South West Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy March 2006 Foreword I am pleased to introduce the first Route regulatory process for determining Utilisation Strategy (RUS) published by Network Rail’s income between 2009 Network Rail, which covers the South West and 2014. These longer-term improvements Main Line and includes the lines into include a requirement for significant London Waterloo. additional rolling stock to meet the growth in passenger demand. Following the Government White Paper, ‘The Future of Rail’, Network Rail was charged However, there are some improvements with developing Route Utilisation Strategies which are urgently needed and could on behalf of the rail industry, following on be delivered within the next three years. from the previous work of the Strategic Rail I am particularly pleased that amongst Authority. It is a task we have taken forward in these early improvements recommended is a consultative way, involving key stakeholders the gauge enhancement of the route from such as train and freight operators, local Southampton to Reading to carry the larger authorities and passenger groups at every step W10 containers preferred by many of our of the way. As such, this RUS for the South freight customers. This would be excellent West Main Line should be seen as the product news for the rail freight market, and allow of the rail industry, not just of Network Rail. them to build upon the considerable growth seen in recent years. This strategy was consulted upon in November 2005, and since then has been Another early improvement proposed by the subject to a period of intensive discussion RUS is the introduction of an hourly service with stakeholders. As well as this consultative between London Waterloo and Exeter, process, further study and analysis has been something much demanded by regional undertaken on each of the options set out in stakeholders in the south west. This would the Draft for Consultation. require significant infrastructure works on the line, but would mean a big improvement in Network Rail is ambitious for the South West services to passengers. Main Line. The line has witnessed considerable growth in demand in recent years, and this These improvements, amongst the many is forecast to continue in the future. The others proposed by the strategy, reflect strategy responds to this by recommending Network Rail’s ambitions to grow the South a programme of improvements which will grow West Main Line. I am proud to present this capacity on the route, seeking to meet the as the first Route Utilisation Strategy needs of both passengers and freight. developed by Network Rail. The strategy recognises that some major improvements will take time to deliver and John Armitt these will need to be discussed with the Chief Executive Department for Transport as part of the Correct at time of going to print 2 3 Executive summary The South West Main Line (SWML) Route of network capacity on London peak services Measures to address overcrowding ■ The redevelopment of Waterloo station is Utilisation Strategy (RUS) is the first to be requiring correction. Other parts of the SWML in the peak period a key step towards the operation of longer published in Network Rail’s RUS programme. network also have capability and operational trains – first ten cars, later twelve – across ■ Work has begun on the development In addition to ongoing informal consultation weaknesses that, without action, would result the suburban network. It is recommended of sophisticated but practical ‘peak with a wide group of stakeholders throughout in a shortfall from the desired outputs across that the entire suburban network is management’ techniques. An opportunity the process, a formal consultation was the RUS timeframe. extended for ten-car operation by 2014, exists with the development of new undertaken between November 2005 and beginning with the Windsor and Reading A few of the measures proposed have no ticketing technology to introduce more January 2006. The resulting strategy is lines which are the most crowded. material cost; some will cover their costs flexible and sophisticated pricing in the outlined in this document and supported financially within a few years; and some high peak hour and peak shoulders. ■ Short term measures to improve the by appendices containing information on require investment that is justified by wider The strategy aims to manage both supply effectiveness and capacity of the accepted and rejected options, consultation benefits to the economy. Where appropriate, and demand to meet forecast growth concourse at Waterloo station, primarily responses and other supporting data. These the train service changes associated with efficiently rather than suppress it. gating the platforms and reducing appendices are available on the Network Rail these measures will be included in the the space reserved for retail, will be website at www.networkrail.co.uk. ■ There is no practical scope to run Department for Transport’s Invitation to Tender progressed as necessary in the run additional trains into London Waterloo A range of measures has been identified to for the South Western franchise; either in the up to the redevelopment of Waterloo in the high peak, and the existing trains make effective and efficient use of railway base specification or as priced options. station. In order to provide the operational are at their maximum permitted length. capacity and to develop additional capacity. capacity and flexibility necessary for the Over the whole peak period, some These measures have been selected on the redevelopment project, the Waterloo crowded trains in the peak shoulders can basis of their value for money and potential International Terminal (WIT) should be be lengthened. High priority cases have affordability across the ten-year period of reserved for this use when Eurostar been identified that should be lengthened the strategy. services transfer to St Pancras. as soon as practicable. Continued strong growth in both passenger ■ The proposed redevelopment of Waterloo and freight demand is predicted to be a key station, including the Waterloo International feature of the next ten years. The areas Terminal, would double the concourse that are currently most congested, such capacity and extend all platforms to as peak-time passenger services to and accommodate at least ten-car trains. from London, will get much worse unless Remodelling of the station and, eventually, growth is addressed. Unlike some other the track on its approach is recommended routes, there is no clear sub-optimal use as the cornerstone of the rail industry’s strategy for the SWML. 4 5 Measures to improve the effective Measures to develop freight Contingent projects use of capacity capability The RUS includes consideration of the ■ The timetable ‘Rules of the Plan’ will be ■ There is a strong case for enhancing the relationship between the strategy proposals continuously reviewed in the light of new rail freight route between the Southampton and three major projects: AirTrack, Thameslink rolling stock and infrastructure capabilities container terminals and Reading to provide Programme and Crossrail. in order to achieve and maintain the most W10 capability, which would enable the effective balance between performance retention and expansion of rail market The longer term and capacity. In the majority of locations share by accommodating the growing The steps proposed will close the gaps across the SWML, evidence supports proportion of large containers. The timing identified on the SWML over the ten-year the view that the current rules represent and form of the gauge enhancement is scope of the strategy. The RUS also sets out a robust balance, allowing maximum being further examined in the Freight RUS a framework for investment to address growth utilisation of capacity while establishing as the route continues beyond Reading to over the next twenty years or more, such as minimum acceptable performance the West Midlands and North of England. progressively lengthening trains and platforms standards from an operational and to twelve cars throughout the SWML suburban scheduling perspective. A limited number Measures to develop capacity in network. Integration with forthcoming major of small improvements have been identified the south west renewal schemes in the Waterloo – Clapham for implementation from the December ■ Regional stakeholders on the West of Junction area will establish the foundation for 2006 timetable. England line seek an hourly London a long-term strategy. ■ Station facilities should be developed to Waterloo to Exeter service and an improve access by appropriate modes of additional hourly Axminster to Exeter transport. As a priority, development of the service. This would require additional best-value car park expansion schemes, infrastructure and would provide an such as Southampton Airport Parkway enhanced service level in an area of and Winchfield, will be progressed by the network where capacity is heavily Network Rail in conjunction with the constrained. Network Rail is working with franchise holder. Opportunities to improve stakeholders to identify funding solutions cycle storage facilities, pedestrian access for part or all of this proposal, including and bus stops will be explored through the the possible use of the Network Rail South Western franchise competition. Discretionary Fund. ■ Service alterations in the Southampton-Salisbury-Weymouth area have been developed with the Department for Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies. The alterations include a rebalancing of service groups and stopping patterns to better match resources to demand, with only a very minimal impact on service levels for specific stations. ■ A revised platforming strategy at Portsmouth Harbour will improve performance and should be implemented in the December 2006 timetable. This has no impact on service levels to any stations. 6 7 Contents Document Guide 4 Strategy 20 The South West Main Line Route Utilisation The printed document contains the 4.1 Overview 20 Strategy consists of a strategy document context and scope, an overview of the 4.2 Key strategic considerations 23 and appendices.