NEWSLETTER Issue 12 SPRING 2009 Silence over Parking Charges Morpeth As Network Rail’s plans to extend the car park at Morpeth have been Steam deferred, Northern Rail remain silent over proposed parking charges. NEW-BUILD STEam locomotive CASTLE MORPETH BC has level of charges proposed. In a A189 and discourage rail use. “Tornado” passed through deferred Network Rail’s appli- letter to Network Rail, Borough At the time of going to press Morpeth on 28th February on cation to extend the car park at Chief Executive Ken Dunbar no reply had been received. its first run north of Newcastle. Morpeth Station at its January Crucially, the level of charg- See photo below left. meeting, saying more consul- “Charges of £3 to £4 at es proposed is not a planning tation is necessary. New plans Morpeth are likely to issue, and the Borough will NEXT MEETING have been submitted which not be able to reject the plans will be discussed at the Coun- discourage rail use” on these grounds alone. Thursday 26th March, cil’s 10th March meeting. points out that it only costs Northern Rail, who are likely 7.30pm at The Borough Council, Town £2 to park at Four Lane Ends to be the main losers if puni- Morpeth Methodist Church Council and SENRUG all sup- Metro, so charges of £3 to £4 tive charges are introduced, Guest Speaker: Richard port increased parking provi- at Morpeth are likely to put have remained strangely sion, but are concerned at the more cars back on the A1 and silent on the matter. Gibson (CrossCountry) » www.senrug.co.uk Y rierle B ohn : J hoto P Key Speakers at SENRUG Meetings SENRUG has lined up two important guests for its next two meetings. CROSSCOunTRY’S HEAD of Communications, Richard Gibson, will be speaking at SENRUG’s next public meeting PicTurED: Peppercorn class A1 Pacific № 60163 (“Tornado”) hauls a charter train through Morpeth station at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th March at Morpeth Method- ist Church, Howard Terrace, High Hopes for Opening Hours Morpeth. Richard will be outlining After three years of waiting, we may soon hear whether Northern Rail will CrossCountry’s plans for the extend ticket office opening hours at Morpeth station. franchise, and talking about the challenges of last Decem- IT’S BEEN three years in the company’s management the costs involved. In addition ber’s timetable change. All writing but SENRUG has been board soon. to ticket sales, an open ticket members of the public are told that Northern Rail’s busi- The case is based on the office also allows access to the welcome. ness case to extend the open- successful trial of afternoon station’s waiting room and WanSBECK MP Dennis Murphy ing hours of the ticket office opening in Summer 2006 toilet, plus train running infor- has agreed to speak at SEN- at Morpeth is now complete, in which commission from mation. Let’s hope the answer RUG’s AGM on 16th July. and will be submitted to the increased ticket sales covered is going to be “yes”! Details to follow. 2 SENRUG NEWSLETTER Spring 2009 ‘Allo Alloa ABT Setbacks A survey into the popularity of the new Alloa Whilst the Alloa line experiences levels of use rail link in Scotland has shown that the number that are unprecedented, the report into the of passengers in the first nine months exceeded reopening of the Ashington, Blyth & Tyne line all expectation. Could the proposed Ashington, has been set back six months. And Network Rail Blyth & Tyne line follow suit? now intends to remove vital infrastructure. Y ith FF ri rierle G B ohn oger : J : R hoto hoto P P PicTurED: SPT Turbostar № 170 475 at Alloa Railway Station PicTurED: Bedlington Railway Station RESEarcH CONDucTED by South East Scotland Transport Part- IN THE last issue of this newsletter, it was reported that North- nership (SESTran) said more than 400,000 passengers were umberland County Council had commissioned a study—to expected to use Alloa station this year. That figure is more than Network Rail’s “GRIP 3” standard—into the re-opening of the double the original estimate of 155,000 passengers. The service, main section of the Ashington, Blyth & Tyne (ABT) line. It was re-introduced on 19th May 2008, has also cut car journeys in understood that this was to have been completed by December and out of Alloa by more than 100,000. 2008. A spokesman for SESTran said: “The incredible success of Alloa This date has slipped, and the report is not now expected station is excellent news. It is proof-positive that when people have the option of a high-quality public transportation service, “The delay is most frustrating, especially as they will use it in preference to the car. The figures suggest that central government say that they plan to increase over a 12-month period the new station will deal with up to 400,000 rail journeys. Of these 100,000 will be passengers who spending on transport infrastructure projects.” would otherwise have gone by car. That’s a lot of cars off the until June 2009. Additionally, the study is not being funded by roads, and a major contribution towards reducing South East the County Council as previously reported—rather, it is a study Scotland’s carbon footprint.” looking at how to handle more freight trains on the line and the Alloa’s railway station was re-opened after a break of 40 years Council are in effect piggy-backing on this to assess the cost of when a 13-mile stretch of existing but disused track between restoring passenger services at the same time. This may be a cost effective way of getting the study done, “It is clear that the cost to re-open the ABT but it means the County Council is not in control of the times- line provides exceptional value for money. cale and urgency. The delay is most frustrating, especially as central government continue to say that they plan to increase So what are we waiting for?” public spending on transport infrastructure projects as a way of Stirling and Longannet Power Station in Kincardine was rein- minimising the effects of the recession. What a pity Northum- stated. As a link between a small suburban town and a conurba- berland’s scheme is not already costed and ready to go. tion it begs comparison with the Ashington, Blyth & Tyne (ABT) MEanwHILE, NEWS has reached SENRUG that Network Rail are line. However, the fact that it was reinstated at all—despite the planning to mothball Ashington North signal box and the hefty £80m price tag—shows how unprogressive England is compared to Scotland in backing the simplest of solutions to “Network Rail should not be permitted congestion, sustainability and carbon-efficiency. to take any action that would add to the SENRUG believes that the reinstatement of the ABT line would show equally spectacular results in getting people out of their cost of reinstating passenger services.” cars and enjoying an eco-friendly, comfortable ride into work crossover at Ashington station that is needed to reverse trains or for leisure; the recent bad weather only serves to highlight at Ashington should passenger service be reinstated. SENRUG the requirement for reliable rail transport. has written to Network Rail asking for clarification as to how And how many people does a line which cost over £80m ben- they can withdraw infrastructure on the one hand whilst at efit? Alloa is a town of just over 18,000 inhabitants. Compare this the same time taking money for a commercially funded GRIP to Blyth (36,000), Ashington (27,000) and Bedlington (15,000) 3 study looking at reinstating services that will need to use the and it is clear the estimated cost of £4.1 million to re-open the infrastructure. SENRUG believes Network Rail should not be ABT line from Morpeth to Bedlington provides exceptional permitted to take any action that would add to the eventual value for money. So what are we waiting for? cost of reinstating passenger services. www.senrug.co.uk Spring 2009 SENRUG NEWSLETTER 3 Manors Campaign New SENRUG Website Manors Metro station has seen passenger THanKS TO SENRUG webmas- information you need more numbers surge. So why do only a few commuter ter Luke Earl for producing a quickly, as well as attracting trans stop at the railway station? new website, which can be new members. found at www.senrug.co.uk. What do you think of the new FOR SOME time, SENRUG has Factory, Art Works, etc.) and, The fresh new design is clearer website? Send your comments been campaigning for all local most significantly, the huge and should help you to find the to [email protected]. trains between Morpeth and new Northumbria University Newcastle to call at Manors, campus next door. rather than just the few peak These are not just empty Membership & hour services. The case for this words. Nexus have just report- is based on the fact that the ed Manors Metro has seen a demographics of the Manors 42% increase in usage against Renewals area have changed consider- 2.4% on the Metro network ably since the timetable was overall, making Manors the IF YOU would like to join ment by cheque can be posted set decades ago. fastest growing station on SENRUG, you can download a with a completed member- The station now serves sev- the network. SENRUG have membership form from www. ship form (please indicate if eral call centres (where people forwarded the Nexus Press senrug.co.uk/join or request you are renewing).