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Minutes of a meeting of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Market Harborough Line Speed Improvements. held at County Hall, Glenfield and the Harborough District Council Offices, Market Harborough, on Friday 18 March 2016. PRESENT Mr. D. Jennings CC (in the Chair) Mr. Max Hunt CC Mr. W. Liquorish JP CC Mr. J. Kaufman CC Mrs. C. M. Radford CC 7. Minutes of the previous meeting. The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 7 March 2016 were taken as read, confirmed and signed. 8. Declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda. Members were invited to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda. Mr. W. Liquorish CC declared a personal interest in all substantive items as a member of Harborough District Council. Mr. J. Kaufman CC and Mrs. C. Radford CC each declared a personal interest in all substantive items as members of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Rail Action Committee. 9. Opening comments from the Leader of Harborough District Council. The Leader of Harborough District Council, Mr. B. Pain CC, opened the Panel meeting by expressing his gratitude to the County Council for arranging the Scrutiny Review Panel. In his opening remarks Mr Pain made the following points:- (i). The announcement by the Chancellor that £1 million would be available to improve the car park at Market Harborough Station was welcomed. At present there were a number of issues raised by residents regarding residential streets being used by commuters for parking and this situation was known to be getting worse. It was queried whether, as part of the proposals, East Midlands Trains could install a sign indicating when a car park was full; (ii). Although there would be some disruption to the highways whilst the work was undertaken, the end result would bring significant benefits to the local area, as well as providing greater economic benefits from the increased speed of the Midland Mainline; (iii). Mr Pain encouraged the Panel to investigate the £9 million shortfall in funding for the proposals and to look into where this money could be sourced from; 2 (iv). Mr Pain was looking forward to seeing what was being proposed for the station including the lengthening of the platform and the creation of more accessible facilities. RESOLVED: That the comments of the Leader of Harborough District Council be noted. 10. Presentation by Kevin Newman from Network Rail. The Panel received a presentation from Network Rail outlining the context to the proposals as well as the proposals themselves. A copy of the presentation is filed with these minutes. In delivering the presentation, officers from Network Rail and East Midlands Trains made the following points:- The Line Speed Improvements and Electrification (i). The proposals for the line speed improvement at Market Harborough formed a part of the wider works across the Midland Mainline to improve line speeds which would contribute to faster trains between Sheffield and London St. Pancras. The proposals at present were only provisional and the full details had not yet been finalised; (ii). Improving the line speed would contribute to economic growth across the country, increase line capacity and allow for additional freight services. The changes made to the line through Market Harborough were the driving force behind providing improved facilities at the station; (iii). The current speed for trains going through Market Harborough was approximately 60mph in some areas, which was one of the lowest line speeds in the UK. The proposed works would allow trains to travel at 90mph through the area; (iv). The first stage of the Midland Mainline improvements, including the work at Market Harborough, was intended to be completed by December 2019. The second stage which would include electrification of the line to Leicester would be completed by December 2023; (v). Network Rail would be significantly investing in electrification in order to modernise its infrastructure. It was hoped that East Midlands Trains would in the future have a completely electric fleet. This would contribute to faster speeds on the line due to electric trains being able to accelerate much quicker than diesel engines; (vi). There would be a brand new line built across Harborough in addition to the line straightening at the station to improve line speeds. It was anticipated that as it was a new line, disruption to passengers would be minimal as the only track work would take place when the new line was being connected. However there would be some disruption to highways and rights of way as the electrification work would involve the complete rebuilding of some bridges; (vii). There were no plans for any of the remaining line following completion of the works. As the line through Harborough was in a valley, it would not be appropriate 3 to use the old line as a freight loop owing to the difficulty for a freight train to stop and start on a hill; The Station and wider area (viii). The station building would remain unchanged other than potential internal improvements. The Panel was advised that there was high community spirit around the station building which officers would be taking into account should they decide to make any internal improvements. (ix). There would be a number of new facilities introduced across the station, including a shelter and ticket machines on the other side of the platform. (x). The £1 million announced for improving the car park would allow Network Rail to increase car parking capacity to around 500 spaces. East Midlands Trains would also consider the suggestion by Mr Pain to have the facilities in place to communicate when the car park was full. Members were advised that the car park would have to be split between both sides of the railway line thus requiring two separate entrances; (xi). Any changes to the station facilities would involve making the station much more accessible to those with disabilities. It was not felt that maintaining footpaths over the railway was feasible as the line speed would become faster; (xii). East Midlands Trains provided a breakdown of those who used the station and how passengers commuted to the station, noting particularly that it was originally thought most passengers would be going to London but further analysis suggested it was a 50/50 split between those travelling to the north and the south; (xiii). Members expressed concern over the lack data around those who cycled to the station, and requested that Network Rail ensure that cycle facilities were included in the proposals for the station; (xiv). There would be some interference with rights of ways as a result of the proposals. Network Rail would be working with local authorities as quickly as possible to ensure that any disruption or closures were minimised; The Budget (xv). At present there was a £9.3 million gap in funding, which if not filled, meant that continuation of the project would be difficult. Members were advised that if the funding gap was not filled, it would still be possible to make the changes to the station platform and the car park, but these would not be the long-term changes needed for the line; (xvi). Members suggested that Network Rail look into any European Union funding which was available for projects such as this; (xvii). Network Rail would be holding a number of meetings in the next few months with other relevant organisations to find a way to fill the funding gap. RESOLVED: 4 That the contents of the presentation including the provisional proposals be noted. (At this point, the meeting was adjourned to enable members to attend a site visit at Market Harborough Station. The meeting reconvened at 1.30pm at Harborough District Council offices.) 11. Representations from Christopher Groome of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Rail Action Committee. The Panel considered evidence presented by Chris Groome of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Rail Action Committee (LANRAC). A copy of Mr. Groome’s written comments were tabled for members and are filed with these minutes, marked “Agenda Item 6”. Mr. Groom read out his written comments to the Panel. Arising from a discussion of the comments made, the following points were noted: A view was expressed that improvements to the line would be more beneficial than electrification. Better signalling was also requested; It would be a matter for the Panel whether, in light of evidence heard, it would lobby Network Rail for additional features as part of the works, such as freight loops and sidings; The works would increase capacity and improve train times. RESOLVED: (a) That the comments of LANRAC be noted; (b) That Mr. Groome be thanked for his attendance at the Panel’s meeting. 12. Representations from Steve Jones of the Harborough Rail Users Group. The Panel considered evidence presented by Steve Jones of the Harborough Rail Users Group (HRUG). A copy of Mr. Jones written comments are filed with these minutes, marked “Agenda Item 7”. In his comments, Mr. Jones outlined the following points: Market Harborough was regarded as one of the best areas in the country in which to live and work. The area’s Station was considered to be a big factor in this, but it was not considered currently to be fit for purpose; Access at the Station for disabled people was notably poor and there was a lack of shelter for waiting passengers to use in inclement weather; Car parking capacity was currently poor; The planned Station improvements were considered to be a big opportunity to make the Station fit for the future, though it was recognised that there was 5 currently a £9 million funding gap and that, if not filled, this could curtail the standard of the works; It was felt that Leicestershire County Council had a role to play outside of the funding process to ensure that consents and permissions for the works were granted swiftly to ensure the project ran to time; Arising from Mr.

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