Information Sheet 5 Issue 1: July 2013 RUS - Network Rail Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy HLOS - High Level Output Specification ORR CP5 - Office of Rail Regulation ‘control period 5’ spending LTPP – Long Term Planning Process The Network Rail Great Western RUS was published on 1st March 2010. This sets the strategy for Network Rail going forwards for the next 30 years. Proposals within the RUS which will benefit train services in the West of England area include: · Bristol Temple Meads to Parson · Additional rolling stock for services Street four tracking; between Bristol Temple Meads and · Train lengthening Manchester and Gloucester, Portsmouth, Taunton and Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads Cardiff; and Cardiff to Portsmouth and · Electrification of the Great Western Taunton; mainline and opportunities for electric · Increased line speed Bristol Temple services on the Greater Bristol Metro Meads to Bridgwater; (now known as MetroWest); · Filton Bank three/four tracking; · Bath Spa capacity upgrade · Bristol Temple Meads to Yate half (committed scheme 2009 to 2014); hourly extension; · Westerleigh Junction to Barnt Green · Bristol Temple Meads to Bath (with linespeed increase (committed possible extension to Clifton scheme 2009 to 2014). Down/Avonmouth) additional services; Whilst the RUS sets the strategy, Network Rail funding for schemes is determined by the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) that covers the period 2014 to 2019. High Level Output Specification The Department for Transport published its High Level Output Specification (HLOS) document on 16 July 2012. This set out major rail capacity schemes over the period 2014 to 2019 (known in the rail industry as Control Period 5). For the West of England this included: - Capacity improvements between Meads (four tracking of Filton Bank) Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Temple - Bringing the Digby Wyatt train shed ___________________________________________________________________________________ Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils working together to improve your local transport Page 1 of 4 at Bristol Temple Meads back into use for the new IEP (Intercity Express Looking beyond 2019 to Control Programme) trains Period 6, the HLOS requests the rail - Western rail access to Heathrow. industry to identify the most efficient electrification schemes including the Four tracking of Filton Bank will freight linkages Derby – Birmingham – provide the capacity enhancements Bristol along with the Government’s required to deliver IEP, MetroWest longer term aim to provide high and more freight by rail. Whilst the capacity electrified routes from all Secretary of State believes schemes major ports to the long distance are deliverable within the proposed electric rail network is set out. It is Statement of Funding Available (SoFA) assumed this will include lines to it should be noted that they are not Portbury (Portishead) and Avonmouth. yet committed schemes and there is no guarantee of funding. Long Term Planning Process Network Rail’s Long Term Planning account the views of local Process (LTPP) sets out how the rail stakeholders and incorporate their network needs to be developed to views on how the rail industry can meet future demand through a series drive and support economic growth. of market studies, cross boundary analysis and route studies. To date four market studies have been published for consultation as Network Rail is keen to take into summarised below. Market Topic Covered Publication Consultation Study Date Response Date Long Passenger journeys that are generally 27/03/13 28/06/13 Distance 50 miles or more in length. Regional Passenger journeys made within 50 25/04/13 26/07/13 Urban miles of major urban centres (excluding London and the South East). Bristol is identified as one of these major urban centres. London Passenger journeys made into and 24/04/13 25/07/13 and South within London from South East East England taking a range of around 80 miles from London (as far as Swindon). Freight Rail freight traffic across Britain. 25/4/13 26/07/13 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils working together to improve your local transport Page 2 of 4 The studies take a 30 year time rail to economic growth, delivering horizon to 2043 and focus on markets and then building on the MetroWest and not individual train services. proposals and concerns over future Demand forecasts are made for 10 demand forecasts being on the low and 30 years and ‘conditional outputs’ side will be raised. (i.e. improvements) to meet these forecasts identified. All outputs are Route studies will follow on from and conditional on both affordability and a be guided by the market studies and value for money business case. They will go into more detail on meeting must also be deliverable future demand. technologically, operationally and physically. The LTPP will supersede the Route Utilisation Strategy process. The West of England will be responding to the consultation. For http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Long- the West of England the importance of Term-Planning-Process/ Network Rail Strategic Business Plan and Great Western Route Summary Plan On 7 January 2013 Network Rail MetroWest). Whilst this does not published its Strategic Business Plan guarantee implementation it does for 2014-19. It sets out in broad detail embed the Metro in the rail industry’s the schemes Network Rail think should plans and marks a major turning point be taken forward including western in gaining recognition for the access to London Heathrow. More proposals. detail is in the accompanying ‘Western Route – Summary Route Plan.’ http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publica Included on p35 are the proposals for tions/strategic-business-plan-for-cp5/ the Greater Bristol Metro (ie Long Term Passenger Rolling Stock Strategy for the Rail Industry On 12 February 2013 Network Rail rolling stock fleet could be electric by published the ‘Long Term Passenger 2042 with 60% of the network Rolling Stock Strategy for the Rail electrified. The report refers to the Industry.’ The report sets out a range possible future electrification of the of scenarios for the next thirty years Derby to Birmingham to Bristol route. for the future size and makeup of the Requirements for non-electric vehicles national passenger rolling stock fleet. (i.e. diesel multiple units) could be Up to 90% (19,000 vehicles) of the small with as few as 400 to 800 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils working together to improve your local transport Page 3 of 4 vehicles. It should be noted that the http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2 Strategy is not a consultation 013/feb/Rail-industry-sets-out- document. potential-requirements-for-trains-and- carriages/ This information sheet is produced by the West of England councils in good faith. It may not contain the latest information relating to other organisations. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils working together to improve your local transport Page 4 of 4 .