train departure from Penzance to undermine the public’s memory Paddington. The ORR says 1,393 million of Railtrack’s six-year appalling journeys were recorded in history, privatisation lovers at the A new company called InterCity 2014-15, even bigger than the Institute of Economic Affairs have RailFreight has worked out a 1945 figure when returning been “exposing” the high cost of deal with Great Western Railway. troops at the end of the Second the railway, without mentioning ICRF’s Jeff Screeton talked to World War boosted the figures, Railfuture’s freight committee and the biggest number since the exorbitant subsidies enjoyed by the road lobby. These were the results of a Survation poll taken in December on a few years ago and it is good 1923 when the rail network was behalf of the campaigning organisation We Own It to see that his ideas are starting The RMT union, which has SUN SETS ON SIGNALS: The semaphore signals glinting in the late afternoon sun in this twice the size of its current post- to make headway with the train picture taken in North Lincolnshire on 23 December are no longer there. A new signalling Beeching truncated size. first-hand knowledge of both operating companies. Railtrack and Network Rail, says system and York rail operating centre are now controlling trains though this junction, which Some sceptics have pointed out Win with Railfuture Lottery for years was handled by Barnetby East signal box. The freight train is delivering oil from privatisation of Network Rail In London WEGO Couriers, that because train operators sell the Humber refinery to Kingsbury in Warwickshire. The Network Rail scheme involved would be disastrous, bad for The Railfuture Lottery has Railfuture Lottery to: Railfuture using cargo bikes and electric their own tickets at the expense renewing 16 level crossings and 60 miles of signalling between Immingham, Scunthorpe passenger safety and would lead paid out over £12,000 in prizes Lottery, 24 Chedworth Place, vehicles, delivered the seafood to of long-distance through tickets, restaurants. and Cleethorpes. This is the end of mechanical signal boxes in the area but creates greater the journey figures might be to even higher fares. over the past 11 years, and Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. reliability for both passenger and freight services as well as increasing the railway’s Jeff said ICRF provided a 21st- exaggerated. In other words, It points out that Railtrack paid raised a further £12,000 for our Recent winners: capacity. Immingham is the gateway to Britain for a quarter of the country’s rail freight, century solution for time-sensi- some people now use two or out huge dividends even when campaigning. But the lottery with imports of biomass fuel, coal, steel, oil and petroleum to support industry and airlines. Nov 2015: Peter Pass, tive fresh produce and e-com- even three tickets to complete it was failing to run the network needs you the members to Immingham is Britain’s largest port (by tonnage) and handles up to 55 million tonnes a year. Christopher Hyomes, Garth merce deliveries, which draws one journey, mainly in a bid to properly. Trades Union Congress help keep this fundraising See also Lincolnshire Local Action: Page 14 Smith, David Stocks, A T Hill, on long-lost practice established keep costs down. But ORR says general secretary Frances continuing, so why not join? Patrick Hughes. in the 19th and 20th centuries – the 1,393 millionjourneys are O’Grady said: “Taxpayers and It costs only £1 a month! There using spare space on passenger genuine “end to end” trips. are currently over 200 entries Dec: Peter Moore, Judith freight (up to four tonnes per the travelling public deserve a trains – to achieve a high speed, in Finland 76 tonnes and in Swe- competition between road and An even higher figure of 1,654 modern, sustainable approach with six prizes every month Kitchiner, William Morton, train) to be moved at speeds of den 90 tonnes, allegedly for test rail. With the collapse of coal John Barfield, Andrew Carr, high frequency, low carbon million for 2014-15 is another to upgrading our railways, and you can add to this by delivery service. up to 125mph (186mph on cross- purposes. traffic in Britain this injustice record, but is based on the not a repeat of past failures. going to www.railfuture.org. John Henderson. Channel Eurostar trains). and distortion of the market is ICRF is building on four years of Road damage rises steeply with “Lennon” database which More fragmentation and uk/lottery/ where you can enter Jan: John Ward, David Brady, critical. experience with East Midlands http://intercityrailfreight.com/ axle weight. counts each leg and each train commercialisation would be the using PayPal, or send a cheque Walter Richardson, Ian Budd, Trains between Sheffield, Derby, Flood diversions Doubling the axle weight East Midlands Gateway used for one journey. In theory, worst of both worlds.” for a multiple of £12, payable to Graham Smith, Peter Pass. Nottingham, Leicester and St DB Schenker’s nightly service increases road damage 16 times, The Government has given Pancras International, moving for Royal Mail from Motherwell and in the case of the heaviest the go-ahead for a 250-acre rail some of the most time-sensitive to London has been diverted to British lorries (44-tonnes) – the freight hub and warehouse com- Farewell to Rail Action John, a modest ‘friend to millions’ products, such as blood supplies the East Coast main line along main competition for rail freight plex to be built on farmland at and medical samples. with various Intermodal services – heavy goods vehicles are up to Castle Donington near East Mid- John Stanford, the modest, humorous and ambition of visiting ICRF wants to develop similar operated by Freightliner, follow- 160,000 times more damaging to lands airport and junction 24 of founder of Railfuture’s well-respected man every railway station in services across the GWR and ing the flood damage to Laming- road surfaces than small vehicles. the M1 motorway. A new rail link Rail Action email who spent decades France. As a co-editor of other passenger train networks, ton viaduct on the West Coast The vehicle taxation system does will be built to the depot which newsletter, died in working for Radar, the Railwatch, he also wrote using the experience of overnight main line near Lockerbie. Three not reflect this massive disparity, will be able to handle 16 trains November, aged 72. Royal Association for a series of authoritative trials into London Euston station landslips on the Newcastle-Car- so big lorries are being cross-sub- 775-metre long each day, accord- articles for in 2012 and 2014. lisle line prevented it from being sidised by cars. ing to developer Roxhill. John made a great Disability Rights, which Railwatch, Rail Action and the used as a diversion. We should all be campaigning to impact on Railfuture since 2012 has been part The last time parcels were regu- An independent planning com- Railfuture website. stop these mega menaces which after retiring from a of Disability Rights larly carried on passenger trains A limited number of freight trains mittee recommended that the Like many Railfuture are a threat to the future of rail lifetime working on UK. He was influential was in 1989, using British Rail’s were able to be diverted via the depot should not be built because members, his flat in freight. behalf of disabled from the 1970s onwards “Red Star” service although Glasgow-Kilmarnock-Dumfries- warehouses will be built and Dalston, London, was Carlisle line, reconnecting to the people. “He helped in setting up the Royal Mail continues to use rail Rail Forum Europe is also call- operational before the rail link national key scheme for full of books and maps. for letters. West Coast main line at Carlisle, ing on both the European Union and there are no long-term plans millions of people,” Born in Rustington, accessible toilets and ICRF started operating in 2011 but the Dumfries route is not yet and member states to ensure that to increase rail connections. mourners at his funeral West Sussex, John also edited RADAR’s as 5PL Ltd, moving parcels and suitable for big containers and rail access charges for freight are in December were told, studied economics at Toni Harrington, chairman of annual holiday guide. other time-sensitive deliveries on long trains. simplified and harmonised so “but few of them knew Nottingham University, Lockington cum Hemington John also had a passion scheduled passenger train ser- Mega lorry threat that there is a level playing field him. Many will never before working for parish council said: “We have vices, with cargo bikes and elec- between road and rail. know the contribution for railways, and the Port of London, Sixty tonne lorries, as long as 25 read the small print and it could tric vehicles used at either end he made to giving travelled widely, always Age Concern and as metres, can now operate in Spain RFE says only 1% of roads in be that a rail connection will for local collection and delivery them the opportunity by rail, in Europe. the warden of a hostel following a Spanish government Europe are tolled, but track never go ahead, which is what by road. to live independent Before he died, he for ex-offenders in the decision in December. In the access charging applies to every we feared all along. Our biggest lives.” John was a almost achieved his Forest of Dean. Using scheduled passenger Netherlands and Denmark 60 kilometre and component of worry is that it just becomes a trains allows small volumes of tonne lorries are already allowed, the rail network, thus distorting road freight yard.” 2 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture Birmingham conference on 12 November 2016 railwatch April 2016 3 LOCAL ACTION
weekday service consists of only five trains East Anglia one way and six trains the other way. The Yorkshire By Paul Hollinghurst campaigners want the hourly Nottingham- By Chris Hyomes [email protected] Skegness trains all to stop at Radcliffe, pointing [email protected] out that the low usage figures are because Picture: CROSSRAIL n nCambridge South at Addenbrooke’s the low frequency of trains makes the service n nNew franchises bring welcome benefits The Case for Cambridge has been launched unattractive. The parish council has offered to Railfuture Yorkshire spent much of 2015 trying by 11 of the city’s leading organisations. They adopt the station and give it a make-over. to influence the content of the new franchises ask for development of a Cambridge regional n n for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express transport plan with a series of specific rail Challenge for Midlands Connect which start on 1 April 2016. We are pleased that projects including a new Cambridge South Graham Nalty from Railfuture East Midlands the details of the new franchises announced in rail station at the Addenbrooke’s biomedical attended a conference organised by the December include several of the improvements campus and links between more affordable East Midlands Chamber of Commerce in that we have campaigned for. We plan to seek housing and jobs via better train services, Nottingham, which included a session on further improvements by working with the new including feeder towns such as Ely, Thetford, transport with contributions from transport teams. Arriva is now running Northern, which Haverhill, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. minister Andrew Jones and shadow transport had been run jointly by Serco and Abellio, while These reflect many of Railfuture’s aspirations for secretary Lilian Greenwood. Ms Greenwood First is running TransPennine Express without Cambridge. argued strongly for classic-compatible trains its former partner Keolis. Arriva has signed a www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia+Cambridge+ to Nottingham on High Speed Two, and also contract with CAF to build 281 carriages, which City+Deal#The_Case_for_Cambridge_ mentioned the need to improve connections will replace the much-derided Pacers by the n n between Leicester and Coventry. These two end of 2018. Little things make a big difference cities are less than 25 miles apart and have The state of Newmarket been put together to form one of the four n nReopening priorities for Yorkshire station has long hubs of the Midlands Connect partnership The reopening of the Skipton-Colne, Sheffield- been a big issue for programme, yet a rail journey between the two Stocksbridge and Beverley-York routes, as well Railfuture East Anglia requires a change of trains at Nuneaton. as new stations for Elland and Haxby, remain and the Mid Anglia Rail priorities for Railfuture Yorkshire. Passengers Association. n nBoxing day failure for Derby fans Our joint campaign for At a meeting of the Friends of the Derwent n nVirgin boss visits Railfuture Yorkshire improvements included Valley Line, attended by Ariadne Tampion Virgin Trains took over the East Coast franchise help in getting the train from Railfuture East Midlands, frustration was in June 2015 and managing director David operator, town council, expressed at the lack of a service along the line Horne was a guest speaker at Railfuture the district and county councils, the horse- when Derby County football club were playing Yorkshire’s AGM in January, along with racing industry and the team planning the new at home on Boxing Day. Why can there not be Transport Minister Andrew Jones. LONDON CROSSRAIL: Women working on Europe’s largest construction project join Rail Minister Claire Perry (the only woman not National Horse Racing Museum together to a service on those lines on which Network Rail n nElectrification campaign goes on in high-viz working gear in this picture). She praised Crossrail for helping to make construction an attractive career for women who talk about improvements. This was a first step are not doing maintenance over the Christmas make up nearly a third of the workforce compared to a rail industry average of 16% in getting recognition of the importance of the period? The past year was a turbulent one for Network train service to the town of over 20,000 people. Rail and we now expect the TransPennine The first fruits of the various parties working n nTrams or tram-trains for Nottingham electrification to be completed by end 2022, together has been the recent completion of and the Midland main line by end 2023. The Women line up to make the railway better two fully enclosed quality shelters, a new train Electrification Task Force report published last departure board, a ticket machine and signs year recommended a major programme of A new group, Women in Com- to show the town is the home of British horse electrification across the North of England, but munity Rail, has been formed racing. We hope this is just the start and that so far there has been no formal government with the support of the Associ- the new East Anglia franchise will deliver more response. Railfuture Yorkshire will be ation of Community Rail Part- improvements including a minimum half- campaigning for a positive response in 2016. nerships. Picture: TfGM hourly train service. In the meantime, well done The new group will comple- n nNew stations to help the railway grow Abellio Greater Anglia. KENNETH JONES Picture: ment the existing Women in n nGreater Anglia train problems Railfuture Yorkshire welcomed the opening of Rail group. a new station at Apperley Bridge in December Greater Anglia suffered serious widespread Marion Atkinson, chair of and look forward to the opening of Kirkstall WiCR, said: “We already have problems in mid-November caused by almost This tram is pictured in Nottingham city centre Forge and Low Moor this year. The Doncaster half of its diesel multiple unit fleet being out but Nottingham Express Transit is investigating a lot of interest and back- Free Press has reported that the Friends of ing from various industry of service (10 out of 26 units at one point) the possibility of further extensions to the Askern Station are campaigning to get their mainly with wheel defects during the leaf fall tram network, possibly as far as East Midlands colleagues but we are really station reopened and have handed a petition keen to muster more support season. Services on the Sudbury and Felixstowe Airport and Derby. The investigation was to Doncaster’s elected Mayor Ros Jones. branches were suspended for 12 consecutive commissioned by the D2N2 Derbyshire and throughout the industry, with days, and there were frequent cancellations Nottinghamshire local enterprise partnership. n nThe case for an airport parkway station emphasis for male colleagues to come forward and join the between Ipswich and Cambridge. A shortage However, transport expert John Disney from Harrogate Line Supporters Group has produced of local wheel-turning provision meant some Nottingham Business School has said that tram- group as well as female col- a briefing paper outlining its case for a rail leagues. units were sent to Derby for tyre turning. trains of the type to be introduced in Sheffield link to Leeds Bradford airport. It assesses Even when the whole fleet is operational, East would be more suitable for an extension to that building an airport parkway station near “Powerful and talented women Anglia suffers from regular peak overcrowding Derby. Bramhope tunnel on the Leeds-Harrogate- can be found on the front line FRONT LINE:The WiCR steering group is hoping to attract both workers and volunteers to join as there is no spare rolling stock to lengthen at our stations encouraging n nLoughborough venue for AGM York line will be the most cost-effective and n Actively promoting equal- careers for women and young managing director of Northern services. Railfuture East Anglia has emphasised economically viable option. From 2017, the line people to volunteer, making a The East Midlands branch AGM will be held ity, diversity inclusiveness people in community rail and the importance of rolling stock for the new will benefit from a 15-minute train frequency difference at their local station Rail. He said: “It is fantastic to on Saturday 16 April from 12.30 to 15.30 at the railway generally through franchise so hope the franchise announcement under the terms of the new Northern franchise, and working with partners and a cooperative approach see women making their mark Loughborough library. Further details will be career talks, aimed at young in mid-2016 gives hope for the future. and Virgin East Coast plans a direct service from promoting the railway, in our throughout the community rail in the world of community rail posted on the branch website www.railfuture. people who want a different n n London to Harrogate from 2019. Shuttle buses community rail partnerships, world and beyond and I am delighted to offer my Keep in touch at: www.railfuture.org. org.uk/East+Midlands+Branch leading on projects, lobbying career path to an apprentice- already serving the airport car parks could be n Funding and other support support to WiCR as it starts to uk/East+Anglia and Twitter: @RailfutureEA for service improvements and ship n nRunning Railways extended to the new station. strengthen its position in the working for train operators will be sought to develop a website and forum for discus- A launch event is planned for industry.” Richard Brown, who is currently on the n nLeeds could get a T-shaped station and local councils.” sometime after 1 April at Man- East Midlands board of HS2 and has previously run Midland sion along with generating Anybody wishing to join the The first steering group meet- chester Victoria station where By Anthony Kay Mainline and Eurostar, will be speaking on Railfuture Yorkshire welcomes HS2’s decision in social media pages group or for further informa- December to abandon plans for a separate high ing was held in Manchester in there will be a tour of the sta- [email protected] Running Railways at Leicester Secular Hall, 75 n tion please contact Hazel speed station at Leeds New Lane in favour of a January where the following Supporting women already tion and entertainment. n n Humberstone Gate LE1 1WB at 18.30 on Sunday Bonner: [email protected] More trains needed at Radcliffe single, consolidated rail interchange. The new key aims were agreed: active in community rail, work- Speakers will include Kathryn 10 April. The meeting is open to the public and ing for train operators either Villagers at Radcliffe-on-Trent are campaigning admission is free. plan could include creating a T-shaped station n Sharing good practice O’Brien, customer service Women in Rail was set up three to improve the service at their station on the with new high speed platforms built over the across community rail and the as paid workers or volunteers director for TransPennine years ago and has “shone a Nottingham-Grantham line. Currently the n nFollow us on Twitter: @RailfutureEMids River Aire. railway generally n Raising awareness of Express and Alex Hynes, new light on the rail sector”. 4 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture AGM will be held in Milton Keynes on 21 May 2016 railwatch April 2016 5 LOCAL ACTION Brightening up the railway by the two local authorities (Fife together with on ticket sales. How can the ORR possibly have Scotland Perth & Kinross) and two transport partnerships any real idea, when the station has neither a By Martin Yallop By Jane Ann Liston (SESTRAN and TACTRAN) concluded that ticket office nor a ticket machine? But the ORR [email protected] [email protected] there were good cases for stations at both says Pevensey Bay has leapt from less than Working for the Association of n nRail freight deserves fair treatment Oudenarde/Bridge of Earn and Newburgh. The 7,000 in one year to over 25,000 the next, when A warm Community Rail Partnerships, argument for Newburgh was stronger. the service provision has not changed. The rail my aim is to increase the Railfuture Scotland has put in a submission industry must find ways to produce station involvement of community to Transport Scotland’s freight consultation n nForth Rail Link campaign launched usage figures which command confidence. welcome groups in their local railway. Delivering the Goods. The need for a level A new Forth Rail Link campaign has been playing field between road and rail freight was launched to run passenger services from n nTurning south London orange By Jerry Alderson I also want to help with emphasised, with the former benefiting from Dunfermline through Kincardine to Alloa, made A Centre for London report highlights the impact [email protected] conserving station buildings, major road-building and the removal of road possible by the imminent closure of Longannet of London’s inexorable rise in population and Railfuture is taken seriously identifying funding and finding bridge tolls, while Network Rail is landed with power station. The campaign wants to see Fife employment on its Tube and rail networks, and as a campaigning organisation new uses for redundant rooms the bill for strengthening road over rail bridges and Clackmannanshire re-linked by rail. The the urgent need for main line rail to deliver more because of our in-depth under- and buildings. for heavier lorries. More should be made of the plan is supported by Fife Council as well as capacity to meet the pressure of rising travel standing of the railway. ACoRP acts as an umbrella fact that rail freight reduces emissions, is safer demand. Turning South London Orange advocates members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who Our credibility is helped by and support organisation for and saves on costs of road damage caused by believe the link could offer better education spreading the London Overground model as the the involvement of career rail- over 60 partnerships and a ever-heavier lorries. opportunities for school leavers. most cost-effective, passenger-satisfying response large number of station friends to such demands, devolving franchises from the waymen such as Chris Austin, www.forthraillink.com and adopters in England and COLOUR: A recycled rail carriage near Deptford station, n nGlasgow Crossrail is essential Department for Transport to Transport for London Ian Brown and Stewart Palmer Wales and to some extent London, was provided as a cafe and in 2008 was inspiration for n nMP backs Waverley to Carlisle as they become due for replacement. along with our vice presidents. The forthcoming five-month closure of Glasgow Scotland. Partnerships help with a revamp of the area around the station, now under way Queen Street tunnel for improvements will A Scottish MP has thrown his support behind www.railfuture.org.uk/article1643-Southern- However, much of our special- orange marketing and promotions to have a serious impact on services, including the the campaign to extend the newly reopened ist knowledge is from retired encourage local communities to needed in the 21st century but platform buildings at Gobowen prime Edinburgh-Glasgow service. RailQwest Borders Rail line to Carlisle. Calum Kerr, who Railfuture continues to advocate the benefits people, and since the railway the buildings are community in the Welsh borders, where a of rail devolution. The popularity of the improve stations while aiming campaigners point out that, had Glasgow represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and is a fast-changing and high- to be inclusive and diverse. assets. They have become small specialist travel company Crossrail been built, the effect would have been Selkirk said the route’s popularity mounts “an Overground is clear on the inner West Anglia technology industry it is vital faith centres, community day Comments and suggestions has occupied redundant space greatly ameliorated. Proposals to provide a extremely strong case” to continue the link from routes taken over by TfL in May 2015, where we welcome younger people. centres, children’s nurseries and from Railfuture groups and for the past 20 years and has tram-train from Glasgow Central to the airport Tweedbank on to Hawick and Carlisle. Mr Kerr latest passenger counts at stations across that crèches, gyms, garden centres, To help this, Railfuture’s board members are welcomed at the now expanded into organising a rather than a heavy rail link are being resisted, acknowledged an extension would not be easy network show an average annual increase of tyre fitting depots and garages. has signed a collaboration community rail cafe website. café business that provides work because the slower trams would impede heavy because the route crossed national borders, but 25%, way above the London average of 6%. Locating more than one activity Railfuture supports those in the Southeastern agreement with Young Rail ACoRP’s success can be experience for inclusive learner rail services on parts of the line and would said MPs on both sides are supportive. “It will be in a station spreads the financial Metro area for whom Overground standards of Professionals whose members measured in growing passenger students from a nearby college. mean special rolling-stock which could not be a third rail line between Scotland and England, work in the industry and want risk and provides income for used anywhere else in Britain. improving our UK transport infrastructure, operation from June 2018, when the current numbers on partnership routes Other stations provide to improve their career pros- but we want to get away from maintenance. So has the wheel providing new linkages and creating real franchise ends, cannot come soon enough. cycle hire facilities, tourist n nRail Action Group East of Scotland pects. Unlike Railfuture, YRP the era of vandalised shelters on turned full circle? ACoRP’s role potential for economic and tourism benefits,” n nInfluencing people and events is to create, improve or enhance accommodation, heritage RAGES met Virgin East Coast and welcomed does not have paying mem- bleak platforms. he said. “It is a fantastic vision.” the facilities at stations. One provision or even a local radio proposals to refurbish trains, upgrade Responding to consultations is one of the many bers but is funded by sponsor- Early days Craigentinny and introduce a new morning n nContacts ways Railfuture makes its voice heard and ship from rail companies eager example has been the successful station. The only limit to more influences the authorities. In recent months to attract the best talent. Many communities formed re-use of the southbound novel uses is our imagination. service from Stirling. RAGES suggested Rail Action Group, East of Scotland (RAGES) pressure groups in the early amendments to the stopping patterns of two www.rages.org.uk/ Railfuture has contributed to Hertfordshire’s YRP has over 3,500 members ADVERTISEMENT Transport Vision and East Sussex’s Local 1960s in response to the trains to accommodate boarding and alighting Beattock Station Action Group (BSAG) from human resources to Beeching Report, but the first at intermediate stations such as Newcastle www.beattockstationactiongroup.org.uk/ Transport Plan Implementation, the DfT’s new operations, and engineering to franchises in 2017 for South Western and West community rail partnership and York, as not every passenger is travelling St Andrews Rail Link (StARLink) campaign project management. Railfu- was the Penistone Line straight through from London to Edinburgh www.starlink-campaign.org.uk/ Midlands, and TfL’s plans for Camden Town ture hopes YRP members will EUROPEAN RAIL Partnership (Huddersfield- or vice-versa and a Saturday 21.00 last train www.facebook.com/StARLinkCampaign station, Crossrail 2, the Overground extension join and take part in our cam- to Barking Riverside, and new river crossings Penistone-Barnsley-Sheffield). from Edinburgh to Berwick, as on weekdays, twitter.com/starlinkrail #StARLinkRail paigning. In return YRP will Formed in 1993, it sought to rather than 19.00 which is too early. We also LevenMouth Rail Campaign in east and south-east London. More recently raise its profile and their mem- TIMETABLE Railfuture has responded supportively to the build on a trend apparent on asked why a ticket from Dunbar to London cost www.lmrc-action.org.uk/ bers will learn more about rail the Cotswold Line (Oxford- DfT’s devolution prospectus New approach to Pre- 1st £76.60 more than one from Edinburgh, when www.facebook.com/Levenmouth-Rail- users, both passengers and Evesham-Worcester-Hereford), the journey was 30 miles shorter. Campagin-432832616900648/ rail passenger services in London and the south- freight, and meet senior mem- order Edition Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) east. Railfuture nationally also responded to the where volunteers at stations had now n n bers of the industry at our con- a beneficial effect on the line Beattock Station Action Group www.capitalrail.org.uk/ new National Infrastructure Commission under ferences and meetings. as a whole. The partnerships ® ® BSAG is now working in partnership with Newburgh Train Station campaign former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, the scope of the Shaw inquiry into Network Rail’s The rail industry has a skills brought positive environmental regional transport partnership SWESTRANS to newburghtrainstation.org.uk/ crisis because after decades of Forth Rail Link future shape and financing, and more recently action by individuals to improve commission a pre-appraisal report. Support decline, in which the average for the venture was also received from First www.forthraillink.com the Hendy report on replanning Network Rail’s their locality and develop age of staff got older as fewer TransPennine Express. www.facebook.com/forthraillink/ investment programme. community spirit. Led by Dr n n young people were attracted Paul Salveson, the Penistone n nLevenMouth Rail Campaign Trains you can rely on to it, there is now enormous Line Partnership expanded this LMRC’s second Scottish Transport Appraisal London and South East Network Rail assesses train punctuality and growth and demand for peo- concept to on-train activities Guidance (STAG) was approved by Fife Council. By Roger Blake produces a “public performance measure” ple with modern skills. such as live music and Santa It is now up to the Scottish Government and the [email protected] which can be used to compare train operators. YRP is organising a Rail Week Specials on little used trains, But there are also statistics based on miles per guided walks between stations regional transport partnership SESTRAN to take n nDodgy data distort delivery across Britain from 27 June to £15.99 plus P&P £17.99 plus P&P £10.99 plus P&P the project forward to enable reintroduction of technical incident. MTIN records the occasions 3 July to attract young people and making improvements such Published monthly Dispatched from June 2nd Thornton-Leven rail services. The Office of Rail and Road published its a train is stopped for more than three minutes. into a rail career. Railwatch as community art and gardens, Available now annual estimates of station usage in December, With a widening gap between the amount often through local schools. n n readers may wish to encourage Burst of activity at St Andrews the same month that Cambridge Heath and of rolling stock available and the number of their children and grandchil- Station adoptions QUOTE RW20 TO RECEIVE 20% OFF A burst of activity by StARLink at the turn of London Fields Rail Users Group carried out passengers, train reliability is increasingly dren to attend events. its own passenger counts. The ORR reckons, important and is carefully analysed by experts The first station adopters were Produced by the former compilers of the the year saw meetings with Transport Scotland, Details can be found at http:// in such diverse locations as the University of St Andrews vice-principal, the based on ticket sales, that 400,000 people used such as Railfuture vice president Roger Ford Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable Cambridge Heath and 720,000 London Fields to award “Golden Spanners” to operators each www.railweek.com and by fol- Penmere in Cornwall, Dolau head of economic development at ScotRail and lowing @railweek on Twitter. on the Heart of Wales line and the MSP and new MP for North East Fife, all of in 2014-15. Based on recorded observations, November. Although Southeastern is struggling the users group estimates 750,000 users for in the National Rail Passenger Survey, it has YRP also hopes the events will Handforth, Cheshire. Station them positive. Not only would reconnecting St “friends” plant flower beds Andrews enable direct services to Edinburgh Cambridge Heath and 1.5 milion for London seen its classic fleet improving their MTIN help address the lack of diver- europeanrailtimetable.eu Fields. Is that why London Overground has reliability scores. Most other operators in the sity among rail staff, as attend- and clear litter. Many promote and Dundee, but should the Forth Rail Link (see the train service by printing below) come to pass, there is the potential also no plan for additional station facilities for London area show very mixed pictures of their ees to Railfuture’s November 01832 270198 passengers, such as platform shelters and lifts? train fleets’ reliability. and distributing timetable for direct St Andrews-Glasgow trains. 2014 conference in London 28 Monson Way, Oundle The ORR figures are seriously misleading and n nRailfuture London and South East’s heard from Stefanie Browne leaflets, maintaining community n nNewburgh is now reopening favourite have widespread consequences. Elsewhere, the quarterly newsletter railse can be found at of RAIL magazine. Railfuture noticeboards and websites. Northamptonshire, PE8 4QG Fife Council has agreed to support a STAG ORR estimates that the station at Ore in East www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East+ looks forward to working with Community stations evaluation. A previous study, commissioned Sussex has about 175,000 annual users, based branch+news YRP for years to come. Often station rooms are not 6 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ You can join the Railfuture lottery at www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery railwatch April 2016 7
Railwatch Magazine.indd 1 22/01/2016 13:28 Your letters is presumably because they one day in 2002 or thereabouts contrast, the Bedford-Shefford- are not valid on French local to find that our noble and so- Hitchin-Cambridge route on trains to the border. On the patriotic media had decided mainly existing trackbed would UK side, the lack of a proper almost overnight that we were to be shorter. inter-regional cross-Channel be brain-washed into using the John Davis, Fairmead Avenue, passenger train service (the American term, “train station.” Harpenden AL5 5UD so-called “Transmanche Metro”) Why, I cannot imagine. Shame [email protected] leads to the illogical situation on you, Railwatch, for defending of travellers from Kent and the use of a foreign term. Bedford protests Sussex having, at most times John Gilbert, Pixiefield, Cradley, of the day, to double-back to Herefordshire WR13 5ND I was annoyed by Nigel Watt’s central London to board the train [email protected] idea in Railwatch 146 that East taking them to mainland Europe. n West Rail should miss Bedford I object to “train station”. I in favour of a route from either Genuinely flexible through think it is a human right to go to ticketing, with local connections Lidlington or Ridgmont to Luton a railway station to catch a train Airport and Stevenage. His route CORPORATION Picture: KONKAN RAILWAY and the ability to use the most and I will not give it up! After all logical interchange station, is would make journey times longer where do you catch a plane, at a between Oxford and Cambridge a must for international train plane station? Hardly. Or a ship, travel, but the airline mentality and there sre no guarantees and changes to terms and at a ship station? Not likely! of extra paths on the Midland Double vision? of certain operators, especially Peter Holmes, Lavendon Road, conditions. The job requires main line to facilitate additional In Railwatch 146, there was getting up at any time of the Eurostar, means it is often not Birmingham B42 1QG done properly. [email protected] services, as well as the added criticism of single lines. Lines day or night, travelling to work construction costs they entail. on the continent are sometimes and working a shift that varies Alex Macfie, Kingston KT2 7QQ n As railway travel is by trains to [email protected] Bedford has a vibrant economy much busier than many of our between seven and ten hours. the exclusion of other methods and a rising population and to double-track lines but manage A high level of concentration ‘Divisive’ Nicola of transport, the terminals for deny it this important rail link perfectly well with single track, has to be maintained in order to trains should correctly be called would be scandalous. Taking India’s new high line in the Himalayas even a high-speed line in Spain. keep passengers safe. I was disappointed to see the railway stations because railway the shortest possible route Is this a lesson we need to To reinforce this, drivers are front page Railwatch 146 picture travel is the form of transport through Bedford would produce This 1,351 metre long steel-arched bridge over was first conceived in 2003 but re-started learn? Good signalling is examined every two years of Nicola Sturgeon unveiling unique to them. Use of “train the best journey times and the Chenab river is expected to be completed in 2012. It is not yet clear when the whole needed, with sufficient passing on route knowledge, traction a new Flying Scotsman. As station” is a misunderstanding reduce construction costs. So this month and will be the highest rail bridge in project will be completed although it has been loops usable at reasonable knowledge and all the rules. leader of the SNP, she’s one of of English rather than a term what if Luton has an airport the world, according to India’s rail ministry. It reported that the date could have slipped to imported from the USA. speed of entry and exit. Longer This is in addition to regular the most divisive politicians in or Stevenage has a bigger is 359 metres above the river. The project links 2020. The river valley is prone to high winds so loops are also needed where monitoring by driver team Britain today. D G M Young, Aspley Court, population? Bedford deserves all Bedford MK40 2UH Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India and Norway-based Force Technology Laboratory there is significant freight traffic, managers, who assess Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby, the benefits of East West Rail. has involved the construction of several other conducted wind tunnel tests to ensure the but long extensions of double them by doing “black-box” Lincolnshire DN31 2JP [email protected] Colin Franklin, Curlew Crescent, bridges and tunnels. The £64 million bridge bridge can resist wind speeds of up to 160 track are often expensive in downloads and riding with them. [email protected] n I share John Stretton’s dislike Brickhill, Bedford MK41 7HY earthworks, and can cause Conductors/train managers are of the phrase train station, but [email protected] will be crucial in completing a 214 mile long mph and temperatures of minus 20C. Special disruption while being done. I also examined on rules and ‘Bonnie wee lassie’ note your editorial comment. rail route through the Himalayan mountains precautions are being taken against the threat would much rather the money regularly assessed by their Also odd is “railway replacement Discount idea from Jammu to Baramulla, via Udhampur and of terrorism and the area is also susceptible to was spent on more trains. managers. What a wonderful front page service” when it is surely the Srinigar. It will also carry a road. The project earthquakes. picture of Nicola Sturgeon May I offer a way of increasing Take three examples mentioned. High rail fares are more the trains that are being replaced, on Railwatch 146. As my old not the railway. Railfuture’s membership? There The Borders railway suffers not result of track access charges, Scottish granny would have may be several ways to attract the hire costs for the rolling David Pearson, Windermere from too little double track, which said: “Aye, she’s a bonnie wee Avenue, Wembley HA9 8RY more to our ranks and many bi-mode, which you seem to Acton Junction to terminate at intend to write to the Mayor of is sufficient for the half-hourly stock and the profit for the lassie”. A truly memorable [email protected] of our members, like myself, be in support of. I believe all a reinstated platform at Kew London to propose a similar service it needs, but from trains shareholders or the state owned picture indeed. What was the are over 60. Should we offer a railways should be electric and Bridge Station. This would scheme between Seven that are too short. Four or even company that uses the profits name of the train again? East West zig-zag discounted membership to new that Southern would be wasting require only a reconstructed Sisters and South Tottenham six cars are needed. to subsidise rail services in their Roger White, Headstone Lane, The difficulties of reinstating members and those who have money if it went ahead with platform linked to the existing Overground which is even closer The Highland main line could own country. Hardly the fault Harrow HA2 6JN lapsed for over three months? this stupid idea. I am against platform 1 at Kew Bridge and a and would boost usage on the of the staff, who try to deliver a the Bedford-Cambridge section accommodate an hourly service [email protected] of the East West Rail route are Perhaps £10 per year would diesel power full stop and urge new cross-over and associated GOBLIN, the Barking to Gospel each way using existing loops safe, reliable service, often in produce a good response. Railfuture to support an all- signalling to bring southbound Oak line. This line would also very difficult circumstances. well known. The trackbed has at Pitlochry, Aviemore, and Names and trains been built on in some places Are we also able to secure electric railway network. trains into the northbound benefit from an Underground link between there and Inverness. J P Hampson, Stockport James Knight, Church Road, platform. This proposal depends to Harringay on the Piccadilly [email protected] n while various solutions have sponsorship from a popular This would need better In Railwatch 146, John Basildon, Essex SS14 2LD on how many non-passenger line if a new station could be Stretton makes a valid point been proposed. But I feel Nigel publisher which may wish to timetabling and reliable running, Watt’s proposal in Railwatch 146 offer a voucher against annual trains use the northbound built in Green Lanes, but this although neither should be Upbeat Railwatch regarding the use of the spur at Kew Bridge. The may be too ambitious. The single extremely irritating Americanism has fallen into the trap of joining magazine subscription or book Old Oak opportunity impossible in 2016! I was delighted to read points on a map without taking sales? Are rail companies able scheme would provide further freight line from the GOBLIN to “train station”. In response to the Given that there are plans for a Railwatch 146. I feel it is one of account of the local topography. or willing to accept a voucher destinations on the London the London-Hertford line should Let us stop encouraging equally irritating editors’ note, new interchange station at Old the most upbeat I have ever had. offered to all members as Overground avoiding changes also be upgraded and passenger Network Rail or the Department you do however catch a train at His new link from Ridgmont or Oak Common and proposals for for Transport to spend money I am looking forward to receiving many of us do quite long hours at Waterloo and provide a services introduced. a railway station! Lidlington to the Midland main a station at Old Oak Common unnecessarily. the Railfuture Wessex newsletter promoting the rail system, connection to River Thames A mini-crossrail could also be John Thompson, Harcourt Road, line would require four or two Lane on the North London line, David Dixon, Gaia Lane, Lichfield when it becomes available. receive little reward and then services from Kew Pier. provided if the link between London E15 3DX miles respectively of new line a very useful enhancement to WS13 7LS Kathleen Joy Rabbetts [email protected] requiring a substantial tunnel pay rail fares? This surely would be one of Finsbury Park and Highgate (low [email protected] [email protected] the suburban railways in West n Stations are part of the under the Greensand Hills. I am also a member of the the cheapest schemes on level) was reinstated. Crouch London would be to divert the network to provide real End is desperate for a proper complete entity, the railway, That would be followed by a Campaign for Real Ale, whose some Richmond trains on the A question of pay Good practice? as are the trains, so railway members receive vouchers from additional connectivity. rail link, as is Stroud Green, and zig-zag route south down the North London line at South John G Groves, Dursley, Glos station is the correct description. a major pub group almost equal the former’s platform is still in What is the basis for the In “Ticket for Europe” (Railwatch main line and eight miles of [email protected] situ as is most of the trackbed. comments in J M Berry’s letter 145), the Eurostar add-on We must ensure rail terms are new track east through pristine to their CAMRA subscription. used correctly. Pandering to Graham Lund, Rydal, Cumbria The icing on the cake would be in Railwatch 146 regarding “the ticket from London to “any Hertfordshire countryside to Mission impossible to run passenger services from excessive pay rail staff have Belgian station” is mentioned sloppy usage or slang invariably Stevenage, probably provoking LA22 9RL Send your undermines any argument and [email protected] Finsbury Park to Highbury as received since privatisation”? It as an example of good ticketing howls of protest and damaging I was delighted to read about part of the Overground, using would appear to be a comment weakens our cause. Railfuture’s reputation. The route letters to: the success of the Hackney practice. However, it is valid All-electric railway The Editors, 4 Christchurch the line now used for freight. without qualification. I am a only when changing at Brussels, David Bosomworth would then go north-east to Interchange, linking Hackney [email protected] Square, London E9 7HU Rod Enderby, London N14 driver. Yes, we are well paid but even though there are many Cambridge. This would all add I am unhappy that Railfuture Email: [email protected] Central and Hackney Downs [email protected] n not excessively so. All the pay destinations in Belgium for which We should continue to use many miles to the rail route and seems to accept bi-mode Railwatch also welcomes stations. I suggested this very increases since privatisation it is quicker and more logical the term we have always used make it uncompetitive with the trains and that Southern is articles and pictures facility to the then WAGN in and not rush to ape America. I express road the Department for investigating conversion of some 1996 and was told that it was have been a result of huge to change at Lille (for example Please use email if possible More letters: Page 18 increases in productivity Tournai, Courtrai/Kortrijk). This seem to remember waking up Transport is contemplating. By of its three-car Electrostars to impossible to provide. I now 8 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Opinions do not necessarily reflect Railfuture policies. Letters may be edited railwatch April 2016 9 Citylink tram-trainemergesfromtheSupertramNunnerydepot UNVEILING: Completewithcommemorativebow, aVossloh 10 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk a reach to Swinton and Junction along thelinetowards Aldwarke continues then station, Central ern Railthrough Rotherham services ofNorth- passenger ing exist- the joins it Rotherham In predomiburn JunctiontoRotherham. - the join nantly freight linefrom Wood- to viaduct will dive undertheM1motorway tram-train the Tinsley At see concrete progress atlast. to encouraging is it but decades, in Germanyformorethree than arrangements havebeeninuse such though line), Penistone the (at thattimeitwasplannedfor announced first was pilot train tram- the after decade a nearly This step forward occurred Sheffield. in the depot Supertram at Stagecoach tram-train Citylink loh first Voss the unveiled officially port Minister Andrew Jones Transwhen December in - closer The pilot scheme moved a step on continue heavy tracktoRotherham. will connection, 400-metre new a to thanks then, and Meadowhall Tinsley, to field Shef- from lines tram existing on Seven new Vossloh units will run Rother ham from nextyear. and Sheffield between The pilot scheme willoperate mer branchlinestobereopened. could evenclearthewayfor tram-trains the could be used in otherareas and successful, If a transportrevolution inBritain. herald could December in train The arrival of Britain’s first tram- Tram-train and could breathe life into axed comes to lines Sheffield Words andpictures byPaul Abell [email protected] - - - links, of which the first three first the are provisionally earmarked for which of links, VosslohCity- seven the includes Procurementpilot forthe executive. Yorkshire South passengertransport the of director Edwards, executive Steve said country,” be to tram-trains introduced in other partsof the for way the “If the pilot is successful, it opens to be checkedinBritishconditions. practice tram-train German line track forthelessons learned in main British and German to be enough differences between In particular there are considered satisfaction.” level ofpassengerdemandand and maintenancecosts and the for lowerinfrastructure capital potential the including network, Rail National the on tram-train a standard operating continentaldesignof of benefits and costs scheme is todemonstratethe Rail metals:“Theaimofthepilot the Supertram tracks to Network linking Chord Tinsley 400-metre permit theconstruction of the approved in November 2015 to are Transport andWorks Act Order things moving. Inthewords of the Now tram-trams. have spent years discussingtheideaof in Britain Officials vice frequency. ser 20-minute exact an sengers pas- offer per always not tram-trains will hour three the that the NationalRailnetworkmeans the but need toavoidexistingpathson minutes, 25 around is journey nine-mile whole the for time journey expected The park. terminus bytheParkgateretail - CRITICAL CONNECTION:Tinsley willbecomethelinkbetweentramandtrain.ThepolebeyondSheffieldSupertram120inourpicture marks thepointwherenewlyconstructedTinsley Chordwilltakethetram-trainunder M1motorwayandontoRotherham n pi bfr i i despatched is it before Spain in of each capability 25kV the Meanwhile the nextfewyears. the linesthrough Rotherham in to extended be may which electrifica- tion, overhead line for main standard AC 25kV the and Supertram of DC 750V the both using operation, voltage dual for fitted are trams new seven The desirable. tobe befound the may that to profile modifications any plify the Parkgateservicewillsim- but profile, having fourcarsdedicated to wheel tram-train with theexpected compatibility Supertram street-runninggiven has sections the on replacement A programme ofwidespread rail the tram-trainservice. for four other the and services, strengtheningcurrentSupertram INTERIOR: Plentyof handrails for standing passengers vehicle isbeingtested in service on the Sheffield city Sheffield the on be service in should The Citylinks Sheffield. three to first month a car then itisintendedtosendone necessary, found be might that modifications immediate any for time giving March, until Spain planned tobedespatchedfrom The secondvehicleisnot hall. between thedepotandMeadow initially trials, run to it enable to tion ofthelastworkontrack comple- the pending Nunnery, trial trips around thedepotyard at making was mid-January for in and tonnes, 64 at in weighs It room and around 150standingpassengers. tip-ups seats, 88 eight with 37.2m, at trams Super existing slightly the than longer vehicle, three-section Valencia. revealed 399201 tobea smart December 10 at on unveiling works The the from - - ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture Scotland conference inNewtongrange (Borders Railway line) 18June 2016 they offer the attractive option attractive but the offer trams, they conventional than that theyare more expensive and tramway operation means compatible withbothmain line The needtomakethevehicles tram-train operation. other routes mightbesuitable for This raises the questionofwhat been resolved. any once problems thatmayarisehave pilot two-year the of schemes tram-train authorised beforebeing end the other out rule not did he pilot, the during problems wereto arise likely that out vehicle. Whilepointing Jones wasimpressed by the At theunveilingof399201Mr have an advantageoverbuses. would Sheffield of centre such arailservice intothe that Poor road links in the area mean Kilnhurst, Swinton andMexborough. as such Rotherham sions to servecommunities past route of exten- gives thepossibility tram-train the However route overthetram-trainroute. ing theparallelbusrapidtransit lar newbridgeatTinsley carry- spectacu - the out graphicallyby port outsideLondonisborne co- ordination oflocalpublictrans- of lack chaotic present The pilot period. two-year the of commencement start early next year, marking the public services to Parkgate way for is expectedtopavethe tral andParkgatebythewinter new facilitiesatRotherham Cen- electrifica- tion through Rotherham andthe Easter, for planned Tinsleythe Chord,of completion summer,the this while by routes capacity are there where or network, way to run ontoanexistingtram- tram-trains for opportunity the is there if especially centre, city station isalittlewayoutofthe attractive where themainline tre. Thisoptionisparticularly of street running intoacitycen- s dtr f Sheffield-based Today’s Railways UK. of editor as president and recently retired nPaul Abell is aRailfuturevice in Britainissignificant. relatively low cost. The potential improvements inconnectivityat significant give can tram-trains that successful adoption of past three decades suggests The Germanexperienceofthe of theGARL scheme. cancellation the in factor major a relocations which wassaid to be avoid thecostofinfrastructure through theairportsitewould tramway route a of flexibility the while runway, the of end the to closer any be hardly could Bay ley toGourock and Wemyss The linefrom GlasgowandPais- Link. erstwhile Glasgow Airport Rail for the would beasasubstitute celled railwaylinktoanairport can- a replace might tram-train Another circumstance in which supported locally. Harrogate linebeingstrongly the from BradfordAirport Leeds inexpensive railconnectionto relatively a with circumstances, such in operation tram-train for Piccadilly services havebeensuggested and Marple-Manchester City Harrogate-Leeds The problems. mayoral campaignhadshown trams. ChristiansaidhisLondon the transformationalnatureof without anyunderstandingof because oftheirinitiallowcost based systemsareoftenchosen He saidthatasaresult,bus- the HouseofCommons. parliamentary lightrailgroupat February meetingoftheall-party Christian madehisremarksata wider benefitsofschemes. They didnotfullyconsiderthe advantages. had averylimitedviewoftheir for Transportthe Treasuryand because boththeDepartment made slowprogressinBritain Wolmar toldMPsthattramshad Railfuture presidentChristian heavy rail linesrunning intothe Two existingsingle-track spring nextyear. Phase 1isexpected toopenin tracks. can alsorunoverthetram embedded inconcretesobuses trestles tocarrythetracks, with asteelframeand Track layingstartedinJanuary metres. between thetracksevery24 overhead wiresareplaced Eight-metre highpolesforthe stops inthe Aarhus area. miles oflightrailline,serving51 will createapproximately66 The £280millionlightrailproject have beendiverted. largest, waterpipesandcables In thecity, Denmark’s second work. station isseeingconstruction now theareaaroundrail place inthecountrysidebut Most oftheworkhastaken reports ErlandEgefors light railrouteinDenmark, Aarhus tocreatethefirstmodern Track laying isunderwayin ON TRACK: Aarhus getsitstramsbackaftera45-yeargap TRAMS TOTRAMS TACKLEPOLLUTION MEANWHILE INDENMARK
city regionstofollowsuit. opportunity forothercitiesand introduced. Nowisthe can befundedandsuccessfully have shownthattramschemes with itsworkplaceparkinglevy, Manchester andNottingham, people awayfromtheircars. trafficked routesandattract numbers ofbusesonheavily as theycanbothreplacelarge Trams areclearlyawayforward London andothercities. to reducecaruseincentral measures willhavetobetaken air issueisnotgoingawayand He warnedMPsthattheclean attached tocleanair. him theimportancepublic The 60mphStadlerTango to build andequipthe first stage. STS wasawarded thecontract of StadlerPankow and Ansaldo The German-Italian consortium will beupgradedandelectrified. south toOdder. Boththelines and the18milelinerunning line stretchingnorthtoGrenaa alignment includethe43mile operation withoutchangingtheir being convertedforLRT Two existinglocallinesare populated partof Aarhus. through themostdensely track lightraillinepassing with sevenmilesofnewdouble- Hovedbanegård willbeused city’s mainrailstation Aarhus planned extensiontoGrenaa which willoperateonthe railwatch April 2016 11
Picture: ERLAND EGEFORS LOCAL ACTION would require a 200-metre platform, which to reduce overcrowding. The Department 500,000 Severnside he claimed would cost £10 million. Bruce for Transport believes problems caused by a By Nigel Bray [email protected] replied that recent experience of reopenings, dramatic increase in passenger numbers could n nAt last, a link between Yeovil’s stations particularly in Scotland, had shown official be eased by providing fewer seats and toilets to and rising For 47 years, Yeovil’s two railways had forecasts of passenger numbers to be woefully allow wider aisles and more space to stand. The no regular connecting trains. Then on 14 underestimated, resulting in additional and ideas are included in a consultation document December 2015, South West Trains introduced longer trains having to be put on almost as about the future of the West Midlands rail
on the GRADWELL Picture: DAVID an experimental Monday-Friday service, linking soon as lines had opened. He agreed it was franchise after 2017. Rail companies will be Yeovil Junction on the Exeter-Waterloo line important not to delay MetroWest Phase asked to look at options for adapting the with Yeovil Pen Mill on the Bristol-Weymouth 1, which included Portishead reopening current train fleet on some shorter distance route. Trains which SWT had up to then run scheduled for 2019. The recorded interview is services. Railfuture West Midlands and Centro Borders to maintain diversionary route knowledge available on the Railfuture website at: oppose this measure and think there are other have become passenger services, while some www.railfuture.org.uk/Railfuture+in+the+news. modifications that could give more space for Waterloo-Yeovil Junction services have been commuters. success extended to or from Pen Mill. As a result, West Midlands n nCoventry rail action group Bruton now has a direct London service (one n nWalsall-Wolverhampton reopening each way) for the first time since the early The new Coventry rail action group is up and railway 1960s which also calls at Castle Cary, Frome Railfuture West Midlands met officials in running, the inspiration of branch committee and Westbury. Unfortunately, trains cannot November from Walsall transport department member Michael Tombs. Members can contact By Chris Austin who want to see improved rail services. Like the group at [email protected]. combine at Yeovil Junction, so the scope for [email protected] connections from Pen Mill and beyond is Railfuture, Walsall Council makes its top priority The Borders Railway passed a regular, frequent service on a reopened n nRailfuture West Midlands contact: limited. In many cases, a faster journey between [email protected] the milestone of carrying half Weymouth and Exeter is possible via Castle Wolverhampton-Walsall line. With stations a million passengers at the Cary, although a missed connection there could at Willenhall and Darlaston, the line would end of January, after less than leave a passenger stranded for hours because probably produce enough passengers to cover Wessex five months operation, against of irregular stopping patterns. By contrast, running costs. We also met Wolverhampton By David Brace [email protected] a first year total forecast of if a train connection across Yeovil is missed, officials who see this as important as well 650,000. though not their top priority. We will be there is the option of the inter-station bus. n nRailfuture input for Wessex franchise Significantly, the 500,000th The reopened 1.5 mile line is also the first in contacting MPs and councillors to seek support REOPENING DELAY: Vegetation clearance was under way on Bristol’s Portishead line in for the rail reopening. We urge Railfuture Railfuture Wessex has taken the lead role in passenger was from Selkirk, Somerset to regain a regular, all-year passenger which is six miles from the December, in preparation for reopening. But work now been delayed following the Hendy service. A very positive report in the Western members to contact their MPs and councillors coordinating the Railfuture response to the review which has also rescheduled all the electrification schemes around the network to ask them to support reopening Walsall- Department for Transport consultation on the current terminus of the Borders Daily Press for 15 December, headed “Joined up Railway at Tweedbank. rail thinking arrives at last,” included calls from Wolverhampton. South Western franchise that is expected to the latter will grow. At present, go out to tender in April this year. Railfuture It illustrates the importance there is not much room on these Railfuture for morning and weekend trains to n nWaiting for Bromsgrove be added to the afternoon and evening trains. Wessex staged a meeting to bring together the of the line to other Borders very busy trains to shoehorn The same article quoted an SWT spokesman as After delays because of land contamination specific views of each branch and these were towns and villages which use more passengers in anyway. saying that further improvements depended on problems and high winds preventing submitted to Railfuture’s policy group at the Tweedbank as their railhead. More rolling stock is going to be more infrastructure. installation of a footbridge, the rebuilt end of January. Indeed reports from Melrose, required sooner rather than later, Bromsgrove station is expected to open this and these stunning figures are n n n nStation adopters join forces just two miles beyond the Three services should be coordinated spring. A formal opening is expected in July. Tweedbank buffer stops, are proving powerful in strengthening Railfuture Severnside was represented at a Electrification is now scheduled for completion Bruce Duncan, our West of England of a 40% increase in guests at the case for extending the line Picture: NETWORK RAIL meeting in January hosted by Railfuture Wessex in April 2017 when the train service to representative, has been very successful in local hotels and restaurants, south to Melrose, St Boswells and to coordinate the unified Railfuture response Bromsgrove will jump from one an hour to four bringing together the various station adopters while the numbers visiting Hawick and perhaps beyond. an hour in each direction. to the South Western franchise consultation. between Tisley and Crewkerne to form a Sir Walter Scott’s home at After the pause in some Network Input from Severnside favoured integration n nNew stations but few trains user group as a prelude to an application for Abbottsford by train have led Rail investment schemes last of Great Western’s Swindon-Westbury and community rail partnership status. If this is to extended opening hours at year and the Hendy report in Westbury-Salisbury services with SWT’s A single-car class 153 is serving the new station successful, it gives recognition by the current this popular attraction. December, their problems were Salisbury-Eastleigh-Romsey loop. A precedent at Coventry Arena which opened in January operator South West Trains and possible access Similar stories from Galashiels multiplied in January by the very for through services involving two train 2016 along with Bermuda Park, although to funding for further development. also point to more trade in severe damage to the national operators was the Penzance-Waterloo/Brighton London Midland has managed to double this up on event days. Kenilworth station is n nORR statistics are put to good use local shops. All this is so network with the onset of the DAM: Engineers built a temporary dam in January round two service which was a joint venture between important in demonstrating piers of Lamington viaduct on the West Coast main line in SWT and the former Wessex Trains earlier this expected to open later in the year. Centro As many Railwatch readers know, the Office of winter storms. believes a station could be built for £25 million very directly and powerfully The extended closure of the Scotland after the line was undermined by floods. The line century. The proposal to combine three existing Rail and Road publishes statistics for station the impact of the railway on through Lamington was closed for seven weeks services into one has been developed by our at Aldridge on the Walsall-Sutton Coldfield line. usage each year. The findings are based on West Coast Main Line south of the local economy. beach lowering. There were work has been sorted out. The corporate member TransWilts Community n nRugby Parkway station ticket sales recorded in the Lennon system. Carstairs (oh, if only we had the Interest Company in conjunction with Swindon This is suspected of under-representing actual We really need more evidence Waverley route as an alternative!) other temporary line closures Hendy report is a sobering but & Wiltshire local enterprise partnership. Benefits The Rugby Advertiser has reported that a new usage, but short of carrying out surveys on of this beneficial impact of has taken up scarce resources. as well. So we are just about to realistic reminder that Network station could be built in Hillmorton on the would include direct trains between Wiltshire trains and at stations, it is often the only new stations and lines on the So has the breach of the South enter a period of slowdown, with Rail’s resources are limited, Northampton loop of the West Coast main and Southampton Airport, reduced occupation estimate we have. In the long term, trains regions they serve. If you have Eastern Main Line between extended timescales for existing and not just by money but by line. It has been given the green light by collected evidence of this of platforms at Westbury and Salisbury and are being built which will be able to produce Folkestone and Dover where the schemes and some reluctance capability and the very specialist Warwickshire County Council. The scheme recently, do let us know. better rolling stock utilisation, taking advantage statistics of people carried, based on the sea wall has been extensively to initiate new schemes until the skills required for major of the planned cascade of class 158 trains to the could cost nearly £11 million and could be Initial evidence seems to be damaged by tidal scour and current backlog of infrastructure projects. There is no easy fix completed in December 2019. The station will varying weight of the train as it proceeds. For Swindon-Westbury route in 2017. several years, Railfuture Wessex analysed ORR that the demand on Scotland’s for this, and for Railfuture this n n serve 6,200 homes which could add 15,000 new railway is well balanced, means continuing to raise the Station reopening plan gets air time people to Rugby’s population. information and compared it nationally and with previous years. For 2014-15, our area has with many passengers profile of our priority schemes In a Radio Bristol interview on 19 January, travelling in from the Borders to make sure they are not Railfuture’s Bruce Williamson and Bristol’s n nFree wi-fi in franchise extension shown an average annual growth of 2.2%, The line should go at least less than half the national figure. Of the 105 being matched by those from as far as Hawick because overlooked as work programmes Assistant Mayor Councillor Simon Cook The Government agreed in December that the capital travelling out for are revised to match what is discussed the recent petition calling for the Govia could continue to run the London stations in our area, the top ten represent that’s the biggest town in the nearly 50% of total usage. The bottom ten sightseeing, walking or touring actually achievable. reopening of Ashton Gate station on the Midland franchise until October 2017 with in areas previously much more area, and travelling south to Portishead line. A site has been identified at some enhanced services. By the end of the account for only 1.5%. There is a big difference On the plus side, the route between our busiest and quietest stations. difficult to access by public England isn’t very easy so it studies programme has at last Barons Close, near the Bristol City football franchise, free wi-fi should be provided on transport. stadium. Bruce said money was always an all services from London to Northampton, Southampton Central is busiest station and would be great if it went all resumed with the publication obstacle to rail reopenings but could somehow Birmingham, Crewe, Stoke and Liverpool. Smart busiest interchange. One anomaly is that Anecdotal evidence suggests the way through to Carlisle of the draft Scotland study for be found for schemes of little benefit such as ticketing, based on Centro’s existing Swift Portsmouth is represented by three stations more passengers are travelling consultation before Christmas, MetroBus. Mr Cook said there was currently scheme, must be developed. – Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea and the length of the line and and it was good to see such a no business case for the station because Fratton. Portsmouth’s annual total is 6 million rather fewer than forecast Andy Swales from Selkirk who, with Sarah Eno, took the total big programme of new work consultants had predicted only 67,000 n nOut with toilets on local trains passengers, putting the city as a whole in from the Edinburgh suburban number of passengers on the new line to over 500,000 successfully completed over the passengers per year, excluding football Trains across Birmingham and the West second place to Southampton with 6.4 million. stations, but demand from Christmas/New Year period. traffic. To serve football matches, the station Midlands could have seats and toilets removed www.railfuture.org.uk/Wessex+Branch 12 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Join Railfuture online at www.railfuture.org.uk/join railwatch April 2016 13 LOCAL ACTION Unrepentant road lobby back in driving seat upgrade scheme to provide space for small Road, possible quadrupling to Kennington and Car and lorry companies which North East businesses, a café and a remodelled booking re-signalling, is now pencilled in for 2024. It for years have been delivering office – 90% are in favour. www.gmdt.net would not make sense to electrify the existing danger and pollution are back By Peter Kenyon layout and then reconstruct it a few years later. [email protected] n nRails along the coast in the driving seat of transport We should not be surprised if electrification policy. Despite public concerns n nRailfuture makes fresh connections Coastliners and other rail users on Teesside is postponed to 2024. Nothing is said about of pollution and road safety, lob- welcome the Northern Connect idea to link Encouraged by the example of our chair Trevor services in the interim period. Fast services byists have cosied up to politi-
Middlesbrough to Carlisle with faster trains. Cartoon: MAX SPRING Watson, Railfuture North East representatives to Oxford and the North Cotswold line can cians to get them to subsidise They want it to revive the direct route via be operated with bi-modes, but will there be attend meetings and presentations throughout their inefficent form of transport. Stillington and Ferryhill. a diesel shuttle service between Oxford and the area. The most recent was a meeting with Didcot connecting with electric services? London Mayor Boris Johnson is a representative of the rolling stock leasing n nAirport connections promoting one of the worst road company Eversholt Rail, which was expected to A prominent member of the North East local n nHanborough railhead for Witney plans, tunnels under the river be taken over by C K Investments of Hong Kong enterprise partnership is complaining about the The number of passenger trips at Hanborough Thames to the east of London, in January 2016. Railfuture representatives long time taken by train from Middlesbrough to exceeded 243,000 in the year 2014-15. The when what is needed is better also expect productive liaison with the new Newcastle Airport, which involves a change on numbers have doubled in four years and public transport links in the area. franchise holders Arriva (Northern Rail) and First to the Metro at Newcastle Central. The current trebled in the past seven years. Hanborough is He wants to build the longest Group (TransPennine). The new franchises start refurbishment of that station ought to improve effectively the railhead for Witney and the car road tunnel in the world “to on 1 April 2016, shortly after Railfuture North access for people with luggage. At present park is always full, with many cars parked in combat traffic congestion” even East’s AGM in March. there is one staircase with no down escalator the road. We expect some people will switch though we all know road build- n nMorpeth benefits from new franchises to the concourse and only one lift from the to Oxford Parkway for trains to London, but ing worsens traffic problems by National Rail level to Metro platforms. There the volume of car traffic on the narrow and encouraging vehicles use. Morpeth will benefit from both new franchises, is a frequent Metro service but little space for bendy A4095 road is a problem. An hourly bus He seems determined to clear the a reward for the campaigners of the South East luggage and the journey with 12 stops takes 24 service between Hanborough and Witney is not Northumberland Rail User Group (SENRUG). way for a predicted 60% increase minutes. It is unlikely main line trains will ever an attractive option if the connecting train is in traffic, instead of making pub- From 2019, the town should have direct provide a service to the airport over existing running late. The last train from London with a TransPennine trains to Leeds, Manchester lic transport improvements to tracks so Railfuture North East advocates a bus connection is the 17.22 from Paddington. cope with a growing population. and Liverpool and an improved service to surface rail link between main line and airport. Oxford Bus Users UK is calling for a half-hourly Edinburgh. The added bonus will be direct bus service throughout the day and a later bus Mr Johnson’s northern tunnel Road tunnel threat to the Alps trains to Manchester Airport. From 2017, Arriva n nTyne Valley line suffers from the deluge connection in the evening. would run from the A40 at Park will introduce an evening and Sunday service Royal in west London to the A12 SWISS HELLHOLE: The new 35-mile £6.5 billion Gotthard base rail tunnel through the Alps The flooding in December caused a landslip n n on Northern’s Cramlington-Morpeth line. Arriva at Haydon Bridge. No sooner was the line East-West Rail contract awarded at Hackney Wick, already a pol- (NEAT) opens in June with the stated aim of reducing German-Italian lorry traffic through will also work with Northumberland County reopened in January than rain caused a further Railfuture Thames Valley welcomed the award luted traffic horror spot. Switzerland. It is now being undermined by plans to build a second Gotthard road tunnel which Council to reintroduce passenger services to landslip of mud, rocks, shale and trees on to in December of the contract for designing His southern tunnel would run campaigners say is absurd, will make Switzerland a European transit hell, attract two million Ashington. the line at Farnley, Corbridge. The line had to be and building East-West Rail to the consortium from the A4 at Chiswick in the extra lorries and undermine rail freight through the new Gotthard tunnel. The Swiss public were Arriva will also modernise its train fleet. By closed for weeks. Carlisle services terminated at of Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail. west to the A13 at Beckton in the voting on the scheme in a referendum on 28 February as Railwatch went to press. October 2018, train maker CAF should have Hexham and trains from Newcastle at Prudhoe. Construction is supposed to be completed east. He also wants a series of delivered 281 carriages (artist’s impression Extra buses were provided. in 2019, but there are fears that the date may small tunnels. of the numbers of untaxed cars. of Engineering which reported cles, good news for Google which below) to enable outdated and unpopular Government encouragement in December that road charging has failed to get them accepted in slip by three to seven years. Phase 1, Bicester Meanwhile the Department for Pacer trains to be replaced in a deal financed by to Milton Keynes, may be completed in 2019, of car makers has also led to an was the “best instrument at the California, but dubious news for Thames Valley Transport plans to build a lower increase of 600,000 cars on Eng- disposal of policymakers” and the rest of us. Transport Secretary Eversholt Rail. but Phase 2, Bletchley to Bedford, and Phase 3, Thames tunnel linking Essex and By Martin Smith Claydon Junction to Princes Risborough, may land’s roads in one year. could be promoted to achieve an Patrick McLoughlin announced Kent to relieve the existing road “efficient level of road use” by in February that the British Gov- [email protected] not be finished until the 2020s. bridge and tunnel at Dartford It is also spending £500,000 to study building an express road encouraging drivers to choose ernment will invest £20 million n nElectrification changes n nRailfuture at Oxford Green Fair and to add to its £15 billion road alternative modes of transport, in driverless car projects in Brit- building programme. to compete with the not-yet-built Picture: CAF Great Western plans for Thames Valley are being Railfuture Thames Valley had a stall at the East West Rail link. share vehicles or travel at off- ain. Even with electric cars, with- revised, following delays to electrification. GWR Oxford Green Fair where we presented the case This is a “back from the dead” peak periods. out toxic fumes at the point of version of the British Road Fed- Housing dependent on new regional development manager Tom Pierpoint for rail to a largely sympathetic audience. Some The academy also suggested use and “invisible” climate dam- eration’s plan of 30 years ago, roads are being encouraged, with explained the background to Railfuture Greens opposed to railways because of alleged more parking controls at pinch- aging emissions, more cars bring which if implemented will burn work starting in Northampton- Thames Valley in November. Priorities and harm to wildlife still need to be persuaded. points, near road junctions and noise, disturbance, danger, sac- completion dates are having to be revised. The fuel and spew out pollution. shire on the £36 million A45 Flore rifice of open space for parking, and Weedon bypass. schools. However, the Govern- top priority now is to complete electrification Lincolnshire It will also undermine rail ment has banned local councils unnecessarily longer and more Weedon once had a rail station from London to Swindon or Bristol Parkway, By Don Peacock [email protected] freight’s chances of carrying making profits from parking inconvenient walking detours so the new Hitachi bi-mode trains can take loads through to the Channel and there are proposals for a at junctions, intrusive fencing n nIn memory of campaigner Brian charges, meaning that surpluses With Arriva operating both train and bus over from diesel inter-city 125s, while electric Tunnel. A rail crossing from Northampton Parkway station. are used to manage traffic. and corralling of pedestrians services in Northumberland, rail users want to units can take over local services to Didcot. By Railfuture Lincolnshire has had a bench Barking to Thamesmead would Could Northampton County around crossings and junctions, see co-ordination of services at Morpeth and 2019 Crossrail should be running four trains installed at Crowle station, in memory of Brian be a more reasonable approach. Council, Daventry District Coun- The use of CCTV “spy cars” to hostile high over-bridges or Cramlington. per hour terminating at Maidenhead and two Hastings, Railfuture Lincolnshire’s chairman for cil or the local enterprise partner- catch motorists on double yellow underground tunnels, together But of course, a temporary return lines has also been banned other Dennis Fancett, chair of SENRUG, has pointed trains to Reading. GWR will run two trains 20 years. Dedicated to a “renowned local public to “cheap” oil has allowed the ship be persuaded of the merits with pedestrian crossing times out that of the three companies which bid each hour between Reading and Paddington transport campaigner”, the bench was unveiled of a Weedon Parkway? than in areas where cars cause a reduced to suit the “needs” of the road builders to dream about an safety risk, such as by schools. for Northern and the three which bid for calling at Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough and in a ceremony in February was attended by unsustainable future again. Road charging, implemented in motorist rather the those on foot. TransPennine, only Arriva and First took the Ealing Broadway. The Reading-Basingstoke Northern Rail stakeholder manager Pete Myers. some more enlightened coun- Highways England has also Road promoters wriggle out of opportunity to meet SENRUG. Intensive electrification will be re-phased so electric The DfT is peddling the old myth reported that its “smart” motor- n nDiesel trains shortage unresolved that roads are “key to prosper- tries, is virtually dead in Britain considering the impact of mass discussions with First about the market for trains can operate, serving new stations at and lorries continue to fail to pay way scheme has led to a 10% motoring in urbanised areas and semi-fast services at Morpeth were appreciated Reading Green Park and Chineham and still The transfer of four class 170 trains to Chiltern ity”, rather than degrading qual- increase in traffic in one year on ity of life and failing to regener- their proper track costs. Road polticians fail to penalise the per- by the company and have proved fruitful. keep to the same overall timings. It is intended Railways, which would have exacerbated a hauliers are even claiming com- London’s M25 road. Very smart! critical shortage of diesel units in Lincolnshire ate economies in the way public petrators of such policies.. SENRUG has now set its sights on improving that the Henley and Windsor branches will be pensation from the Scottish Gov- To increase the number of vehi- and the north of England, has been delayed transport investment does. The Government’s reaction to main line services to the town. The Mayor of electrified, but not the Marlow and Greenford ernment for the closure of the cles on the road even more, Mr until July. It is not clear how First TransPennine being found guilty of breaching Morpeth joined SENRUG at a meeting with the lines, because four-car electric trains will be The short public consultation on Forth Road bridge. The Govern- Johnson’s deputy mayor for will cope with the shortage after that. European Union pollution limits Department for Transport about the proposed too long. A scissors crossover at Bourne End the lower Thames crossing closes ment is almost certain to ignore transport Isabel Dedring is said on 28 March giving many people has been to spend £20 million to CrossCountry direct award. will enable a half-hourly service to run on the n nBuses take strain during resignalling research by the Royal Academy to be “keen” on driverless vehi- www.senrug.co.uk Marlow line, without the need for passengers to little time to respond. The Gov- cut bus emissions in 18 areas. ernment should be taking more n n change at Bourne End. Railfuture Lincolnshire has been monitoring The same Government is allow- Station improvements the bus service that replaced trains during the action to reduce road traffic. Who is paying the piper? ing massive cuts to rural buses n nOxford relegation and rebuild Cramlington has new information displays rail resignalling programme in the north of the Already 500,000 foreign vehicles The Institute of Economic Affairs, which refuses to say where it throughout Britain and encour- and Morpeth has nine new seats, but has no Didcot-Oxford electrification has been demoted county. In general the bus substitution worked, have failed to pay their Dartford obtains its funds, produced an anti-rail report in February. The IEA aging lorries and private motor- toilets when the booking office is closed. Trevor to the lowest priority, and we are told it will although in some areas, the signs were not Crossing tolls in one year. has been described as composed of “fanatical market groupies” and ing. Some “experts” are suggest- Watson reports that the Greater Morpeth be completed in 2019 or 2020. Rebuilding adequate. The scheme involved signals and Scrapping car tax discs has led has called for rail closures and total deregulation. To see another ing that to cope with the health Development Trust has completed a survey of of Oxford station with two through island level crossings over 60 miles of track between to a loss of £80 million in unpaid view, it is worth reading Philip Mirowski’s book Never Let a Serious scandal of diesel cars, people rail users’ views on the proposed £1.5 million platforms, widening the bridge over Botley Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes. tax to the Treasury and doubling Crisis go to Waste, published by Verso in London in 2014. should switch to petrol cars! 14 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk railwatch April 2016 15 LOCAL ACTION Welsh and English rail networks will be critical. to reopen the path as soon as possible with Wales Upgrades need to be co-ordinated to benefit good reason. Both Keswick and Threlkeld have Network By Rowland Pittard users on both sides of the border. noticeably fewer visitors to their shops, pubs, [email protected] cafes and other attractions. Meanwhile a North n nRail upgrades needed in Cardiff n nGreat Western Railway withdrawals Lakes rail action group is being formed after growing The Welsh Government’s planning inspector meetings hosted by Keswick Town Council. Great Western has withdrawn two Saturday has approved Cardiff city’s proposals for 41,400 The new group expects to be more effective services serving South Wales, the 07.58 more homes by 2026, including developments lobbying than individual voices. The group Swansea to Paddington and the 19.15 north of the M4 motorway. Llanishen and brings together community and business as axed Paddington to Swansea. West Wales passengers Thornhill stations will be essential in improving organisations with an interest in seeing the line Picture: ANDREW P M WRIGHT ANDREW P Picture: are concerned that they have lost their first public transport in the north-east of the city across the North Lakes reopened to support service to Reading and Paddington and now and there are calls for the present 15 minute economic, environmental and social goals. have to wait at Swansea for the later 08.28 lines interval train service to be improved. An service. Passengers from South Wales have also alternative would be to develop light rail in n nNorth Wales to Manchester Airport lost a direct connection at Bristol Parkway into the area compatible with the suggestions in Arriva Trains Wales appears to have taken a step the hourly CrossCountry service to Scotland Railfuture’s Development Plan for the Railways towards its aspiration to run to Manchester return to and the North East of England. South Wales of Wales and the Borders. Airport. The timings for a number of services continues to be served by an hourly service appear (shaded) in the consultation timetable from London on Saturday evenings until 20.45 n nChester-Wrexham improvements for May 2016. Turn-round times for the trains at (22.00 to Cardiff) but passengers are concerned The new double track section between Saltney the airport would be approximately 16 minutes, the fold that fewer advance purchase tickets will be Junction and Rossett did not open in November reducing the time spent in a siding outside available. 2015 as anticipated because of component Manchester Piccadilly station. The Railway Development Society and its predecessor n nFishguard Harbour problems. When trains were diverted via Wrexham while the Shrewsbury to Crewe line n nFranchise boost for campaigners campaigned against the closure Stena has applied for planning permission for was subsequently closed for a week there were The Ormskirk-Preston-Southport Travellers of a number of lines in the EXTENDED NETWORK: A South West Trains class 159 diesel unit about to leave Corfe the redevelopment of facilities at Fishguard inevitably delays to the diverted services. Association welcomed the announcement in 1960s. Castle (Swanage Railway) for Bournemouth (National Rail) with a special train in 2013 Harbour including improved access for n n the new Northern franchise that Arriva intends Sadly, many of these campaigns articulated lorries. At present Fishguard Cardiff crossovers aid train access to run 17 services daily on the Ormskirk- were unsuccessful, but after include the Skipton & Embsay Harbour station gives direct access for Major track work took place at Cardiff at Preston route, up from the present 13. The closure, a number of lines Railway. It is keen to run over pedestrians from train to ferry , the only Christmas and the New Year including re-laying association feels that the evidence-based case were preserved by groups of the freight line from Rylstone remaining ferry port in Wales to have such the track in platform 2 and the installation of they submitted to the bidders has been taken enthusiasts. quarry when paths are available, facilities. The development proposals involve three crossovers east of the station. The three seriously. However the loss of through services Over many years, these have to connect into the West the closure of the line from Fishguard and crossovers will add to the flexibility of train to Manchester Piccadilly and the airport grown and expanded and now Yorkshire electrified network at Goodwick to Fishguard Harbour. A bus would operation, including access from platform 2 to from Southport will have a serious economic some could form useful links to Skipton, allowing easy car-free replace the train for rail passengers. the up relief line, and would have solved many impact on the area and train operator income. the national network again. trips from Leeds and Bradford to problems if they had been in use during the keep Railfuture colleagues up with a second platform at n nRugby World Cup inquiry falls flat OPSTA is pursuing this issue with Southport Bolton Abbey. 2015 Rugby World Cup matches in Cardiff. MP John Pugh, and has already had a meeting Today’s Railfuture supports to date with development of Whitby.In some cases, the Other extensions might provide The Welsh Assembly’s enterprise and with Merseytravel, which agreed to work this view, and the All-Party the policy. As I have outlined extension may be modest and through running on to the business committee carried out an inquiry collaboratively on retaining train paths from Parliamentary Group on before (Railwatch 142 in focused on tourism, but in North West East Lancashire Railway via into transport planning for the 2015 Rugby By Arthur Thomson Southport to the south side of Manchester. Heritage Rail recommended this December 2014), this may other cases, I have no doubt Castleton or the Mid Norfolk World Cup matches in Cardiff. There was [email protected] in its 2013 report on the Value not be straightforward, as the that there will be a business significant queueing and train overcrowding. Devon and Cornwall of Heritage Railways, business models for heritage case for a regular public service Railway via Wymondham. The effectiveness of public transport, including n nVictoria station needs escalators Now the Government has and community railways are designed to avoid degrading the Promoting the through journey buses and taxis, and information provision Railfuture North West shares the concerns of a The Government may be backing away from indicated that it wants to see very different, but where there important tourist attractions that can also encourage greater use was under examination. The inquiry, however, number of rail user groups in the North West action to strengthen rail links to Devon and some links taken forward in is a common objective of the heritage lines themselves of heritage rail lines and credit did not take evidence from passengers about on the refurbishment at Manchester Victoria Cornwall, following the 2014 storm damage at conjunction with franchised encouraging more people to have become. goes to Great Western here, delays and inconvenience but concentrated station. We welcome the overall enhancements, Dawlish. Funding was announced in February train operators. use rail, there is no doubt that It is always going to be easier where through ticketing has on transport operators and event organisers. which have greatly improved the ambience for for a Network Rail/Great Western Railway study many of these difficulties can be for main line trains to run on to already been introduced to and to examine how the existing infrastructure can At the end of last year, The committee’s report was published on 26 passengers, with much more natural light and preliminary meetings overcome. heritage railway tracks, rather from the Bodmin & Wenford October 2015 and is deficient in many respects. more of all the platforms under cover, and the be improved. The announcement came after The Swanage Railway certainly than for heritage trains, and Railway and plans are in hand the leader of Plymouth Council Tudor Evans between the Heritage Railway n nFuture of Welsh rail infrastructure better access to the Arena and platforms via Association and the Department believes so, as they work especially steam locomotives, for the West Somerset as well. separate stairs and walkways. However there said in January he was upset that money did through the tough process of to run on to the national Railfuture has responded to another inquiry not seem to be available for South West rail for Transport identified some The positive attitude of the DfT are criticisms in that passengers still have to the legal and regulatory hurdles network where the technology by the Welsh Assembley’s enterprise and improvements, despite Government pledges. ways in which this might be is very welcome, and will, I negotiate a lot of steps to gain access to the to be overcome to allow them is now so very different. business committee, which is also looking Reports that Network Rail lacked the funds for encouraged through future hope, lead to some imaginative through platforms. There are lifts but they are to extend services to Wareham. at the priorities for the future of Welsh rail detailed rail studies emerged in early January franchise agreements and work My own heritage railway is proposals coming forward in not easy to locate on crowded platforms and on this is continuing. infrastructure from 2019. There were eight escalators would move passengers quicker. during a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary The North York Moors Railway keen to see more trains running the franchise bids that will be questions to be answered by respondents by 14 It is also noticeable that there is very little Group on South West. The Peninsular Rail Task As secretary of the All-Party certainly believes so, and its through from Taunton to formulated later this year. I am January. seating outside the retail outlets, so Railfuture Force had been expected to produce a bid Group, and also as an HRA successful operation over part connect with its own trains to looking forward to reporting on Railfuture submitted a response to the has written to Northern, which manages this summer for funding one of the proposals, adviser, I have been involved of the Esk Valley line has led to Minehead, and other railways some positive developments questions (available on the Railfuture Wales the station, expressing our concerns and we but it needed cash to pay for two detailed in these discussions and so can the provision of more capacity that have similar ambitions through Railwatch. website) and was asked to attend the public understand more seats will be installed. Further studies into the various options. Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw told the Plymouth Herald that hearings in February. Unlike Scotland, planning discussions with Network Rail are expected. n The winners of the Railfuture NEWS IN BRIEF for new homes and businesses. and delivery of rail infrastructure in Wales is the development was proof that Government 2015 draw were as follows: The plan would contribute £400 n nCampaigners challenge storm effect not devolved. The Welsh Government has pledges to invest in the South West’s £500 J A Drake, Newmarket; western France, from 26-29 Stagecoach and other big bus million to the economy while powers to fund infrastructure but the UK The storms over 5-6 December wreaked havoc infrastructure were worthless. Professor Gerd £200 Peter Hutchinson, Watford; September 2016 using Eurostar companies have been lobbying Crossrail and the expanded Government retains the primary responsibility in several parts of Cumbria, with the route Masselink, professor of coastal geomorphology £100 Phil Malcolm, Harpenden; and TGV trains. For more against any return to regulation. Thameslink network would allow for funding Network Rail, and the development of the old Keswick-Penrith railway taking a at Plymouth University, said estimates of the £50 J L Johnson, Bromborough; details contact Trevor Garrod, n The Dutch railway network the current users of City airport to economic damage caused by the two-month of the Welsh network. There are currently no battering. On the section between Keswick and £20 Mrs B A Burfoot, Alton, 15 Clapham Road South, aims to run its train fleet entirely get to Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton loss of the main line at Dawlish in 2014 ranged plans to devolve these powers to the Welsh Threlkeld, which is maintained as a foot and E E Nice, London N22, S Wright, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ. Email: on electricity generated from and Stansted by train. Government. cycle path by the Lake District National Park from £60 million to £1.2 billion. He told the [email protected] Birmingham, G Forse, Leicester; wind power within two years. n MPs on the House of Network Rail is preparing proposals and Authority and Sustrans, three key bridges were Western Morning News: “The cost of moving the £10 A Birt, Gourock, D R Edwards, n At the same time as buses At present, 50% of its power Commons public accounts seeking funders before producing an initial damaged or destroyed by the swollen river rail line might not be as huge if you put it in the York, M L Thorne, Solihull, Mr & context of potential economic damage.” are being cut back around supplies are from wind. committee have questioned industry plan which sets out priorities for the Greta. CKP Railways, which is campaigning for Mrs P I Mackness, Sulgrave, D J the country, the Government n Sian Berry, the Green party the way the Government sold next five-year control period beginning in 2019. the reopening of the line, is providing advice n n Potter, Eckington, D L Morgan, Railfuture Devon and Cornwall AGM announced in February that its candidate in the London mayoral its share of Eurostar for £585 The Department for Transport then produces and guidance on ways to restore the path The Railfuture Devon and Cornwall AGM is on Winchester, L Woodman, Roch- long-awaited Buses Bill will election in May, is calling for million, just when it was starting a high level output specification together with quickly, which are sympathetic to the long- Saturday 16 April 2016 at the Unitarian Church, ester, J P Green, Bletchley . clear the way for “voluntary London City Airport, which brings to pay dividends from years of a statement of funds available. The committee term reinstatement of the railway. Although Notte Street, Plymouth PL1 2AQ. 13.30 to 16.15. is considering the effectiveness of the existing the damage is severe, it is concentrated in one n Bookings are now open for partnerships” between local pollution and noise to a vast area investment. The National Audit rail infrastructure to cope with both passengers relatively short section of the 18-mile route n nRailfuture Devon and Cornwall contact: a four-day group travel trip to councils and bus companies, as of east London, to be closed once Office said the sale left taxpayers and freight. The relationship between the and can be repaired. The park authority wants [email protected] the tramway city of Nantes, in well as franchising some services. Crossrail opens in 2018 and used £2 billion out of pocket. 16 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Please remember Railfuture in your will: http://tinyurl.com/3qtdzj7 railwatch April 2016 17 Your letters extra European Passenger Federation and indicated that it might ISSN 0267-5943 www.railwatch.org.uk compromise on its intention railwatch to abolish the international is edited by Robert Stevens and Ray group. Unfortunately, it has not King, 4 Christchurch Square, listened to us and abolished the London E9 7HU Tel: 020 8985 8548 [email protected] international group in November [email protected]
under the auspices of a so- DAVIES Pictures: BILL Printed by Print-Out, High Street, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4JD Plea for democracy called “policy review”. Tel: 01223 232709. Railfuture members receive Railwatch free. As the proposer of an Members were told at the 2015 emergency motion, which was AGM that we would get “more Non-members can subscribe online at www.railfuture.org.uk/shop or by passed by an overwhelming international work for less”. Now sending £8 (cheque payable to Railfuture) to: Alan Cocker, 11 Derwent majority, I would like to put we are actually getting “less for Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QR. less”. Railfuture’s international the record straight concerning Copy deadlines: For the next issue, published in July, copy must be “the alleged shambles of work has been disrupted over emailed to [email protected] by 9 May. Paper copy can be sent to the 2015 AGM”. Back in the past year and is now un- 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU but must arrive earlier. February, the board made a necessarily, inefficiently and decision in secret to abolish unevenly fragmented between Advertising: Full page: £190. Half page: £95. Quarter page: £45. the international group and three other groups. Small ads are free to members. Otherwise: 30p per word. BEDFORD ELECTRIFICATION: Orange jackets were obviously UNORTHODOX WORKING PLATFORM: A technician uses the Please report any problems with the delivery or condition of your copy of cancel Railfuture’s membership As Railfuture is a voluntary required as technicians connected the wiring roof of a diesel locomotive to gain access to the new wires of the European Passenger organisation relying on the Railwatch to [email protected] or to the E9 7HU address above. Federation. This decision was goodwill of its members, Train driver Bill Davies found these two photographs which my early days at Bedford as a driver, I came across these pictures. then communicated informally we must make sure we are reminded him of the way lines were electrified 30 years ago. Both of them depict the state of play regarding ‘elf n safetee’ in the Railfuture five days before the AGM when more democratic and less Perhaps this “Can do” approach when the Bedford-St Pancras very early 1980s. As the driver of 25054, I suppose I should have line was electrified might have sped up the Great Western remonstrated with the gent walking all over my loco roof! As for is independent and voluntary. It is the campaigning name of the Railway it was too late to submit any authoritarian in future. Development Society Ltd, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. motion in the normal way for Nigel Perkins, Cumberland Park, electrification programme which in 2016 is bogged down in delay the other lot, they seemed quite happy to cling to the wires while and escalating costs. Bill, who is now retired and writes for the dirty diesels passed underneath to warm their cockles. Well I think Registered in England and Wales No 5011634. debate at the AGM. London W3 6SY Registered Office: 24 Chedworth Place, Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. [email protected] Locomotive Club of Great Britain newsletter, said: “Looking back at that’s what they were called.” The board exceeded its own Media enquiries powers under section 55 of the No fuss for women articles of association, which Bruce Williamson, 29 Granby Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4LT. lay down the procedure to be Mr Larkbey in Railwatch 146 lucky enough to belong to the it, and attending their meetings “I think in future years we plans for the future, once Tel: 0117 9272954 Mobile: 07759 557389 followed before abolishing regrets the small number of East Anglian branch, and while in sufficient numbers to argue for need to…be more imaginative, the recommendations of the Email: [email protected] a group or branch. Having women and young people at certainly in a minority, I have the motions so they are voted looking at what connectivity is Department for Transport’s £18 per year (special offer). consulted other members of the Railfuture meetings. Women use through? London and South Coast Rail Membership always felt to be among friends. required…so building completely Family: £23. Pensioners, students and unem- international group, we decided the railway but few have an in- Shirley Dex, Trumpington Road, Simon Norton, Hertford Street, new railways should be on the Corridor Study is published. it was imperative to stop this ployed: £14. Family membership (for 2 over 65) £16. User groups, com- depth interest in the machinery. Cambridge CB2 8AY Cambridge CB4 3AG agenda.” Railfuture is keen that the abuse of power and procedure What matters is getting safely [email protected] munity and parish councils: Please apply for rates. by proposing an emergency One example I would like to Sussex Community Rail You can join using PayPal via www.railfuture.org.uk or by post, please from A to B. I am a curiosity Transport manifesto partnership will include the motion, requesting the board to see come to fruition is another contact Railfuture Membership, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold, North among my female friends in Potential members contender for the status of reopened Uckfield-Lewes line reconsider. having such an interest. Regarding Graham Larkbey’s Lincolnshire DN38 6JH. Email: [email protected] letter in Railwatch 146, I think Graham Larkbey complains that “Scotland’s Missing Link”, a new which can become part of Since the motion was passed, Railfuture meetings are usually Renewals and other membership queries: the problem is that many people “the active membership consists line linking Tulloch on the West Sussex’s strategic transport the board seemed reluctant held when most women are Use PayPal on the website or send a cheque to see transport as unimportant, almost entirely of white middle- Highland line and Newtonmore network. to re-consider its decisions. I otherwise occupied but it Railfuture Renewals, 24 Chedworth Place, Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. when in fact it is the one issue class males of mature years”. on the Perth-Inverness line. The Uckfield-Lewes line is managed to obtain the support is important women attend Email: [email protected] that links everything together. This seems to me a typical At the moment Fort William and featured in Disconnected! of more than 50 members meetings – and are welcomed, Board elections held annually. Nomination forms can be Transport activists are seen London-centred view. Although Inverness are both served by Broken links in Britain’s Rail Elections calling for a special general not made a fuss of. Their obtained from www.railfuture.org.uk/tiki-index.php?page=Elections as a niche group. We need to my local branch consists mainly rail, but travelling from one to the Policy, the latest book by Chris meeting, in the hope that the contributions and insights should of ”white males of mature change this by making ourselves other by rail is (and has always Austin and Richard Faulkner. Who’s Who Many other useful contact details can be found on the board would again reconsider. be actively sought, especially years” I would find it difficult to heard at meetings of groups been) unrealistic because there The book relies on Railfuture Railfuture website: www.railfuture.org.uk As a result, the board was from the human point of view, for identify people with middle-class material in making the case for campaigning on other issues is no sensible route linking the persuaded to continue example, security (or lack of it), accents. an Uckfield-Lewes reopened to get transport on to their two. By joining Tulloch with Railfuture’s membership of the facilities and staff attitudes. I am line as a way of creating an agendas. Younger people in working class Newtonmore, only 25 miles of in Crewe itself, rather than the route would have to be kept jobs do not have the time or the new track would be required additional electrified railway much bigger Stoke. Stoke badly clear of the existing rail line at Such issues include climate interest in volunteering because and a service linking Inverness, between London and Brighton. wants the station for itself. What Kidsgrove and the canal on the change where transport they usually have family and Aviemore and Fort William I hope Railwatch readers guided HS2 in that decision? way to Stoke. emissions need to be seen Join Railfuture work commitments or are possible for the first time. will register their support as a priority, access to the Various possibilities have been My route would have a station You get four copies of Railwatch magazine a year and the pursuing them. Considering the Not only would this boost for Uckfield-Lewes at www. discussed, including the idea at the west end of Manchester chance to help make Britain’s railways great again countryside and neighbourhood pressure that working people are railfuture.org.uk/Uckfield+Lewes improvement. tourism and encourage more of running HS2 trains through airport runway before forking Membership is £18 per year for an individual (special offer price) under today this is even more journeys by train instead of car, to ensure that it is included in Stoke without stopping. near Lymm to run west towards n n We need to divert money from likely to be a problem. Network Rail’s 2019 delivery Family: From £23 Pensioners, students and unemployed £14 but by having more services Some advocates of an HS2 Liverpool and east round the n Family membership (for 2 over 65) £16 n User groups, community road schemes to people’s People who join Railfuture are, on the existing railways to Fort programme, control period 6. west side of Manchester to go everyday transport needs Roger Blake, Dynevor Road, service to Stoke see a route and parish councils: Please use this form to ask for group rates in my experience, those who William and Inverness, it would breaking out of the valley through Manchester Victoria to and build housing which is have grown up with railways make their future more secure Stoke Newington N16 0DX continue as “HS3” alongside the accessible as well as affordable. [email protected] alongside the A500 road as a Name ...... either professionally or as and strengthen Scotland’s rail possibility for taking the route M62 to Leeds. Our health policies should network overall. amateurs. As there are more northwards, but a route out that Manchester tramlink can be involve traffic reduction to cut Toby Harling, Denton Mill Close, HS2 and Stoke Address ...... women and ethnic minorities way must be curvaceous to get extended from Manchester noxious pollution, and making being recruited into the rail Carlisle CA2 5NF It was part of HS2’s brief for past various towns on the way to Airport to the HS2 station and walking and cycling more industry both in senior and junior [email protected] ...... Postcode ...... pleasant as well as safer. its second phase to design a Manchester. on to Mobberley. The route from positions I suggest that this is an route between Birmingham and North Wales via Chester could Lewes to London Miles away, on the A505 past Railfuture’s 2011 AGM approved area for groundwork to be made. Manchester, but it took a long then go to Mobberley, which Email ...... Baldock in Hertfordshire, the my proposal for a Swiss-style Thomas E Rookes, St Giles, The Railwatch 146 article about time for them to decide which will be a very attractive station, Lincoln LN2 4DE road goes through a range of Send to Railfuture, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold, integrated and comprehensive a new rail route from Brighton to route to take, longer than it took because it gives access to [email protected] hills, with a “cut and cover” or North Lincolnshire DN38 6JH transport network, to include London’s Canary Wharf referred them to decide on the route on HS2, Manchester Airport and of Please make cheques payable to Railfuture links to places not served by rail. to Railfuture’s campaign for the east side of the Pennines. “green” tunnel. Email: [email protected] Scots missing link course Manchester itself. How about transforming this into Thameslink 2. We are hopeful HS2 decided on a route past Doing something similar with Michael Bell, Forest Hall, OR join online using PayPal at www.railfuture.org.uk a manifesto, putting motions to I agree with Paul Salveson in that some such scheme could Crewe with a station just outside HS2 could make an impossibly Newcastle-upon-Tyne. campaign groups to unite behind Railwatch 146 when he says: be included in Network Rail’s Crewe, not the classic station big job look easier. The new [email protected] 18 railwatch April 2016 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ European Rail Timetable available at http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu railwatch April 2016 19 Banks in scramble for rail cash Banks and investors are report- edly lining up for a share of the How the Government rakes in the money from train operators action as the Government pre- pares to split up Network Rail. Total SUBSIDY to Total PAYMENTS £18m c2c Years of talk from politicians operators £729m to Treasury £1529m about the railways being sub- £30m Chiltern Trains sidised are giving way to the £47m CrossCountry reality that a new railway age is London Overground £26m £62m First Great Western dawning and there is big money to be made. Southeastern £33m £83m East Midlands Trains Train operating companies now First TransPennine £44m £94m Virgin West Coast pay more in premium pay- London Midland £63m £180m Thameslink ments to the Government than £86m £187m they receive in subsidies. Every Merseyrail Greater Anglia year subsidies to train operators Arriva Trains Wales £102m £187m Southern have been going down, while Northern £113m £267m East Coast premium payments have been increasing because of the boom ScotRail £262m £374m SWT in rail use. Figures released by the Office of But rail delivers major benefits will help underpin rail opera- and new aspirations for a high Rail and Road show that in the for the Government, including tions in France because LM is growth and higher quality rail past financial year (2014/15), 11 offsetting the enormous dan- part-owned by French railways network.” train operators paid a total of ger and pollution created by through its subsidiary Keolis. Campaigner Paul Salveson who £1,529 million in premium pay- roads which of course have been ments while the subsidy received RMT general secretary Mick now works for Arriva, said: “It funded directly by the Govern- Cash said: “This Government is is really good stuff, lots of new by eight train operators was less, ment for years. a total of £729 million. against state ownership of our trains, additional services and Rail campaigners have long railways unless it is the French, investment in stations. There Train operators left the Govern- called for rail and road to be German or Dutch state look- is additional funding for com- ment with a net surplus of £802 treated fairly, taking into account ing for a bung from the British munity rail partnerships and million. their real costs and benefits. taxpayer to prop up their own support for station adoption. It is the fifth successive year The banks’ bonanza however will operations.” Congratulations should also inwhich premiums have result from Nicola Shaw’s report One of the franchise require- be offered to First who have exceeded train operator subsi- on Network Rail. She made it ments is “clean toilets”. It should been awarded the TransPennine dies and takes into account the clear from early on that privatisa- not be necessary to specify, but Express franchise. They are get- subsidy figures from local pas- tion was likely. Her report is set this is exactly the area where ting more trains, a new Liver- senger transport executives and to recommend the creation of a disreputable operators try to pool-Glasgow service and exten- “cap and collar revenue sup- new agency at arm’s length from save money. Labour called it sion of some of the Newcastle port”. the Government to be responsi- outrageous that David Brown, services to Edinburgh.” The biggest beneficiaries of sub- ble for strategic rail matters. The chief executive of the Go-Ahead But a report on rail franchising sidy were ScotRail with £262 mil- new body, similar to the Strategic group which operates the Govia by the House of Commons pub- lion, Northern with £113 million, Rail Authority that was axed in Thameslink franchise, earned lic accounts committee has been Arriva Trains Wales with £102 2006, will handle franchising, big £2.1 million in one year. dismissed as inadequate. The million and Merseyrail with £86 upgrades, railway standards and At East Midlands Trains, services RMT’s Cash said: “The report million. long-term planning. have been cancelled because of a attempts to create the impres- The operators paying the high- The responsibilities are currently shortage of drivers. sion that the Great Rail Rip-off est premiums were South West shared between the Department can be halted by a bit of tinkering By contrast, the promise of new with the franchising process, and Trains (£374 million), East Coast for Transport and Network Rail. trains to replace the dreaded (£267 milllion), Southern (£187 encouraging more bidders, when While Network Rail awaits the Pacers in the north of England it is privatisation itself that has million), Greater Anglia (£187 chop, the franchising system has meant a welcome for the million), Thameslink (£180 mil- reduced our railways to a cha- remains under constant criti- Northern franchise. The Urban otic, money-making racket. lion) and Virgin West Coast (£94 cism. The Government’s direct Transport Group said: “The new million). award in December to London franchises are a big moment for “The situation is actually far Of course Network Rail spends Midland to operate West Mid- the North’s rail services. We worse than it was in 2012 and the large amounts of money main- lands rail services has been con- have moved from a standstill committee has chosen to ignore taining and upgrading the net- demned by rail union RMT. It Northern franchise to one based that in this half-baked report. work and has debts of £38 billion. says the £130 million subsidy on new trains, new services With rumours that some key franchises are in deep financial trouble, the safety net has been European allies in battle for passenger rights ripped away leaving the tax- payer dangerously exposed and The European Passengers’ will be the choice of a tour of by EPF’s German member leaving the private companies in Federation, bringing together the city by public transport or associations to Deutsche complete control. over 30 organisations like a rail excursion to Kostrzyn Bahn concerning proposals “The answer is not fiddling Railfuture throughout in Poland. Conference to withdraw night trains around the edges of the system. Europe, will hold its annual participants receive a which are used by many The answer is to rip it up and conference and AGM in complimentary public British travellers. EPF wants return the whole rail network to Berlin on Friday and Saturday transport ticket for their stay to hear Railfuture members’ direct, public ownership.” 8-9 April. There will be in the city. For information comments on international presentations by two MEPs, a and booking, please visit train journeys. A new short European Commission official the EPF website www.epf. questionnaire has therefore and transport professionals. eu. In recent months EPF has been posted on the EPF Topics this year include concerned itself with train website for you to complete. passenger rights, international security at borders to deal This applies to Eurostar and ticketing and cross-border rail with the flow of migrants. journeys by conventional services. On the Sunday there EPF has also co-signed a letter trains.