The RAGES Rag SPRING 2020, Issue 74

The newsletter of the Rail Action Group, East of Scotland, bringing members up-to-date with progress on improvements to local rail services.

left: First train to stop at Dunbar’s Platform 2 was the 10.04 to (ex- Newcastle) on Sunday 15/12/2019, formed of an LNER East Coast Trains Azuma. (Photograph: T. Dickson)

Follow us on: Website www.rages.org.uk Twitter @RailActionGrpES www.facebook.com/RailActionGroup DUNBAR PLATFORM 2 OPENING CEREMONY

DUNBAR STATION – NEW Upon Tweed at a later stage. span footbridge and lift access DOWN PLATFORM The introduction of this new from each platform. northbound second platform for The official opening ceremony Dunbar railway station platform 2 Dunbar will provide increased involved a ribbon cutting and was officially opened on Tuesday capacity and improved plaque unveiling, the ribbon 17/12/2019. operational flexibility for local cutting was performed by Jacquie The opening of platform 2 is an and cross border services on the Bell from Dunbar Community RAGES enabler of one of strategic . Council. In attendance were aims of an improved rail service The £13 million investment by between Edinburgh and Dunbar Transport Scotland has delivered (continued on P2) with services extended to Berwick a new 271m platform with a 30m

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. DUNBAR PLATFORM 2 OPENING CEREMONY 2. TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS (TPE) BEGINS NEW SERVICE TO DUNBAR 3. LNER STAKEHOLDER MEETING 4. INTERCITY 125 HST’S FAREWELL 5. EAST LINTON & RESTON STATIONS UPDATE 6. PETER BRETT STUDY 7. ORR REPORT 8. STPR2 REPORT 9. RAGES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019 10. PRESENTATION TO TOM THORBURN

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DUNBAR STATION – NEW DOWN PLATFORM (concluded Council has from P1) approved plans to install an access Services from Edinburgh. point from the new platform into The station, which was first representatives from Transport for the neighbouring housing estate, opened by the North British Scotland, and their near the underpass at the north end Railway in June 1846, used to contract partners, local residents, of the station. When the additional have two platforms and an RAGES and Dunbar Community access is built, a footpath link will overall roof. Both features no Council. be provided to connect into the longer exist - the northbound The new platform will be long new platform. For further platform loop line was taken enough to accommodate the new 10- information please contact East out of use and lifted in the car, Hitachi Super Express Train. Lothian Council. early 1970’s, whilst the The project timeline was: Dunbar railway station serves the platform itself and the station Spring 2017 – initial designs. town of Dunbar in East Lothian, roof were both removed April 2018 – planning consents Scotland. It is located on the East during the modernisation and received. Coast Main Line and is now a two electrification by November 2018 – Amco appointed platform station. The main of the northern end of the East as main contractor. platform (One) is located on a Coast Main Line in 1987-88. Winter 2018 – detailed design and loop adjacent to the main through additional survey works. lines. The second platform is on May 2019 – works to create a new the main northbound line which platform due to commence. (below left: Invited guests has officially operated trains pose at the opening March 2020 – all construction stopping there since 15 December activities completed. ceremony of Dunbar 2019. Prior to December 2019, the Platform 2 on Tuesday 17th The new platform will provide line on which the main platform is December 2019. located was bi-directional increased capacity and improve Photograph: T. Dickson) (meaning that trains travelling operational flexibility. Previously all to/from London or Edinburgh northbound and southbound services had to use the same platform. had to take it in turns to Northbound stopping services will use the station if they were scheduled to stop there). With all (below right: An aerial view now use the new platform. of Dunbar station taken for There are aspirations by train Northbound services the opening ceremony for companies operating on the East now using the second platform and Platform 2, looking towards Coast Main Line to operate more no longer using the main platform long distance and local services on loop (with the exception of the Edinburgh and showing the the route. These couldn’t be 0700 Cross Country to Glasgow) new platform and footbridge. accommodated with the previous and all terminating ScotRail Photograph: T. Dickson) infrastructure.

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TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS (TPE) BEGINS NEW SERVICE TO DUNBAR

TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS (TPE) BEGINS NEW SERVICE TO DUNBAR TransPennine Express’s new Nova trains began running from Liverpool to Edinburgh in early December. On Monday to Saturday, the 05.15 from Edinburgh Waverley will call at Dunbar at 05.50, and on Monday to Friday, the 22.15 from Edinburgh Waverley will call at Dunbar at 22.51, and will also call at Berwick and Morpeth. RAGES welcomes this new provider at Dunbar and hopes to see additional TPE services (above: One of the new 5-car TransPennine Express (TPE) sets now in the future. in use on the Edinburgh-Liverpool service passes Reston. Photograph: B. Forrest)

LNER STAKEHOLDER MEETING

LNER STAKEHOLDER MEETING around the London area. A (below:The LNER Stakeholder Meeting question from me on On November 19th 2019, Barrie attended by RAGES Chairman Barrie Portobello junction works or RAGES Forrest and Secretary Allison Cosgrove Forrest ( Chairman) and the progress of electrification Photograph: B. Forrest) Allison Cosgrove (RAGES in Scotland could not be

Secretary) attended the above. answered, although to be This is an annual event where fair, a member of staff community representatives contacted me shortly after along the LNER route are the event. Considering there invited to hear the latest news were at least seven Scottish from LNER staff. Allison representatives present, as reported “The focus this year well as some from Yorkshire was very much on the new and the North East, it would Azumas and this formed the seem better to include a basis of the event. While this more comprehensive was interesting, it has been in upgrade programme than the news for some months now London only. and Barrie and I would have liked more up to date A good networking event information on services. and no cost to attend or to Some information was given on travel.” upgrades to works, chiefly

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INTERCITY 125 HST’S FAREWELL

INTERCITY 125 HST’S the East Coast Main Line the network, are in service, the HST's are no FAREWELL (ECML) and have seen many longer required on the ECML. different liveries with as many However, some HSTs are being upgraded to As part of the farewell tours of operators: British Rail; run on the ScotRail network. the High Speed Train GNER; National Express East (below: ‘The Northumbrian’ seen waiting organised by LNER between Coast; East Coast; Virgin to leave Dunbar on 20th December 18th and 21st December 2019, Trains East Coast; and latterly 2019.Although the train is standing at "The Northumbrian" ran from LNER. Platform 1, the photo shows the new Edinburgh to Leeds on 20th Many HST's were displaced in platform and footbridge. December 2019. The HST set the early 1990s by the Photograph: T. Dickson) had been specially re-painted InterCity 225 electric trains on in its original Inter-City 125 the ECML, but some were still blue and grey livery. needed for the services to These diesel trains have had a Glasgow, Inverness and long association with Dunbar. Aberdeen where the electric First introduced onto the overhead wires had not Western Region of British Rail reached. in 1977, in the early 1980s Now that the Azumas, which they replaced the Deltic can change to diesel operation locomotive-hauled trains on for the non-electrified parts of

EAST LINTON & RESTON STATIONS UPDATE

EAST LINTON & RESTON using a common sense approach. planning and work involved in STATIONS UPDATE Transport Scotland has asked building a new station in their Network Rail to consider the use of community. STEM ambassadors th On 18 November 2019, RAGES lifts as part of this work. will engage with pupils to teach Chairman Barrie Forrest wrote to Network Rail intend to submit their youngsters all about the railway Sarah Cooper of TransportScotland planning application in late Spring and the importance of STEM asking for an update on the plans for 2020 but in advance of this are subjects which are needed for the East Linton and Reston stations. Her already collating the information to next generation of railway th reply of 7 January 2020 is given undertake an Environmental below. Impact Assessment (EIA), as the (continued on P5) “Network Rail, with their designer, first stage in the planning (below: East Linton signalbox are progressing with the designs for application process. & footbridge shortly prior to both stations. A holistic approach is Network Rail’s contractor will closure in 1977. being taken to the design of the station provide a dedicated Photograph Courtesy of: J. ensuring that the end to end journey communications representative for Clark) undertaken by passengers is the two new stations and considered and reflected in the design. community liaison will begin in This includes consideration of the earnest in early spring. Project appropriate means of access for information will be shared, and passengers. Network Rail have asked feedback sought through their designer to identify as a priority community/ public events. The whether ramped access to the project will also take the platforms would be compliant with opportunity to visit nearby primary industry standards and negotiable for schools and inform pupils of the individuals with reduced mobility, Page 4 of 8

EAST LINTON & RESTON “We will shortly begin survey your property overnight is far from STATION UPDATES (concluded work and site investigation ideal, but we are legally obliged to from P4) activity on railway land in your work on the railway at times that neighbourhood. This work is cause least disruption to trains. workers. If you know of any community/public events where it required to help the design of a Unfortunately, this means carrying would be useful for project new station at Reston. out a lot of our work at weekends or Our work will involve detailed at night. We have asked those representatives to attend as the project progresses and more survey activity, which may require working on site to work with information is available, do let me us to cut back some vegetation. consideration for the local know. Our site investigation work also community. Transport Scotland is engaging requires us to use drilling I hope our work doesn't disturb you with the East Coast Event equipment to check ground too much but if you have any Steering Group (ECESG) to conditions in proposed queries or concerns please call our identify opportunities to provide development sites. 24-hr helpline on 0345 11 41 41 or an acceptable timetable for Where possible, the work will be via our website potential passengers while carried out during the day. www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus” understanding the potential However, some of our At the time of writing, the Reston service conflicts, franchise investigations need to be work is in progress, and all work is commitments and operator undertaken on the railway expected to be completed by the aspirations. Commercial embankment or directly time this edition of the RAG is discussions have commenced with underneath the tracks. In order to printed. the train operating companies access these locations, we will regarding providing this timetable need to carry out the work at APPOINTMENT OF for the stations. night while trains are not COMMUNITY LIAISON Network Rail’s contractor BAM operating. OFFICER Ritchies are expected to be During this period of work, we visiting Reston and East Linton will have a small compound It has recently been confirmed that tomorrow with a view to assessing located on site to provide facilities Allan Brooking (Network Rail) will the sites, before firming up their for our staff. This compound will be the Community Liaison Officer site investigation/ ground be set up from Saturday 1st Feb for the two stations. Allan worked until our work is complete and at Dunbar station during the investigation price.” On 15th January 2020, Barrie will be located near the junction construction of the new platform, received the following letter from of The Orchard and Main Street, and kept local people updated with Network Rail, as a local resident Reston.” ongoing works. RAGES is pleased to affected by work relating to (The letter then gave details of see this appointment, and Allan has Reston station. East Linton times for the work, and already been in touch with the residents also received a similar concluded:-) Community Councils in East Linton letter regarding their station. “We understand that working by and Reston.

PETER BRETT STUDY

PETER BRETT STUDY the A1 and the East Coast Main Line accessible only by road. Tension (ECML) from Haddington exists on the ECML between long- RAGES Last year met with the westwards, where the majority of distance and commuter demand. consultants appointed by East journeys converge on the transport RAGES commented that railways must Lothian Council to develop the network. It was noted that potential better serve local travel, which in Scottish Transport Appraisal latent demand for rail travel is East Lothian and Berwickshire has Group Case for Change, constrained as services and all but been eliminated since the primarily concerning the infrastructure, including station car 1960s to the advantage of intercity corridor through the west of parks, are operating at capacity, and and cross-country operators. the county, broadly following that Haddington in particular is (continued on P6) Page 5 of 8

PETER BRETT STUDY worsen with the intensive house- RAGES expressed its preference for re- (concluded from P5) building taking place across the opening of the Haddington branch, county and at Haddington and ideally to the original terminus on Whilst noting that Network Blindwells in particular. RAGES noted Station Road, maximising active Rail is considering that, per the National Records of travel access within the town. As quadrupling the ECML Scotland (NRS) figures, between insufficient parking exists there between and 1997 and 2017 the population of East (although part of the adjacent field Drem, and reconfiguring Lothian has increased by 19.5%, could be considered), a park and ride Portobello Junction (where the which is the highest percentage station at Oak Tree would be Borders Railway diverges) for increase in the country. The huge and essential, also facilitating interchange higher speeds RAGES ongoing increase in housing, with buses and serving the substantial commented that badly-needed population and therefore transport new developments at Letham and additional capacity-improving demand is primarily government- Gateside. A half-hourly electric train measures should include re- driven, but insufficient consideration service to Edinburgh would provide opening more of Waverley's has been given to transport and other the speed and capacity which road east-end bay platforms and re- infrastructure being put in place to transport - car or bus - cannot match. quadrupling the ECML meet current and future demand. For the Blindwells new town between Waverley and Equally, governments exhort the development, a new station was Portobello Junction. public to make less use of their cars suggested midway between There was no dissent that East to reduce greenhouse gases and Prestonpans and Longniddry. Finally Lothian residents have a high congestion. With the progress could usefully be dependence on road transport towards 100% renewable electricity extended to serve Portobello, and that the A1 and, outwith generation in Scotland, more electric Musselburgh, and possibly the county, the A720 are train services could go a long way to also the south side of Blindwells by getting more congested by the providing sustainable public transport being routed along or beside the day, and that this congestion and reducing the congestion, A199. Bus lanes should be better and all the associated delays pollution and health problems caused policed, and utilities roadworks and traffic pollution will only by reliance on road transport, helping better co-ordinated. achieve government objectives. ORR REPORT

ORR REPORT doesn't have figures for the On 14th January 2020, the corresponding increase in train Office of Rail and Road has services during this period, but it is published its annual estimates expected to be a much lower figure!) of station usage for 2018/19. Full stats can be found at the ORR The charts on the right show website at the links below. extracts for North Berwick, Overview of the report:- Dunbar and Berwick https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistic respectively. s/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/ The Dunbar estimate was Details of report methodology, 477,986 (2018-2019) & limitations, and summary statistics:- 460,444 (2017-2018). RAGES https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1 Passenger count on 21/5/2018 668/estimates-of-station-usage-2018- was 1316, which would be 19-key-facts.pdf equivalent to 480,340. This Details of estimates for all stations seems to correlate quite well for 2018-2019 (requires Microsoft with the ORR estimate, Office Excel):- especially when lower https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1 passenger numbers on 667/estimates-of-station-usage-2018- Sundays are taken into 19.xlsx account. Animation of top 5 stations by usage Note also that Dunbar in Scotland 2018-2019:- estimate for 1997-1998 was https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1 169,548. This represents an 672/train-board-top-5-most-used- increase over 21 years of stations-in-scotland-2018-19.gif 282%. (Note that RAGES

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STPR2 REPORT

Lochend loop. This re-open East Linton and Reston SECOND STRATEGIC investment is necessary stations, to avoid further slippage TRANSPORT PROJECTS because the section will have on delivery REVIEW (STPR2) to accommodate not only

existing and expanding As a stakeholder, RAGES was invited  reconstruction of the Haddington intercity and cross-country to the "Stakeholder Engagement branch, with a half-hourly electric services, but also additional Option Generation Workshop" held train service from Edinburgh to future ScotRail services to in Edinburgh on 19th November. the original Station Road terminus Dunbar/Berwick and STPR1 goes back to 2009, whilst near the town centre (encouraging Haddington, as well as STPR2 is to inform the Scottish active travel), and with a second existing North Berwick, Government's potential transport 'park & ride' station at Borders Railway services and investment over the period 2022-42, Oaktree/Gateside to serve the vast empty stock workings to both at the same time seeking to promote new housing developments west Craigentinny and Millerhill, equality, take climate action, help of the town, as well as passengers freight trains and charter the economy prosper and improve from the outlying catchment area specials. health and wellbeing. who still require to drive to access RAGES also suggested: The session for Edinburgh and a station

South East Scotland was introduced  a new station at Blindwells to by Paul Junik of Transport  the need to re-quadruple the East serve the large housing Scotland. The study itself is being Coast Main Line (ECML) between development on the south side conducted by Jacobs Aecom on its Edinburgh Waverley and of the ECML behalf and is due to report in early Portobello Junction (ideally to be

2021. carried out at the same time as the  extension of Edinburgh In accordance with its aims, RAGES proposed remodelling of Trams from the city centre via put forward: Portobello Jcn to minimise costs). Portobello and Musselburgh This would include both Calton to Port Seton and possibly  the need to maintain pressure to Tunnels as well as the mile-long also Blindwells.

RAGES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019

RAGES ANNUAL GENERAL duration of the works, as this had timescale on road access could not MEETING 2019 been seen to be a success at yet be given because of the Dunbar for the new platform accompanying infrastructure which A packed meeting in Reston works. was required. Village Hall was attended by East Linton would be a 6 car On demand forecasting, this had been three staff from Transport platform and Reston an 8 or 10 car completely re-worked as the old Scotland – Catherine Hall, platform. system (used on the Borders Railway Damien Briody and Sarah Questions were asked about road and clearly inadequate) was not Cooper. They advised that they access from Reston, and the accurate. were working with Network Rail future route of the East Coast Other questions were asked on the on the new stations at East Main Line given the possible capacity working group on the Linton and Reston. Welcome landslip risk at Burnmouth; those ECML and the timings of services - news was that a Liaison Officer present were assured that this was an event steering group would be set would be appointed for the a current focus of work. A up to work out timings.

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PRESENTATION TO TOM THORBURN PRESENTATION TO TOM (below:Barrie Forrest, RAGES new Barrie Forrest, the new Chair. THORBURN Chairman, presents retiring Barrie said “Tom has been in the Chairman Tom Thorburn, with a RAGES Committee members forefront of our campaigning for book and voucher on behalf of RAGES RAGES made a presentation to Tom almost 20 years, keeping ’ aims members) Thorburn, who is stepping down and objectives in the forefront of Photograph: Ian Bowman) as Chair of the Group after awareness of rail use in East Lothian keeping us on track for more and Berwickshire. It is thanks to his years than he cares to persistence and doggedness that we remember. At the Group’s have achieved so much over the years Christmas Lunch at Eyemouth and we owe him a great deal”. Golf Club, Tom was presented Tom will remain on the Committee with a book on the Tornado and where his knowledge of the network a voucher towards rail travel by will be extremely useful to future work. RAGES works to  Improve the rail service between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed.  Have East Linton and Reston stations re-opened for active use.  Improve the level of service to North Berwick.  Consider the implications with regard to car parking and bicycle storage at stations between Waverley and Berwick-upon-Tweed.  Keep under scrutiny the standards of passenger facilities at stations between Waverley and Berwick upon Tweed, including North Berwick, and to draw the attention of the relevant bodies to shortcomings which arise.  Re-open the branch line from Longniddry to Haddington.  The group, being environmentally minded, will actively strive to encourage rail travel within its geographical area. RAGES needs your support RAGES (Rail Action Group, East of Scotland) is the rail users campaign group for the area between Edinburgh and Berwick- upon-Tweed, including the North Berwick service. Our aim is to persuade the Government, both at national and local level, train operators and Network Rail to improve the level of service to stations in our area and to seriously consider re-opening key stations such as East Linton, Reston and Haddington. Please join us to lend your support. Membership will give you a say in how we influence the rail companies to improve local train services. Additionally you will get up-to-date information on significant changes in rail matters, and a regular newsletter. The annual subscription is £4 for individual membership or £10 for corporate membership, such as community councils and organisations, and is renewable on 1st April each year. Please send your completed form with your remittance (made payable to Rail Action Group, East of Scotland) to: Tom Dickson Membership Secretary (RAGES) 44 Kirk Park Dunbar EH42 1BJ

I enclose my first RAGES membership fee of £4 / £10*. (* Delete as applicable)

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