Response to East Midlands Rail Franchise Public Consultation
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BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH AGENDA ITEM 5 Development Committee 11 September 2017 Report of the Director Response to East Midlands Rail Franchise public consultation 1 Purpose of report To seek approval to send a council response to the public consultation on proposed changes to the East Midlands Rail Franchise. 2 Executive summary 2.1 This public consultation is on proposed changes to the rail service from Wellingborough. This will involve fewer trains stopping at Wellingborough during peak hours in order to speed up train journey times on InterCity services (those services from Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby to London). 2.2 To counter this reduction in peak time services Wellingborough will be on a commuter line from Corby to London that will be serviced by longer trains in order to try and reduce the resultant overcrowding due to cutting InterCity services. This would also mean fewer direct trains northwards to Leicester in peak times. 3 Appendices Appendix 1 – Borough Council of Wellingborough response to the East Midlands Rail Franchise Public Consultation. Appendix 2 – East Midlands Rail Franchise Public Consultation document. 4 Proposed action: The Committee is invited to RESOLVE to submit the response in Appendix 1 to the East Midlands Rail Franchise public consultation. 5 Background 5.1 This document proposes changes to the East Midlands rail service currently operated by East Midlands Trains (EMT) through a public consultation process. The overall aim of these changes will be to improve the experience of passengers by providing more space and comfort, better and more frequent customer communication with the rail operator, improving the reliability and value for money of the service. The consultation document outlines ten top priorities for improving the East Midlands Franchise, these are: Price and value for money All passengers able to get a seat Trains sufficiently frequent Free Wifi available Train companies to keep passengers informed about delays More trains on time Less frequent disruption Accurate and timely information at stations Well maintained toilet facilities Trains clean and maintained. 5.2 The proposed changes to the rail service from Wellingborough are in response to issues of long journey times and overcrowding on peak time services. 5.3 The document proposes a solution that involves dividing the East Midlands mainline into two distinct markets, an InterCity service that will no longer serve Wellingborough during peak hours and a commuter service from Corby to London which would go via Wellingborough. It is suggested that by doing this it will lower journey times on InterCity services and due to longer trains will reduce overcrowding on the commuter line. 5.4 There are other proposals within the document such as the aim to improve East to West connectivity and the potential for the extension of Thameslink services as well as increasing evening and weekend services. 5.5 The consultation document asks specific questions that consultees can answer within their response. The proposed response in Appendix 1 does not use these questions, as it is considered that the issues highlighted are more fundamental than the suggested questions and therefore it is more appropriate to comment on the document as a whole. 5.6 The Deadline for comments on the consultation document is the 11th October 2017. 6 Discussion 6.1 The draft response in Appendix 1 objects to the proposed changes to the rail service from Wellingborough in particular the reduction in services stopping at Wellingborough during peak times. 6.2 There is no evidence that implementing this proposal would result in a reduction in overcrowding particularly given the additional development at Stanton Cross and Rushden Lakes. 6.3 Considering the consultation document the draft response in Appendix 1 identifies that these proposals: Would have a detrimental effect on the passenger experience from Wellingborough and as a result are contrary to the overall aims and objectives of the franchise document. Would result in additional stops during peak hours for commuter trains from Wellingborough resulting in increased numbers of potential passengers and an increase in journey times. Imply that Wellingborough (as well as Kettering and Corby) are entirely commuter towns into London. This ignores the amount of commuters heading north to Leicester and other locations who will now have to change in order to reach their place of work rather than a direct service. Could result in the train becoming a less attractive mode of travel from Wellingborough to both the north and south and may result in an increase in the number of commutes by car, meaning additional road congestion and a negative effect on the environment through increased car usage. 6.4 The reference within the document to a proposal to extend the Thameslink line north from Bedford is supported, as is the reference to improving East- West connectivity and improving and extending evening and weekend services. 7 Legal powers Part 1 of the Local Government Act 2000 provides power for the council to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area. Section 1(1) of the Localism Act 2011 provides the local authority with the power to do anything that individuals generally may do. 8 Financial and value for money implications 8.1 A good quality rail service for the borough has many economic benefits and can contribute towards jobs, investment and infrastructure projects that are critical for the success of other council policies and projects. 8.2 The frequency and quality of the rail service, particularly into London is a major attraction for the town and attracts many commuters to move here. This is particularly the case with the forthcoming Stanton Cross development where it is anticipated that commuters will be attracted to live due to its location near the railway station. Failure to keep the standard and level of service on the railway at current levels could result in the town and the new developments in the town becoming less attractive to people looking for an easy commute into London. Risk analysis Nature of risk Consequences Likelihood of Control if realised occurrence measures Loss of Rail Less frequent High Respond to the services as and fast consultation to try proposed. connections to and make the rail destinations for franchise consider commuters into alternative London and solutions. north to Leicester. Loss of Rail A reduction in Medium Respond to the services as what is a major consultation to try proposed. attractor to the and make the rail town for people, franchise consider jobs and alternative services. solutions. Loss of Rail Possible Medium Respond to the services as increased consultation to try proposed. overcrowding as and make the rail a result of franchise consider growth in alternative Wellingborough solutions. and loss of services. 9 Implications for resources There would be no direct impacts on council resources as a result of this response. 10 Implications for stronger and safer communities A frequent, fast and quality rail service can help to create stronger communities by attracting new people to the area as well as attracting businesses and services and by significantly increasing the connections Wellingborough has with other towns and cities. 11 Implications for equalities There would be no direct impacts on equalities as a result of this response. 12 Author and contact officer Thomas Shaw, Planning Policy Officer 13 Consultees Liz Elliott, Managing Director Julie Thomas, Director Bridget Gamble, Director Victoria Phillipson, Principal Planning Policy and Regeneration Manager Sue Bateman, Senior Planning Policy Officer Simon James, Policy Manager, NNJPDU 14 Background papers None Appendix 1 Borough Council of Wellingborough response to East Midlands Rail Franchise public consultation Introduction 1.0 This document proposes changes to the East Midlands rail service currently operated by East Midlands Trains (EMT) through a public consultation process. The overall aim of these changes will be to improve the experience of passengers by providing more space and comfort, better and more frequent customer communication with the rail operator, improving the reliability and value for money of the service. 1.1 The consultation document outlines ten top priorities for improving the East Midlands Franchise, these are: Price and value for money All passengers able to get a seat Trains sufficiently frequent Free Wifi available Train companies to keep passengers informed about delays More trains on time Less frequent disruption Accurate and timely information at stations Well maintained toilet facilities Trains clean and maintained. 1.2 Whilst the above priorities are fully supported by the Borough Council of Wellingborough it is suggested that two important priorities that are of great importance to passengers have been omitted. That journey times between destinations should not increase and that the need to change trains should be kept to a minimum. The borough council has significant concerns that the proposed changes are likely to result in passengers travelling to or from Wellingborough experiencing increased journey times and would result in passengers needing to change trains when travelling on lines north of Kettering. The borough council is concerned that stated priorities are not being met by the proposed changes in this consultation document, particularly in respect of the service that would be provided from Wellingborough. 1.3 This document is a response to challenges that the East Midlands franchise is facing. These include a lack of line capacity, meaning substantial investment in infrastructure is required if additional services were to be run. Long journey times, overcrowded trains, limited connectivity to other lines and routes and below average customer satisfaction results on the current franchise. Comments 2.0 The document suggests that the long journey times on InterCity services (those services from Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby to London) is because of these trains stopping at Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford and Luton when they are already busy with passengers from further north.