Communications Strategy and Plan February 2013
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Communications strategy and plan February 2013 Version 3 Richard Flindell & Caryl Jones Table of Contents Document version ............................................................................................................................ 2 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Definitions ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Delivery of Western Section, East West Rail ................................................................................... 7 Audiences – Communities and Stakeholders ................................................................................... 9 Communications Aims and Objectives ............................................. 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Monitoring and Evaluation ……………………………………………………………………………….11 Messages ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Who’s talking? ................................................................................................................................ 13 Key contacts ................................................................................................................................... 14 Tactical implementation .................................................................................................................. 15 Lines to take ................................................................................................................................... 17 The Central Section, East West Rail .............................................................................................. 19 Appendix 1 : Original East West Rail Communications Plan ......................................................... 20 Appendix 2 : JDB Communications Strategy and Plan .................................................................. 20 Appendix 3 : Stakeholder matrices ................................................................................................. 20 Document version Version Date Signed off Authority 1 15 Jan 2013 Yes with comments EWR Leadership Team Meeting 2 20 Feb 2013 Yes with comments which are EWR Project Executive Board reflected in version 3 3 27 Feb 2013 EWR Joint Delivery Board 2 Summary This Communications Strategy and Plan will supersede the original East West Rail Communications Strategy, Western Section, (which can be found as an Appendix 1 to this document). Our strategy builds on the ideas contained within the original and also incorporates the themes, ideas and information laid out in the Joint Delivery Board Communications Strategy and Plan dated 12 October 2012 (Appendix 2). In essence, we bring together all the good and positive elements of previous strategy documents into a single, updated Strategy and Plan. Objectives • A draft paper to allow all parties to discuss and contribute • To update our Communications strategy, audiences and key messages • To provide standard definitions for use by those communicating aspects of the project both internally and externally, including terminology and project timeframes • To clearly understand ‘who says what’ for various stages in the project lifecycle • To set out the next steps for the Communications team 3 Definitions East West Rail The East West Rail project refers to the aspiration of re-opening a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge (with spurs to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes). Although the new East West Rail link will run along the path of the old ‘Varsity Line’ between Oxford and Bedford, a new alignment will be required between Bedford and Cambridge, yet to be determined. East West Rail Consortium The East West Rail Consortium was formed in 1995 by Ipswich Borough Council to promote and secure a strategic railway connecting East Anglia with Central, Southern and Western England, including spurs to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The Consortium brings together local authorities and railway and regional stakeholders, along with local businesses and private sector partners from across the South East and East of England. The day-to-day development work of the Consortium is managed by a steering group of key members who meet on a regular basis. The Consortium normally holds an annual meeting to keep all members informed of project development. Western Section, East West Rail The Western Section refers to the Oxford to Bedford (including spurs to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes) portion of the East West Rail link. £270m funding to develop and build the Western Section was announced in the Government’s High Level Output Strategy (HLOS) on 26 July 2012. In addition, £30m-£50m of funding must be supplied locally by Consortium Members – a condition stipulated by the Department for Transport. Additional investment for electrification and developments at Oxford and Bedford stations brings the total expected cost of the Western Section to c£500m. 4 Central Section, East West Rail The Central Section refers to the Bedford to Cambridge portion of the East West Rail link. A new alignment, yet to be determined, will be required between Bedford and Cambridge, as the old railway track has been removed and some sections of the track bed have been lost. At Sandy and Potton new housing occupies the former route; between Lord's Bridge and Cambridge, the Ryle Telescope of the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory now occupies a 3-mile (4.8 km) length of the former route; and, between Trumpington Park and Ride and Cambridge Station the entire route has been converted to form part of the Cambridgeshire Guided Bus way. One option for alignment might be via Sandy and a second via Luton and Hitchin. Funding to develop and build the Central Section was not included in July 2012 HLOS. Eastern Section, East West Rail Refers to the existing rail links east of Cambridge that will eventually feed freight and passenger trains from East Anglia through to the southern and western parts of Britain (and vice versa) passing through the Central and Western Sections of the East West Rail link. 5 Electric Spine Electrification designed to provide extra network capacity for projected freight growth and enhanced cross-country passenger services running between Yorkshire and the East Midlands down to south coast ports, and also between Sheffield and Bedford. £130m funding for electrification between Oxford and Bedford was included in the 26 July HLOS although the full scope of works is being defined. High Speed 2 / HS2 The proposed alignment for High Speed 2 is likely to run alongside the Aylesbury spur of the Western Section from a point north of Aylesbury Vale station and northwards to bisect the Western Section at Calvert Junction. The East West Rail team is working closely with HS2 to make sure both projects are planning for the most suitable – less disruptive – outcome for each. 6 Delivery of Western Section, East West Rail The Western Section will be delivered by Network Rail, working in partnership with the East West Rail Consortium, Chiltern Railways and the DfT. Delivery has been divided into three Phases with initial Phase 1 work already in progress. Stakeholder communications and engagement for Phase 1 has been undertaken by Chiltern Railways to date. As Phase 1 delivery transfers to Network Rail around February 2013, the responsibility of stakeholder engagement and communication will pass to Network Rail/Consortium. Phase 1 • Water Eaton to Bicester Water Eaton to Bicester will be delivered by Network Rail • Oxford area remodelling (working in partnership with Chiltern Railways, who • Electrification initiated work as part of their Evergreen 3 project for a fast 100 mph rail link between Oxford and London, Marylebone). Stakeholder engagement has been undertaken by Chiltern Railways for this Phase but will pass to NR/Consortium in February. Phase 2 1. Bicester to Bletchley Delivered by Network Rail in partnership with East West 2. Electrification Rail Consortium. 3. Claydon to Aylesbury Indicative timings below. Phase 3 • Bletchley to Bedford Delivered by Network Rail in partnership with East West • Milton Keynes Rail Consortium. • Electrification Indicative timings below. • Bedford area remodelling Indicative timeframes Western Section, East West Rail Project Phases / Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Water Eaton to Bicester Oxford area remodelling Electrification Water Eaton to Bicester Bicester to Bletchley (inc Aylesbury and M Keynes) Electrification Bicester to Bletchley Bletchley to Bedford Electrification Bletchley to Bedford Bedford area remodelling 7 Other high level milestones Network Rail Strategic Business Plan submission 8 January 2013 ORR draft determination 12 June 2013 NR response to draft determination 2 September 2013 Local contribution amounts agreed 31 October 2013 ORR final determination 31 October 2013 NR publishes CP5 delivery plan 31 March 2014 Start of CP5 1 April 2014 8 Audiences – Communities and Stakeholders Please see Appendix 3 for Stakeholder Matrices – these are working documents that are being reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. Target audiences have been identified by the nature of their interest in East West Rail and by their geographical location, proximity to the route