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Delivering a better railway for a better Britain Specification 2020 North West and Central (NW&C) region

8 The information in this document is checked regularly and is as accurate as possible; however the railway is an ever changing environment: service patterns can change quickly, particularly in freight markets, and the exact details of investment spend may fluctuate over time. In particular, following the effects of Covid­-19, the services on the railway network might be different from those that were originally planned.

You are advised to seek advice from [email protected] if you wish to check the accuracy of any information contained in this document.

Network Specification: • better address the region’s business needs • feed refranchising by considering strategic North West and Central questions at the right time in the franchising cycle such that any choices presented can be (NW&C) region considered before the invitation to tender stage of future franchises Incorporates Strategic Routes: • recognise and where appropriate influence industry policy in other areas such as rolling stock M: and Chilterns strategy, technology strategy, and environmental N: sustainability O: • employ a more effective, focussed means of H: Cross-Pennine, and Humber consultation and North West (North West section) • provide more granular, targeted market insight • develop a ‘service change’ pipeline for future This Network Specification describes the geography configuration states of the North West and Central region, comprising three subsidiary routes: North West, Central, and • demonstrably focus on incremental opportunities West Coast Main Line (South). This document and service trade-offs. outlines train service provision to meet current and future passenger markets and traffic flows for the The outputs of the process will provide options to freight business. It identifies infrastructure choices for funders which will inform the enhancement pipeline funders to meet future growth for the medium to and upcoming franchise decisions. long term over the next thirty years. Figure 1 Continuous Modular Strategic Planning The Network Specification refers to Strategic Route Specifications (SRSs). SRSs cover specific sections and/or corridors of the route and are published as appendices to this document. They describe, in greater detail, the current and future requirements of each SRS to inform both internal and external stakeholders of the strategy for the North West and Central region.

Prior to Control Period six (CP6, which covers 2019 to 2024) the Long Term Planning Process produced a number of market studies which forecast future demand for each market. These studies informed the development of route studies, which set out choices for funders for ways to accommodate forecast level of demand. Whilst CMSP has been designed to enable strategic In CP6 we have changed the way that planning activity to be undertaken without the undertakes long-term planning in response to constraint of regional boundaries, there are some stakeholder feedback, moving away from producing planning activities where the network has to be route studies (undertaken on a rolling basis in each considered as a whole. Further information is on Control Period) to a more flexible and modular pages 13 and 14. approach that develops options for funders. These range from the application of wider This is called Continuous Modular Strategic Planning government policies and consideration of how to (CMSP), and is underpinned by the development of influence these environmental and sustainability an annual plan of strategic questions which will: challenges, through changing population demographics, to the introduction of new • explicitly put passenger and freight users at the technologies both to the railway system itself and heart of the process more widely.

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Strategic Route context Strategic Route O: Merseyside

The North West and Central (NW&C) region is the The network is an entirely Direct biggest single region within Network Rail and covers Current (DC) electrified network spread over the over 24 per cent of the network. Wirral, Merseyside, north and south-west . The network is split in two as the Northern The NW&C region: Line and the . The Northern Line operates from Hunts Cross in the south to Central • is 24 per cent of Britain’s railway and Moorfields, with northerly branches serving • runs around 6,725 train services each weekday , Kirkby and Ormskirk. There are four • generates nearly 250 million annual passenger terminus stations on the Wirral Line: New Brighton, journeys West Kirkby, and . All stations • moves 700,000 tonnes of freight each week on this route are connected to Hamilton Square in • maintains 7,100 bridges , and the central Liverpool stations. There • operates 712 level crossings is a one-way, clockwise loop line underneath Liverpool • controls services from 150 signal boxes city centre which serves the central stations of James • looks after 571 stations Street, Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool • covers 4,500 track miles Central. Liverpool Lime Street Low Level forms an • employs nearly 8,000 people. important link to the mainline Liverpool Lime Street station, redeveloped in 2018, for interchange with There are four Network Rail Managed Stations: services to a wide range of destinations such as Euston, New Street, London, Manchester, , Newcastle and Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street. Norwich. Due to an increase in demand at Liverpool Central, especially on the Northern Line, mitigation The NW&C region accommodates the operations of strategies are currently being developed to help over six freight operators and fourteen passenger address the increased demand. operators, and a small number of charter train operators. Strategic Route H: North West – Urban The NW&C region follows the West Coast Main The North West Urban rail area covers a wide Line from London Euston to the , geographical spread which has a large number of city and incorporates a number of major commuter, conurbations offering opportunities for employment, and local routes linking London with: leisure and education. The area includes routes into , , , , stations in the principal locations, such as central Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, central Liverpool and Manchester and . The region also covers the Airport; with various radial routes extending into Chilterns area from London Marylebone to , Cheshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire. Birmingham Snow Hill, and the whole of the West (TfN) is the voice for Midlands area. The West Coast Main Line diverges transport in the north of and plays a key role at , where the line runs to Chester. Chester in driving the strategic growth of the rail network acts as a gateway to north . supporting Local Transport Authorities to ensure strategic transport decisions are informed by local The Strategic Routes that make up the North West requirements. and Central region are defined as;

• Route O: Merseyside Strategic Route H: North West – Rural • Route H: North West • Route N: West Coast Main Line The North West Rural area broadly covers the • Route M: West Midlands and Chilterns. railway north of the line between Preston and as far as Carlisle, with the exception of the These routes serve a variety of markets to tourist West Coast Main Line, and the lines east of destinations, allowing leisure travel and serving vital Skipton. It encompasses the rail routes within the commuting into the towns and cities of northern county of and a number in north England. Lancashire. The key routes run along the Cumbrian coast, between Settle and Carlisle, between Preston and Ormskirk, and between Preston and Burnley via .

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Strategic Route N: West Coast Main Line Coventry stations are primary interchange stations for longer-distance services on the West Coast Main The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is nearly 600km Line and on the cross-country network, as well as long and stretches from London Euston to Glasgow being termini for local commuter services. Central. For strategic planning purposes, the route to South junction (although in Scotland) is There is one line classified as rural: the Stratford- included in the North West and Central region, while upon-Avon line, which includes the single-track branch the Carstairs to Glasgow Central section is included in line from Bearley junction to Hatton junctions. Scotland’s Railway. The WCML connects London to Birmingham and the Midlands, Manchester, the Strategic Route M: Chiltern Lines North West, and Scotland. The runs from London Marylebone The WCML is recognised as a strategic transport to Birmingham Snow Hill via , Princes corridor linking Europe (through the Channel ) Risborough, , , and via London and south-east England to the West . Midlands, north-west England and Scotland, and is the UK’s busiest mixed traffic route. The European At South junction the line diverges towards and international importance of the WCML is Parkway so that services can run from reflected in its designation as a priority Trans London Marylebone via the European Network (TEN) route. (LUL) line between Harrow-on-the Hill and Amersham towards Aylesbury. The south end of the route is focussed on long- distance and commuter services to and from London, A single-track branch line runs between Princes together with key freight services and flows serving Risborough and Aylesbury. There are also two freight more northerly destinations. The north-west section branches from Bicester Town to Claydon LNE junction of the WCML provides vital connections between and Aylesbury to Claydon LNE junction. The route major cities and towns such as Manchester, Liverpool, between Claydon LNE junction and is Preston and beyond. currently out of use. This line is being developed as part of the plans known as which will Strategic Route M: West Midlands be described in more detail later in this document.

The West Midlands rail network is located at the Key passenger markets and traffic centre of the national rail network and consists of flows radial routes into the three central stations in Birmingham (New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street). The routes in the West Midlands are predominantly North West including Merseyside two-track secondary routes which support the busy local commuter markets into Birmingham and the There are a number of longer-distance through metropolitan centres of , Walsall, routes linking the north-west regional centres with Coventry, , and Solihull. There is an those in Scotland, the North East, increasingly wider spread of electrification but there and Anglia, together with interchange facilities are still some local routes not electrified. Local services with the West Coast Main Line serving London, the into Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton are West Midlands and beyond. electrified, as are services on the Birmingham cross- city lines, with recent extensions to and The north-west network is a mixed-use railway . with a substantial and growing commuter market for rail services into the main centres of The West Midlands network incorporates some Manchester, Liverpool and to a lesser degree sections of primary route, including the West Coast Preston. There are strong leisure and business Main Line between Rugby, Birmingham and , flows between Manchester and Liverpool, and and the cross-country route between Wichnor from the region to London, Birmingham, north junction and Stoke Works junction. Some of these Wales and Yorkshire. and routes are electrified and have higher line speeds of Liverpool John Lennon Airport (served by Liverpool up to 125 mph, supporting high-speed, long-distance South Parkway) are significant destinations for services to key locations throughout Britain. leisure and business rail passengers. Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and

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Northern Rail operates local commuter services on from the railway, making a valuable contribution to the routes between Liverpool Lime Street and the visitor economy in the area. Although not Blackpool North via Preston, and between considered commuter services in the way services into Manchester Victoria and Blackpool North. They major cities are, they can still provide a key link for also operate stopping services on the cross- workers in an area to important industry sites such as Pennine routes to via the Calder Valley, via Sellafield Power Plant, with Sellafield station on the and to via the Hope Valley Cumbrian coast being busy at shift change times with route. workers choosing to travel by train from neighbouring towns. Services on the third-rail DC lines in Merseyside are operated by Merseyrail. These services serve West Coast Main Line commuter and leisure markets and link Liverpool and , Chester, Preston and Southport. Services The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is the busiest on the Northern line operate on a number of mixed traffic route in the . It is branches, serving Hunts Cross, Kirkby, Ormskirk and central to the business of many UK and international Southport via Liverpool Central and Moorfields. On passenger and freight operators. the Wirral lines there are branches to Chester, Ellesmere Port, West Kirkby and New Brighton via The main passenger service flow on the WCML is James Street, Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street and long-distance, high-speed services operated by the Liverpool Central. franchise. The key services are operated between London Euston and Glasgow Interurban services across the north-west link cities Central, Manchester Piccadilly (two services via such as Manchester and Liverpool with cities further Stoke-on-Trent and one service via Crewe per afield towards Scotland, with connections to hour), the West Midlands (Coventry, Birmingham and Glasgow Central from Manchester as New Street and Wolverhampton), Liverpool Lime well as a Liverpool to Glasgow service. There are Street and Chester (with some services extended further services from Manchester to key cities in to north Wales, to and to Bangor). Some Yorkshire such as Leeds, Sheffield and as well as services have additional stops during peak times services towards Newcastle, Norwich via Nottingham to serve intermediate stations on the route and Chester/north Wales. Most services connect between Rugby and Stafford. through Manchester on the way to Manchester Airport, providing connectivity throughout the north The Avanti West Coast franchise also operates fast of England. services between Birmingham New Street and Scotland, serving Glasgow Central and Edinburgh operates services between Waverley in alternate hours. and Crewe and between Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield and Liverpool Lime Street Overnight sleeper services (operated by via Manchester Piccadilly. ) run between London Euston and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and (TfW) operates services from Fort William. north Wales, which serve Manchester via Bank Quay, and from south Wales to Semi-fast services are operated on the WCML by Manchester via Crewe. TfW also provides an (WMT) under the brands hourly service on the Crewe to Chester line and West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern services between and , as well as Railway. The main services operated are between over the recently reopened between London Euston and , Milton Keynes Central, Liverpool Lime Street and Chester via . Northampton, Coventry, Birmingham New Street, Whilst rural routes don’t see a spike in passenger Liverpool, Stoke on Trent and Crewe. These service numbers during peak hours in the way commuter groups combine to provide at least three trains an services do, they play a vital role in connecting local hour from London Euston to Northampton and at communities throughout the day. It can also be vital least four trains an hour from London Euston to for tourist traffic to the area, such as the Cumbrian Milton Keynes Central. coast or which serve tourist traffic for the National Park year-round. Two branches feed the southern end of the WCML: Other routes such as the Settle-Carlisle line provide the St. Albans which joins the WCML at alternative routes from Leeds to Carlisle via a rural Watford Junction, and the Bedford to Bletchley route which is popular because of the scenic views line which joins the WCML at Bletchley. Both are

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designated as ‘community rail’ lines with train and Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill, and six services operated by WMT. trains per day between London Marylebone and Stratford-upon-Avon. is proposing GTR Southern operates an hourly service between to run an enhanced service between Stratford- East and Milton Keynes Central via upon-Avon and London Marylebone to serve the Kensington Olympia although in certain hours the tourist market. There are significant interurban service begins at Clapham Junction and only flows serving the business, wider commuting and operates as far as Watford Junction. leisure travel. The interurban market between London and the surrounding areas has grown Rail London operates services on the slower considerably in recent decades, and Chiltern DC electrified third rail lines between Watford Railways offer services to , Banbury and Junction and London Euston via Queens Park and Bicester, including the major retail outlet at Harrow. London Underground Limited services also Bicester Village. Trains also serve smaller operate on the DC lines between Harrow and commuter markets into other towns on the route, and Queens Park and then into such as High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Central London via the . Chiltern Railways has been operating a service West Midlands and Chilterns from London Marylebone to Parkway and Oxford since 2016 utilising the first stretch of the The rail network in the West Midlands and soon-to-be-completed East West Rail service. Chilterns area supports a range of markets including commuting into key employment and CrossCountry Trains operates a network of long- leisure destinations, interurban travel between distance services which run through the West major urban centres and long-distance travel. Due Midlands between cities outside London. These to its central location, the West Midlands area acts include services between Plymouth and Penzance as a hub for the national rail network with many and Edinburgh via Bristol Temple Meads, Leeds long-distance services passing through and York, and Bristol Temple Meads Birmingham New Street, which is a primary to Manchester Piccadilly, and between Reading interchange station for many destinations across and Newcastle. All CrossCountry services call at the network. Birmingham New Street, offering interchange opportunities for passengers to link from local and Local commuting in the West Midlands has grown interurban services. These regional links include to substantially in recent years. The local rail network Derby, , Leicester, Nottingham, Stansted is extensive and busy with services on some Airport, Cheltenham, and Cardiff. corridors now operating at a ten-minute frequency. The commuter network is operated West Midlands Trains also supports interurban primarily by the West Midlands franchise, and the flows from the West Midlands including between majority of local services are supported by West Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street, Midlands Rail Executive. Services support commuter, and between Birmingham New Street and London shopping and leisure needs with key flows Euston via Rugby and Northampton. operating from across the West Midlands into Birmingham city centre and other key Transport for Wales Rail offers interurban service employment and urban centres such as opportunities between north Wales, mid Wales, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley and and the West Midlands. These services Walsall. Frequent services are also offered to operate to Birmingham International station Birmingham International to support passengers offering passengers connectivity with Birmingham accessing and activities at the Airport, which is one of the busiest airports outside National Exhibition Centre and the Resorts World London, and to the National Exhibition Centre. Arena. Key freight markets and traffic Chiltern Railways serves the long-distance market flows between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone. This market has grown significantly Rail freight plays a vital role in the UK economy over recent years and is an attractive high-speed and its growth is encouraged by the Government alternative to services on the West Coast Main in the light of its significant economic and Line to London in the peak hours. Services operate environmental benefits. The rail freight market is on a half-hourly basis between London Marylebone

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dependent on the general performance of the the has been low in recent years, economy, and to varying levels on the type of rail driven partly by security concerns. Future demand flow. There are several major freight flows in the remains uncertain and may depend on the UK’s North West and Central region operating to future relationship with the ; terminals within the route as well as to locations however, a scheme to clear W12 routes between outside the area. the Tunnel and in order to unlock demand is in the early stages of development. Freight operators on the route include DB Cargo, which is the largest freight operator in the UK, and The major flows on the West Coast Main Line Freightliner Limited, which is the largest rail (WCML) from Southampton are to the Midlands haulier of containerised traffic on the route, terminals at Birch Coppice, Hams Hall, Lawley Street predominantly for the deep sea market. Other and ; to the North West terminals at operators running services on the route include GB Garston, Trafford Park and Ditton; and to further Railfreight, and . destinations in the North East and Scotland. The flows from Felixstowe to the Midlands and North The main freight markets in the North West and West terminals operate via the Central region are: joining the WCML at Willesden junction or via joining the WCML at Nuneaton. Intermodal The Channel Tunnel intermodal market offers There is a high demand for container and opportunities for traffic from Spain, Italy, France, intermodal freight transport, and rail is increasing Belgium, Germany and other EU countries. In 2011, its modal share of this market. Intermodal traffic freight started to use the High Speed One line, and includes domestic intermodal (containerised goods this has brought the prospect of larger loading-gauge moved within ), maritime intermodal traffic into Britain for onward movement via the (intermodal traffic moved to and from the ports) WCML. and Channel Tunnel intermodal (intermodal traffic from mainland Europe which is moved via the Domestic intermodal Channel Tunnel). Domestic intermodal traffic is the movement of There are many intermodal terminals within the containerised consumer goods within Great Britain. North West and Central region, including Garston, Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) Trafford Park, Ditton, Daventry (Daventry is the national hub of Anglo-Scottish intermodal International Rail Freight Terminal), Lawley Street, traffic and a high proportion of traffic at DIRFT is Hams Hall, and Birch Coppice (Birmingham domestic traffic. Key flows include the time- International Freight Terminal). Much of the sensitive supermarket traffic which operates traffic at these terminals originates from deep sea between Daventry and Mossend and ports, especially the East Coast ports and Grangemouth and Coatbridge. Expansion plans Southampton, and from mainland Europe via the for DIRFT 3 are currently ongoing. Channel Tunnel. Two new Strategic Railfreight Interchanges (SRFIs) have been granted planning Automotive permission on the WCML south of Northampton and north of Wolverhampton, with other schemes being Automotive flows transport time-sensitive high developed. value products, for which the transit time forms part of the production process. Within the West Maritime and Channel Tunnel Midlands, automotive services that provide intermodal finished products operate from the Jaguar car plant at Castle Bromwich. There is an automobile Maritime intermodal flows are container flows to and terminal at Speke (Liverpool) which forms a key from ports. The main import locations into Britain are location for imported cars as well as those Southampton and East Coast ports, especially produced for export, via Washwood Heath and Felixstowe. Since the completion of the loading Southampton. There are also automotive flows gauge clearance to W10 from Southampton to originating in the North West from Halewood near the West Midlands in March 2011, further Liverpool (three trains a day) to Southampton and a increases in freight traffic have been stimulated. regular flow from Dagenham to Garston carrying Volumes of freight carried on through-trains via Ford vehicles.

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Metals Network Rail Route Services

The West Midlands remains the principal UK Network Rail Route Services operates freight services centre for metal processing and consumption, and to supply infrastructure materials throughout the as a result there are significant flows of products country to meet the needs of railway engineering and both into and out of the region. Large volumes of construction projects. There are locations at both semi-finished and finished steel products both Crewe Basford Hall and Carlisle Kingmoor which are from British manufacturing sites and from ports key nodes for the traffic that services the many around the country are moved into terminals at requirements of Route Services. The operation at Round Oak and Wolverhampton. Bescot in the West Midlands provides services to and from the West Coast Main Line. There are also flows of scrap metal within the region from Mossend (Glasgow) to Liverpool, and of Other freight flows metals for recycling which are despatched to a range of British destinations from terminals at Other flows within the NW&C region include Royal Handsworth, Saltley and Kingsbury. There are Mail, china clay, oil and petroleum, and other significant flows of steel from south Wales to the power station traffic. Royal Mail operates daily North East and to Corby, and from the North East, between Willesden and Shieldmuir in Scotland. and into south Wales and Washwood Heath. China clay trains operate over the West Coast Main Line; some of these originate in the South Coal West, with destinations of Stoke-on-Trent and Irvine in Scotland. Within the West Midlands oil UK energy policy is for the cessation of coal and petroleum is transported to the Kingsbury fuelled power by 2025. The power station at terminal near Tamworth and the Murco terminal Fiddlers Ferry has now closed. There are only three at Bedworth. On the West Coast Main Line there coal fired power stations left open in England, are also flows of timber from Carlisle to Chirk. none of which are in the region; the supply of coal to these power stations varies both in volume and There are regular flows of biomass from Portbury originating port. It is unclear what the future is for and Liverpool to Drax power station. coal fired generation in the UK until 2025.

Waste Performance For Control Period six the Public Performance Within the North West and Central region, Measure (PPM) targets for NW&C Lead Operators are domestic and industrial waste traffic is as follows: transported to the waste processing site at Calvert from Cricklewood, Willesden, Bristol and Northolt. 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 Traffic has now commenced for waste flows on the route to Folly Lane (Runcorn). Chiltern 93.8% 93.9% 93.9% 94.2% 94.3% Aggregates Merseyrail 94.4% 94.4% 94.9% 95.4% 95.6% Aggregate flows are highly dependent on the health of the construction industry and demand tends to be Avanti 86.4% 86.8% 86.5% 85.9% 86.1% project driven. Aggregate flows within the region West operate to terminals at Northampton, Bletchley, Coast Watford, Willesden, Walsall, Castle Bromwich, Bordesley and Banbury. There are also flows from TPE 82.4% 84.5% 84.9% 85.5% 86.2% Leicestershire to Neasden and from Peak Forest to the North East and South East. At the north end of West 88.4% 88.8% 88.4% 88.7% 89.1% the West Coast Main Line aggregates are Midlands conveyed from the quarries to Teesside, Trains Manchester and Sheffield.

New flows to serve the construction of High Speed Two are likely to start in 2020-21 and increase as construction accelerates.

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Proposed infrastructure The project is split into two main packages of work: investment in Control Period six Phase 1: between Bicester and Oxford delivered both (2019 to 2024) the infrastructure required for Chiltern’s ‘evergreen’ services to London and the incremental works The Final Determination for funding for Control required for the later introduction of East West Rail Period six (CP6) was announced by the Office of Rail services. and Road in October 2018. Phase 2: which is at a much earlier stage of In CP6 enhancement funding from the development, will deliver the East West Rail works government will be funded in accordance with the east of Bicester to Bletchley and Bedford (including Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP). This the Aylesbury to Claydon junction line). means that enhancement projects being developed in CP6 will only be committed following The a decision to deliver, which requires an approved business case. The conditional outputs of the Northern Hub have been designed to enhance the capability of the Chiltern Main Line train lengthening network across the north of England, specifically to provide: Platform lengthening has been identified by • capacity for forecast passenger growth operators on a number of routes in the West Midlands and Chilterns area, in order to deliver the • faster and more frequent inter-regional services, requirements of the High Level Output with increased direct links between northern Specification (HLOS). cities

Train lengthening is proposed by Chiltern Railways • improved services on key commuter corridors to in order to support their operational plans in CP6. support sustainability of the cities Plans involve train lengthening from 7-car to 9-car • direct journeys from a wider range of towns/ trains, resulting in the need to lengthen platforms cities to Manchester Airport at five stations: Bicester North, Haddenham and Parkway, , High Wycombe, • freight capacity required to 2030. and Princes Risborough. Further development of these options is being undertaken. The project was split into two phases of work based upon delivery of increased network capability. Some elements of the Northern Hub East West Rail are to be reviewed and assessed as to their suitability to deliver the conditional outputs as The HLOS confirmed government commitment to was originally intended. fund the East West Rail project in CP6, identifying the initial routes as Oxford to Bedford, Aylesbury to The Northern Hub interfaces with a number of Calvert and links. The primary objective of this other key projects in the North West and across the initiative is to improve east-west connectivity, North. providing additional capacity to accommodate growth in freight and passenger numbers. Coventry to Leamington Spa capacity Service patterns and rolling stock strategy is still to be upgrade defined; however the enhanced scope of the project as announced in the HLOS provides a significant This scheme proposes to increase capacity on the opportunity for additional and extended services. The line between Coventry and Leamington Spa. The question of whether additional capacity will be industry recommendation is to address the required on the West Coast Main Line to connectivity gap between Derbyshire, Yorkshire accommodate East West Rail services to Milton and the North East to Coventry and Birmingham Keynes Central will be examined during development International and further south-west. This of the project. increased capacity will also help to address crowding issues. Early analysis has indicated that to increase capacity on the line, the single line constraints must be addressed. This enhancement will also accommodate the new hourly local

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passenger train service between Coventry and Rail (NPR) Leamington Spa supporting the third-party funded new passenger station at . (NPR) is a programme to deliver a transformed rail network in the north of West Midlands – New stations England and bring new opportunities to millions of people and businesses and thereby drive economic Grand Junction stations growth. Featuring a mix of new and significantly upgraded railway lines, it will increase the capacity, Two new stations are proposed on the line speed and resilience of the North’s rail network. In between Walsall and Wolverhampton at Willenhall doing so, passengers will experience faster and far and Darlaston. The route is currently used for more reliable journeys between the North’s freight traffic and diverted passenger services at economies and its largest international airport. The times of disruption. These plans are being Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals represent a developed by West Midlands Rail Executive. coherent network that will transform rail services across the North, providing a world class investment Camp Hill stations and infrastructure for seamless rail travel across the North as part of the Long-Term Rail Strategy. West Midlands Rail Executive are also proposing three new stations on the connecting south Depot and stabling enhancement for Birmingham with the city centre. These stations extra trains would serve Kings Heath, , and Hazelwell. The route is currently used for freight traffic and With future passenger demand expected to grow, CrossCountry services. there will be a need to increase train operator fleet sizes which will in turn increase stabling demand. We Coventry station upgrade expect additional depots to be built to fulfil this increased demand. There are third-party funded plans (Coventry City Council) to enhance the transport links between North West area re-signalling Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry. Proposals include the upgrade of the line between Coventry and During CP6 there are numerous projects to renew Nuneaton, a new bay platform at Coventry station, signalling infrastructure throughout the region. This and complete redevelopment of the station and includes work to renew and refurbish signal structures, surrounding area. and increase safety at level crossings.

North Trans-Pennine Electrification: Some of the projects include: West • Crewe Main Line re-signalling (phased over TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a programme Control Periods six and seven) of enhancements to increase capacity, improve • , Trafford Park, Basford Hall and performance and deliver journey time improvements Crewe Independent Lines re-signalling on the core TransPennine route between Manchester

Victoria, Leeds and York (via Huddersfield and • Signalling life extensions on the Cumbrian coast; the Settle – Carlisle line; in the Liverpool area Micklefield). This includes proposals to remodel including Hunts Cross and Green Bank; Trafford Stalybridge, Huddersfield and provide selective four Park; and the tracking. For further information about the TransPennine Route Upgrade, please view the • renewals including Woodsmoor, following link: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our- Ince & Elton, Barthomley, Pool Hey, Wyke Cop, railway-upgrade-plan/key-projects/transpennine- Shaws, Crabtree, Chapel Lane, Wraysholme, and route-upgrade Saltcoats • Level Crossing improvements or life extensions at Bare Lane, Astley and Bromley Cross, Haverigg, Bush-on-Esk No2, Chaffers, Black Dyke, and Drigg.

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.Freight terminal plans scheme also supports the proposals and the Coventry to Nuneaton Upgrade project. There is a proposal for a new multi-modal freight terminal at Port Salford in the North West. The site is Depot and stabling planned to be connected to the Manchester to Liverpool line (Chat Moss route), which joins the West Coast Main With the expansion of the electrification network Line at Newton-le-Willows, enabling freight services to during Control Period five, there will be additional access the terminal. It will be the only inland water- electric rolling stock vehicles that will need to be served distribution park in Great Britain, using the maintained both in the North West and Midlands Manchester Ship Canal as well as the major local areas. Development work to identify future options motorway network in the North West. for depot and stabling is ongoing.

There is planned to be a major expansion of Daventry In the Midlands area, the current EMU maintenance International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) to provide depot at Soho is at maximum capacity and a further more storage and distribution facilities and rail location will need to be identified. There will also need infrastructure. In the same area two new terminals are to be additional stabling facilities in the area. being considered by the planning authorities in south Development work to identify options is ongoing : Rail Central and Northampton Gateway. New intermodal freight terminals are also Chiltern Trains have introduced a new maintenance planned at Four Ashes (between Wolverhampton and and stabling facility at Banbury to cater for their Stafford), and at Parkside (Newton-le-Willows) which expanding fleet of vehicles. could result in significantly increased traffic into the West Midlands area and along the West Coast Main Line. West Midlands re-signalling programme

In addition to the re-signalling scheme at Stafford, there Plans are advancing to renew the life-expired are re-signalling works planned for several parts of the signalling equipment in the Birmingham New route including the Watford area. Street area and transfer control to the West Midlands Signalling Centre at Saltley. As part of Water Orton capacity enhancements and the scheme development, potential enhancements Midlands Rail Hub to line speeds, junction layouts and improved performance are being investigated. This project plans to address capacity issues on the Derby to Birmingham corridor in order to support Operations Strategy passenger and freight service growth on the route. Midlands Rail Hub will be looking at ten additional NW&C regional operating strategy is to progressively trains into and outside of Birmingham an hour, which migrate to three locations: includes plans to address capacity issues on the Derby Manchester , Rugby Rail to Birmingham corridor in order to support passenger Operating Centre, and the West Midlands Signalling and freight growth on the route. New hourly local Centre. Opportunities will be taken when network services between Tamworth/Nuneaton and enhancements require significant changes to Birmingham New Street, as well as improved access to signalling, or when renewal is necessary. Kingsbury Freight Terminal, are being assessed. The Consolidation solely to reduce operating costs will not plans include two additional trains per hour from be possible until the cost of such work reduces to Birmingham to Leicester via Nuneaton, to Kings levels that can support a business case to attract the Norton via Camp Hill, and to Burton-on-Trent/Derby; required funding. and one additional train per hour from Birmingham to Nottingham/Lincoln via Derby, to Bristol, to Cardiff, Traffic management systems will be introduced to and to via Worcester. automate the execution of the required plan, taking into account disruption due to incidents on the Line speed improvements network. Inputs from stock and crew management systems will be used to On the Coventry to Nuneaton line it is proposed to update plans in real time. Outputs to onboard train increase the line speed between Coventry and systems will enable optimum running speeds to be Nuneaton from the current 45 mph to 60 mph, implemented. Together these systems will improve which will provide journey time benefits. The performance, increase capacity and reduce energy consumption.

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In May 2018, the and High Speed Two Network Rail announced that future re-signalling schemes would use the digital European Train Control The next phase in implementation of a national high- System, which transfers signalling functionality from speed rail network will be construction of a new the trackside to train cabs. Until sufficient rolling stock railway to alleviate capacity issues on the West Coast has been fitted with the in-cab equipment, new Main Line (WCML) between London and the West signalling will be implemented as ‘Digital Ready’. In Midlands. This route, which is proposed to be in some areas, it may be possible to justify the provision operation by 2031, is known as High Speed Two of overlay or underlay systems to provide dual (HS2). Following Phase 1 services running on HS2 will functionality to support the transition. operate over the existing WCML to Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland. Rail Operating Centres Phase 2 will extend this initial route, with the creation Rail Operating Centres (ROC) are a key component of a ‘Y’ network to Manchester and Leeds by 2040. of the longer term operating strategy for Network Phase 2a will link HS2 to the WCML north of Crewe Rail. with services to Scotland continuing to operate on the classic network. Phase 2b will link HS2 with The buildings are designed to be a secure and Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, again with services resilient base for the vital systems contained to Scotland continuing on the classic network. inside. They also provide the opportunity to work more closely with Train Operating Company There are several significant workstreams currently colleagues, providing a collaborative working being undertaken on high-speed rail development environment for all staff. that affect the NW&C region: • continued development following successful Longer-term strategy (Control completion of the Hybrid Bill, which provide Period seven and beyond) powers to construct the new route • the London Euston Station re-construction and Introduction staging works

Government policy has determined the strategy • two new HS2 stations at Birmingham Curzon for creating additional capacity on the West Coast Street and Main Line is the delivery of a high-speed line, • a new HS2 maintenance depot at Washwood which aligns with the recommendations of the Heath in Birmingham West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy • (RUS). Network Rail is working closely with HS2 HS2 compatible trains running onto the existing Ltd, particularly where the high-speed line WCML (and joining near at a new interfaces with the existing network. junction called junction) • utilising the spare capacity released at the south Network Rail must plan for the seamless end of the WCML integration of High Speed Two (HS2) services and other franchised, freight and open access • aligning planned renewals with HS2 known passenger services where HS2 services are running interventions on the existing network. • HS2 maintenance depot proposals for Calvert (near Aylesbury) and a service connection to East Decarbonisation West Rail • Further development of the ‘Y’ network, including Network Rail are working closely with the industry a new station at Manchester Piccadilly, and a to recommend and inform decisions required to connection to the existing WCML at Golborne remove diesel trains from the network and identify Junction (near ). the capital works programme required to achieve this. This is in line with the wider government decarbonisation agenda.

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Modular Network Planning Strategic Freight Network schemes

The North West and Central region will continue Southampton to West Coast Main Line – train to review and develop the recommendations set lengthening out in previous sets of geographical Rail Utilisation Strategies (RUSs) and take forward the conditional Feasibility work is being undertaken to assess the outputs being set by market and route studies, as further options to facilitate freight trains up to 775 part of the Long-Term Planning Process. metres long to run on this corridor. Assessments are being undertaken on the Leamington to Coventry line Network Rail has updated its approach to Long-Term to increase speeds and of possible additional looping Planning and is now targeting smaller pieces of work arrangements around the Bordesley junction area under the heading of Continuous Modular Strategic just outside Birmingham. Options include Fenny Planning. Such an approach aims to include Compton Down Loop, Hatton Down loop, Dorridge stakeholder views and priorities both in deciding Down Loop and Washwood Heath. Increasing the which areas to tackle and also in delivering the entry and exit speeds of these loops is also under workstreams. consideration. Enhancements to enable 775 metre- long intermodal trains between Southampton and Areas currently under discussion include: the West Midlands have been completed in Control Period five, with the remaining works on • the corridor into Manchester Wessex route required to unlock these benefits • the corridor into Manchester planned for Control Period six. • the Liverpool to Manchester corridor via Warrington Central Accessing the network • depot and stabling capacity in the North West • released capacity on the West Coast Main Line The Network RUS: Stations recognised that each (WCML) South following HS2 station may have its own issues and bespoke • WCML North requirements following HS2 solutions. The NW&C stations specifically • WCML traction power planning including HS2 highlighted where interventions may be required • the Liverpool metropolitan area in the medium to long-term are:

In consultation with stakeholders, a study is • Birmingham Snow Hill underway to determine the extent to which • Liverpool Central traction power supplies will support forecast • Liverpool Lime Street requirements on WCML. Where this identifies • Preston anticipated shortfalls, this will lead to the • Manchester Piccadilly identification of options for traction power supply • Manchester Victoria improvements. As an example of the sort of work • Manchester Oxford Road we will undertake, we will assess capacity north of • Watford Junction. Preston on the WCML. This work will need to look at what options may be appropriate to cater for the Freight capacity to 2043 forecast increase in freight and passenger traffic between Preston and Mossend, in the period between Freight demand forecasts have been developed 2019 and 2030. Options will not be restricted to nationally to 2043 to support the development of infrastructure enhancements but may include the Strategic Freight Network, which will enable timetabling solutions and routeing solutions. rail freight to grow without having a detrimental impact on network capacity and reliability. The Note. Traction power system capability is limited, requirement to support rail’s role in delivering a and any proposals to change demand should be sustainable distribution system will continue to be shared early to enable assessment. It may be that a key planning objective, and longer-term significant demand changes would not be investment in the Strategic Freight Network will be supportable without changes to the system; and necessary to deliver this. The forecasts in the some of those would have long lead times and Freight Market Study for freight growth up to require funding. 2043 are currently being refreshed and the updated versions will be established later in 2019. Schemes beyond Control Period five will be developed as part of the network planning process

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and will focus on the need to support longer and economic rolling stock. The intention is to continue heavier freight trains, improve efficient operating to improve journey times, connectivity and travel characteristics, increase network availability, and opportunities within the wider north-west area. on electrification of key freight routes. Where appropriate, W12 gauge will be implemented as In Cumbria, Network Rail is developing proposals the standard for all strategic with the County Council to cater for increased container routes including diversionary routes, as it freight traffic and passenger growth. caters for both short and deep sea container traffic. The completion of High Speed Two is expected to improve journey times for trains connecting major Network Availability northern conurbations with the Midlands and London. The links between HS2 and NPR will be Network Rail will continue to explore initiatives to vital in forming new connectivity links between best optimise network availability across the whole towns and cities and allowing released capacity on of the North West and Central region for both the conventional rail network to be used to passengers and freight operators. This will focus support new markets and add more capacity to on shorter possessions, appropriately timed existing ones. possessions, productivity and efficiency gains through changes to the technology and processes West Coast Main Line Long Term Strategy used to maintain, renew and enhance the network. The franchise will work NW&C region: Planning ahead with the Government, High Speed Two (HS2) and industry parties to develop the detailed timetable Improving local and regional journeys will form an proposition for HS2 and HS2-released capacity as important part of future strategy. Network Rail is well as running the existing services on the West ensuring future strategy will align national Coast Main Line (WCML) before and after HS2 workstreams with local requirements, working opens. collaboratively with partners including sub national and local transport authorities, Local Beyond committed interventions there is little Enterprise Partnerships, and Local Authorities. scope to run additional or longer trains on the WCML at the time they are most needed. The NW&C strategy is broken down into Passenger growth forecasts on the route suggest geographic sections as follows: that there will be unacceptable levels of crowding on an ever-increasing number of trains, with high Merseyside Long Term Strategy levels of freight growth forecast.

The Strategic Rail Study, The WCML is expected to be at capacity and published in 2020, sets out the direction of the future become increasingly constrained in its ability to of the Merseyrail network towards 2043. The strategy support the economy (through commuter and recommends enhancements to rolling stock depots, business travel) and to generate revenue for the power supply, the platform-train interface and industry. The most effective and best value for stations to accommodate longer trains as a priority to money way to create additional capacity will be facilitate and support the introduction of the new through building a new high-speed line, aligned rolling stock fleet from 2020. Other recommendations with government policy and the recommendations include progressing the development of a solution to of the West Coast Main Line RUS. increase capacity at Liverpool Central. The study also considered potential extension to the Merseyrail The provision of a high-speed line will help to network to Wrexham, Preston and Wigan but further relieve both track and rolling stock capacity, which work is required before a business case can be will enable additional services to operate on the assessed. existing network.

North West Long-Term Strategy HS2 Ltd, in conjunction with Network Rail, is working with key industry stakeholders to explore During this Control Period, many of the busiest options to make best use of the released capacity routes in the North West are intended to be on the existing WCML. This work will help the rail provided with modern, reliable, efficient and more industry shape the future of the WCML.

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West Midlands Long Term Strategy Chiltern Main Line Long Term Strategy

Network Rail is working closely with West Midlands The strategy for the Chiltern Main Line is for Rail Executive and Midlands Connect to better electrification of the route from Birmingham to understand the link between transport and London. The electrification of the route is being economic growth. This work will seek to produce considered as part of any future capacity an evidence base to inform key outputs for the enhancements of the Chiltern Main Line including region. This work will feed into the Long-Term potential connections to . Planning Process, as well as influencing the Local Network Rail is working closely with England’s Enterprise Partnership’s economic strategies. Economic Heartland, who are a Sub-national Transport Body being the voice for their region to The Midlands Strategy has identified increasing guide and support a Rail Strategy to benefit the extra seats to 3,300 on key commuter routes and ever-growing growth of population and 2,900 extra seats on long-distance services by employment of the EEH region. By 2024 there is a 2024. Midlands Rail Hub aims to better connect view to have upgraded London Marylebone the region with an extra ten trains per hour into station, with longer platforms at key stations with and out of Birmingham. 1000 extra seats into London in peak hours. Towards 2043 there is a view to upgrade the route There is an aspiration to electrify the Snow Hill between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury which Lines and this could align with potential would increase journey times on that line. electrification to the Chiltern Main Line.

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Strategic Route Section Index

[ ] Indicates an SRS which interfaces with another Region

Strategic Route H: North West

H.05 [North Transpennine: Leeds – Guide Bridge] Eastern region

H.10 [Manchester Victoria – Mirfield via Rochdale/Stalybridge] Eastern region

H.17 [South Transpennine: Dore – Hazel Grove] Eastern region

H.22 Manchester Piccadilly – Crewe

H.23 Manchester Piccadilly – Deansgate

H.24 Deansgate – Liverpool South Parkway

H.25 Liverpool Lime Street – Liverpool South Parkway

H.26 North Transpennine: Manchester Piccadilly – Guide Bridge

H.27 Deansgate – Junction

H.28 Ashburys/Hyde North – New Milles Central/Rose Hill

H.29 Guide Bridge – Glossop/Hadfield

H.30 Guide Bridge – Chester (via Stockport)

H.31 Manchester Airport – /Slade Lane Junction

H.32 Blackpool North Branch

H.33 Edge Hill – Manchester Victoria (via Earlestown)/Wigan

H.34 Southport/Kirkby – Wigan Wallgate

H.35 Wigan Wallgate – Manchester Victoria

H.36 Buxton Branch

H.37 Bolton – Blackburn

H.38 Hazel Grove – Edgeley Junction

H.39 Cumbrian Coast

H.40 Settle and Carlisle Line

H.41 Windermere Branch

H.42 – Long Preston

H.43 / Port Branch

H.44 Roses Line and Branches (including Preston – Ormskirk and Blackburn – Hellifield)

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H.45 Chester/Ellesmere Port – Warrington Bank Quay

H.46 Blackpool South Branch

H.91 [Freight through routes] Eastern region

H.98 [Freight trunk routes] Eastern region

H.99 [Other freight lines] Eastern region

Strategic Route M: West Midlands and Chilterns

M1 London Marylebone – Jn

M2 Neasden South Junction – Harrow-on-the-Hill

M3 Amersham – Aylesbury Vale

M4 Aylesbury – Princes Risborough

M5 Rugby – Birmingham New Street

M6 Birmingham New Street – Wolverhampton

M7 Wolverhampton – Stafford

M8 Birmingham New Street – Barnt Green

M9 [Barnt Green – Stoke Works Junction] Wales & Western region

M10 [Birmingham – Wichnor Junction] Eastern region

M11 [Oxford – Coventry South] Wales & Western region

M12 Leamington Spa – Birmingham Snow Hill

M13 – Wolverhampton via Aston

M14 Birmingham Snow Hill – Stourbridge Junction

M15 [Stourbridge Junction – Hereford] Wales & Western region

M16 Stratford-upon-Avon lines

M17 Cross City North

M18 Rugeley – Bescot

M19 – Barnt Green

M20 [Wolverhampton – ] Wales & Western region

M21 Camp Hill line

M22 Water Orton – Nuneaton

M23 Nuneaton – Coventry

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M24 Soho Junctions – Perry Barr Junctions

M25 Stourbridge Town branch

M98 Freight lines (secondary)

M99 Freight lines (tertiary)

Strategic Route N: West Coast Main Line

N.01 London Euston – Rugby

N.02 Rugby – Stafford

N.03 Stafford – Crewe

N.04 Crewe – Preston

N.05 Preston – Border (near Gretna Junction)

N.06 Border (near Gretna Junction) – Carstairs South Junction

N.07 Weaver Junction – Liverpool South Parkway

N.08 Norton Bridge/ – Cheadle Hume

N.09 Crewe – Kidsgrove

N.10 Watford Junction – St. Albans Abbey

N.11 London Euston – Watford Junction (DC Lines)

N.12 Bletchley – Bedford

N13 Crewe – Chester

N.99 Other freight lines

Strategic Route O: Merseyside

O.01 Merseyrail

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Capability maps

Linespeed

NW&C North

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Linespeed

NW&C South

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Electrification

NW&C North

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Electrification

NW&C South

21

Route availability

NW&C North

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Route availability

NW&C South

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Gauge

NW&C North

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Gauge

NW&C South

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