AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR RAIL USERS No 154 £2 December 2017

An uphill struggle for the right to travel

Picture: Paul Tattam by train

SEE PAGE 2 PAGE ONE PICTURE: Chinley (and many other stations) deserve better access Our page one picture shows red- The sun should be setting on diesels up there too. The £70 million coated MP Ruth George surrounded national initiative for full accessi- By Chris Austin by people on the footbridge steps of bility on the railways launched in [email protected] Chinley station in October. 2016 by Transport Minister Alex- Since the shock announcement The High Peak MP promised to ander Dobrindt started, interest- from Transport Secretary Chris deliver an 800-signature petition ingly, with smaller stations with Grayling in July which brought to the Department for Transport, Picture: Paul Tattam less than one 1,000 entries/exits to a close the ambitious electri- calling for better access to the per day. Additionally the Ger- fication programme supported station. man “Northern Powerhouse” of previously by industry and Gov-

Lifts and ramps can be life- Nordrhein-Westfalen has its own ernment, Railfuture has been Picture: NETWORK RAIL transforming for people with £900 million programme for the working to understand the issues disabilities but they help virtually modernisation of 150 of its 697 and what is best for the passen- everyone else, especially those with stations between 2017 and 2023, ger, the freight customer and the prams, luggage and bicycles too. by which date 80% of its stations railway which serves them. And Chinley is typical of many other will have step-free access (cur- None of us believes that the pres- stations throughout Britain where rently 73%). ent position is tenable for long. improvements are long overdue The British railway authorities The Infrastructure & Networks Here, Paul Tattam of Chinley must catch up. Friday 13 Octo- Group has looked at the prob- & Buxworth Transport Group ber saw a very stimulating occa- lems in depth, and meetings have describes the background to the sion at Chinley Station when been held with experts includ- protest at Chinley the Chinley & Buxworth Trans- ing our own vice-presidents and port Group handed a petition chairman Chris Page. of well over 800 signatures to Branches and individual mem- “I have not been able to use my POWER POLITICS: Scotland’s busiest inter-city route between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High Ruth George, MP for High Peak, bers have shared their views and is being electrified as part of EGIP (the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme) local train station for over a year demanding that the Department ideas and much has been written to travel to Manchester with my for Transport improve access to in the trade press on the issue. the ­benefits of electrification to between the wars, and BR strug- ­remodelling is required to baby and my two-year old.“ the platforms at Chinley station. We are now in a good position to be spread more widely, more gled valiantly during its 50 years improve track geometry, raise When we conducted a survey of Turnout by members of the pub- set out our stall and to start cam- quickly, and the first reaction to of existence, but, after 113 years line speeds and provide addi- local rail users in late 2016, this is lic for the handover of the peti- paigning on this important issue the new trains on Great Western we still have only 34% of the net- tional capacity, before the lay- how a person living in a popular tion was extremely encouraging, for the long-term future of the (despite the unfortunate launch work electrified, although this out is frozen by the provision of commuter village on the Man- CHINLEY: Struggling with a baby buggy over the station bridge and Paul Abell, vice-president of railway and the country. day) is good, with vibration lev- accounts for over half the traffic overhead line, masts and signal chester to Sheffield main line at Railfuture, was able to be present els reported to be low when on carried. gantries. Chinley described her access to Why is it important? The funda- either a taxi to or from Hazel for a person with a disability, on the day. The Buxton Advertiser diesel power. There were government enqui- the railway. mental reason for electrifying is Similarly, the delay could be Grove in a district notorious for the Dutch equivalent of the UK’s reported in depth, and we were that the operation and mainte- But, as our vice-president Roger ries into the subject in the 1920s, used to revise plans to reduce No fewer than 114,000 passen- traffic congestion on the A6, or Passenger Assist scheme asks delighted that disability cam- nance of electric trains is cheaper Ford says, they are not the solu- and the Weir report of 1931 costs, and to identify and justify gers are estimated to use the sta- Edale – a small village which is the passenger to contact a well- paigner Chris Hughes had come and cleaner than diesels. tion to network electrification: looked at the technical issues separately the many add-ons tion every year, but they all have also inconveniently located. advertised number three hours along to support, but sadly, as a of overhead or third rail supply that were lumped in with electri- to be able to negotiate a foot- in advance to arrange a mobile In simple terms, a train with It does not have to be like this. wheelchair user, could not access electric motors and transform- Bi-modes are either and optimum voltage. The Mod- fication proposals and eventually bridge with steep steps which On a recent trip to the Nether- ramp for the train (as opposed to the platforms. ‘ ernisation Plan of 1955 included sank them. provides the only access to the the 24 hours requested in parts of ers is going to be lighter than one overweight electric lands there was such obvious We are hoping that the publicity a major programme, as did the single island platform. the UK). requiring diesel engines and fuel In July, the Government was provision for accessibility that generated will prompt the DfT tanks. trains or under- main line electrification report of faced with a project out of con- The bridge is treacherous to on our return home we checked Over the border in Nordrhein- to improve Chinley station so 1981, but neither were fulfilled as trol, and in political terms I can- climb and descend for a person With less time required on depot, powered diesel ones the Nederlandse Spoorwegen Westfalen, Germany’s most that this accessibility blackspot ’ intended. not see an early resumption of travelling alone with a pushchair website – and could not find a populous state has had a similar electric trains should have better The history of decision making becomes a community asset for availability, so fewer are required. There have been endless stud- the plans that were suspended. and infant, extremely difficult single example of a station with history to Britain of problems on infrastructure in Great Britain ies since, and more will follow. everyone. In environmental terms too, elec- The case for further electrifica- to negotiate with heavy lug- ­inaccessible platforms. It gets created by outdated rail infra- has not been good. The sad thing is that the great Faryal Velmi, director of Trans- tric trains are better, with zero tion remains strong as one ele- gage or bicycles, and wheelchair better. If assistance is required structure. But things are looking opportunity that was offered by port for All, recently wrote to emissions at the point of use, and Just think about the time taken to ment of route modernisation to users are simply not catered for the Government has been squan- Transport Secretary Chris Gray- capable of drawing electricity agree on the Channel Tunnel Rail improve the capacity, quality and – which rather makes a mockery Link, or runway capacity in the dered by the failings of the Great ling on behalf of 55 organisations from any power source, includ- resilience of the railway for pas- of the provision of three disabled In what is claimed to be a world first, infrastructure manager Prorail South East, and the same is true Western and Gospel Oak-Bark- to demand that as an immediate ing renewables. sengers and freight customers, parking spaces in the nearby sta- has completed a £26 million programme to make all stations on the of railway electrification. ing schemes. tion car park. priority all deferred Access for All There are other benefits too in but it may not be the first prior- Netherlands national rail network accessible to passengers who are Electric trains go right back to There is one benefit of the delay, Government-contracted fran- projects should be delivered by terms of the availability of power, ity. Our job is to articulate that blind or visually impared. It involves high-contrast platform edging, Volk’s Railway in 1883, and to however, and that is the opportu- chises should not be able to ignore the end of 2020, with additional which is particularly impor- case clearly and move opinion braille signs, tactile maps and the removal of obstacles. 1904 for the Tyneside electrifica- nity to carry out work in prepara- the needs of significant sections funding being made available in tant for freight where it could formers to the position where it The work is part of a broader initiative to improve accessibility for tion by the North Eastern Rail- tion for electrification in a rather of society in this way, especially the next control period. result in higher trailing loads on is no longer a threat, but part of a way. more structured way than was when the Passenger Assist option passengers with reduced mobility, which will make all Dutch stations People need to be able to get to steeply graded lines, and longer structured solution to delivering the case with Great Western. offered to ­wheelchair users is fully accessible for wheelchairs by 2030. the platforms! trains help to make rail freight The Southern Railway under Sir the bigger and better railway we more competitive. Herbert Walker pushed forward On the Midland main line, all want to see. Then it becomes Myths and realities vigorously with electrification for example, quite a lot of unstoppable. Some reports suggest that electri- Chairman’s column: We have to harness your enthusiasm fication is not worth the capital By Chris Page bold and clear in campaigning on weight our voice carries with cost as it produces little in the Bi-modes could be worst of both worlds [email protected] the key factors which are important government and the rail industry. way of journey time reductions. Electrification expert Rob Daffern warned that electrical equipment to the rail industry, was Enthusiasm was in plentiful supply to passengers: reliability, journey I would like to say a big thank you This entirely misses the point. bi-mode trains (the Government’s alternative straightforward about the clear and obvious at the recent Branches and Groups time, comfort and value for money. to all volunteers who help Railfuture Electrification is not about - jour to electrification) could prove the worst of both benefits of electrification. workshop. Our volunteers worked To achieve these aims, we want to achieve its vision and I would ney time savings (although it in small groups to put forward ideas the rail industry to deliver may deliver these as well), it is worlds. Bi-modes carry a heavy diesel engine, He said there was much ill-informed criticism love to hear your stories of how you which can make them two tons per axle heavier. for attracting new members to join more capacity through route are reaching out to prospective new about running a more affordable of the Great Western electrification scheme but Railfuture. modernisation and to resolve members. Share your story with railway. He was speaking at Railfuture’s conference recognised the problem of cost. He said British engineers had hoped to electrify the line at a cost The more members we have, the the anomalies in the fare system. [email protected]. But, as we have seen, this works in Leicester, one of the cities hit by the more influence we can have on Volunteers can play a big part in Government’s July cancellation of the Midland of around £600,000 per kilometre, £100,000 less Our vision for Railfuture: only where the electrification rail investment and operational shaping the future of rail. infrastructure (overhead lines, main line electrification. Mr Daffern said that than “expensive” Switzerland. The real cost in decisions. Like all membership It was a pleasure to see so many An independent organisation substations, control rooms and an electric train normally goes twice as far as a Britain had increased to £1,700,000 per kilometre. organisations, we have to work hard working to form a strategy to whose views are respected by the the supply system) can be pro- diesel train between breakdowns, and is much One of the causes was the Government’s on-off to attract and retain members from reach out to a wider, more diverse rail industry, to which decision vided at an affordable cost. more energy efficient, especially when combined approach. Teams of competent people are built Railfuture chairman the wider community. As the voice audience and increase our numbers, makers come for advice, and which What about bi-modes? The con- with regenerative braking. Mr Daffern, UK up for one project but allowed to break up before Chris Page of the rail user, we must be strong, which in turn will increase the rail users are proud to join. cept of the bi-mode may enable director of Furrer+Frey, a major supplier of the next project is given the go-ahead. 2 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture conference in Carlisle on 23 June 2018 at Hallmark Hotel 10.00-17.00 railwatch December 2017 3

East Midlands MP meets Railfuture Yorkshire It’s difficult to change the world [email protected] Labour’s shadow minister for railways n nEast Midlands franchise consultation was guest speaker at Railfuture Yorkshire’s meeting in October, But 2018 Railfuture submitted its response to the three months after being appointed. Department for Transport’s consultation on Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, the East Midlands rail franchise to begin in said rail should be the main artery will be August 2019. Railfuture presented a national of Britain’s transport network. She

response, but East Midlands branch is the Picture: CROSSRAIL most directly affected by the specification confirmed Labour’s intention to take to be issued by the DfT in 2018. The most COLBECK Picture: PAUL franchises back into the public sector inspiring significant single component is the pattern of as they expire but wanted to be sure services on the Midland main line, following that devolved bodies had a share the abandonment of electrification north of in the structure. Public transport Kettering. Though supporting the desire to needs to offer seamless travel and reduce journey times on peak inter-city trains multimodal ticketing and has to be between Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester affordable, she said. Questioned and London, Railfuture called for a sensible about Network Rail’s GRIP process mix of electric commuter services to Corby (Governance for Railway Investment [email protected] and inter-city trains to ensure connectivity Projects), she agreed that there was This has been an uninspiring for all stations. The service north of Corby too much bureaucracy involved in year in our push for a bigger, bet- should also be retained and developed. We trying to expand the rail network. ter railway in Britain. oppose the suggested split of the Liverpool- She is committed to HS3 (Northern Nevertheless Railfuture has Norwich route at Nottingham. We support the Powerhouse Rail) across the Pennines, continued to raise its game by suggested reopening to Ollerton, an extension but prefers to call it Crossrail for the improving the interface with of the Robin Hood line. Local MPs Ben Bradley North. (Mansfield) and Mark Spencer (Sherwood) Railfuture’s Nina Smith and Graham Collett www.railfuture.org.uk/Yorkshire+Branch stakeholders and industry play- pressed for this at a meeting with Transport with Labour MP Rachael Maskell, right Twitter: @RailfutureYorks ers. For instance, branches are Secretary Chris Grayling. We also want to increasingly attracting influ- see additional local services, including the ential speakers and Railfuture much-needed link from the East Midlands to bus company, Jeff Counsell, putting forward the station’s use for park and ride. These members and officers are increas- Manchester. the suggestion of a guided busway. If the improvements have since been taken up by the ingly seen addressing selected The Friends of the Derwent Valley Line (Derby- HS2 station was at East Midlands Parkway Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined ­conferences. rather than Toton, as suggested by Railfuture, Authority. Passenger trains will start running through run through the tunnels, following trackwork Matlock) also responded to the consultation. Our profile is developing, as is Their aspirations include half-hourly services there would be no difficulty in providing fast www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia+Stations London’s Crossrail tunnels next year. The completion in September. The new Abbey connections to both Nottingham and Derby! the involvement of members. picture shows work under way in October on Wood station also opened, one of 10 new at peak times (which will require a new passing n nShelford needs a footbridge Our views are seen to matter, the loop), hourly services on Sundays, and later the track at Crossrail’s Stepney Green cavern stations on Crossrail which will be called the n nCampaign for electrification more we focus on economically where Crossrail diverges, with one route going Elizabeth line when it opens. New Elizabeth evening services. Longer trains are also Shelford station was audited in September and sustainable proposals. needed. Use of the line has more than doubled Leicester Friends of the Earth organised an was better than Whittlesea. It was clean and south-east to Woolwich and Abbey Wood line trains, with bigger standing areas and in the past 10 years, and there is severe unusual campaign stunt to protest about in a reasonable condition with basic facilities. A bleak picture of main line elec- while the other goes east to Stratford and ore transverse seating, are already running overcrowding at times. the abandonment of the electrification of However, a number of suggestions were made trification cancellations, though Shenfield. The Crossrail programme is nearly between Liverpool Street and Shenfield and the Midland main line and to call for it to be described as “smart” by some, 90% complete. Engineering trains can now will start using the tunnels next year. n nHope Valley line’s crucial role including improved signage, cycle storage, reinstated. The stunt involved carrying a giant shelter and information. The level crossing is will leave a legacy of sub-opti- Railfuture East Midlands’ Steve Jones and plug in stages on a train journey between the only means of crossing the busy railway, mal economics in operation and Ariadne Tampion recently met with Kath London St Pancras and Sheffield, stopping bringing uncertainty to passengers catching maintenance of the railway. tion itself to support investment expansion, and recently the work and a new HS2 station. Aspinwall of the Hope Valley Railway Users at most stations along the route to meet trains if they need to cross the line. In the long Brexit, or rather the handling in this new railway, but also to Transport for London proposal Railfuture’s response to this Group at Sheffield station. They also took local politicians and journalists. The plug term a footbridge should be considered. of Brexit, has caused the Gov- stress the need for our key objec- for two additional interchanges formal consultation was well- a trip on the line, outward by TransPennine was constructed by Railfuture member Chris n nEast West study endorses expansion ernment to issue revised lower tives, including providing more at Old Oak Common, one on received. The key to its success and return on a Northern stopping train. Williams. Lead organiser Hannah Wakley and a capacity and resilience on the the Overground Stratford- is extensive new housing which small team of helpers carried it along the train growth projections. In theory Campaigning on this line is exceptionally Railfuture East Anglia has long campaigned Richmond route, the other on the requires better or new links in all explaining the campaign. It proved an excellent the need to provide for growth network. complex, as it passes through three transport for improvements to network capacity to allow Overground’s Clapham Junc- directions from Crewe including way of engaging members of the public, many is reduced, at least in the short We have also strongly advo- authority areas, is used by three train faster and more frequent services between tion route. Both will potentially along the Stoke corridor with its of them young and female, with railway issues. term. cated far more connectivity into operators and is maintained by two separate Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich. The existing provide important links not just copious brownfield sites asking parts of Network Rail. It has an inadequate Railfuture EM chair Ariadne Tampion joined However, the dangers of the the regional rail network so that between Leicester and Derby. pattern of hourly stopping services does little regions as a whole can benefit from HS2 but also from Crossrail. for development, but also along service, bearing in mind it links Sheffield to to encourage modal shift from road to rail. Our motor car are becoming clearer, the Middlewich-Northwich cor- www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Midlands+Branch from HS2. Railfuture members may recall Manchester, two cities which also have poor campaign has now received overwhelming especially in cities. Health con- ridor linking in to HS2. road connections, and serves a popular tourist Twitter: @RailfutureEMids cerns in London are enough to You may recall that this project that Crossrail was originally endorsement from the Atkins Consultancy projected to be routed from Pad- Manchester does well out of area. The line is crucial at both regional and make the congestion charge and was originally promoted as a engaged by the East West Rail Consortium dington via a Turnham Green HS2, if it is viewed as integrated national level. to show how service development east of the toxin charge (a total of £21.50 stand-alone high speed railway. East Anglia interchange to Richmond, but with the Northern Hub, which Cambridge will add even greater value to per day) necessary. n nGreat Central railways unification Thanks to campaigning from us should provide more through East West Rail. The study proposes three that option succumbed to the Other cities including Glasgow as well as many regional authori- nimby politicians of Richmond. services north and north-east of A major step towards unifying the two sections [email protected] trains per hour from Ipswich to Cambridge are watching intently, mindful ties, the project has changed sig- of the Great Central Railway at Loughborough and three or four trains per hour from Norwich Further north the messages Manchester, for example includ- n nWhittlesea audit reveals neglect of the revenue potential, given nificantly against these wider but ing Bradford. The Manchester was taken in September when the main beams to Cambridge. Meanwhile Railfuture will the need to fund capital projects. far more sustainable objectives. of capacity, integration and of a new bridge over the Midland main line scheme also involves a new and Railfuture East Anglia is carrying out audits campaign to ensure that these improvements We did not succeed in getting the regional economies are largely were lifted into place. When work is finished Further afield, Singapore has better integrated Metrolink sta- at stations throughout East Anglia, and in are included within the scope of East West Rail recognised. In Birmingham, on the bridge and the adjoining embankment, just announced a cap from 2018 Euston Cross HS2 scheme incor- tion serving the existing and the July it was the turn of Whittlesea on the and delivered before the Cambridge-Bedford Moor Street is to be redeveloped the heritage railway will boast an 18-mile line on the number of cars licensed porated into HS2. new HS2 station in Manchester. Peterborough-Ely line. section is reopened. to use the roads there. It will be to allow increased services both from Birstall (north of Leicester) to Ruddington This would have given south and north of Birmingham, The north-east leg has proved We found one of the most unwelcoming n nEly North upgrade welcomed fixed at 2017 levels. (south of Nottingham). Sadly there has been HS2 three through currently constrained by New to be more problematic. We still too much building on the trackbed so there is stations in East Anglia which over the We still have HS2. This project years has been degraded by neglect. It is a Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced stations in London Street capacity, and the light rail have Toton, albeit with a poten- little prospect of extending further towards the has a chorus of detractors alleg- tial tram link into Nottingham, city centres. sprawling station with poor lighting, overgrown at the Transport Select Committee hearing in – Old Oak Common, service to expedite city centre October that the upgrades and enhancements ing that all known life will cease distribution. Railfuture West but at Sheffield the opposite vegetation, no ticket machines, no information as a result. Euston Low Level and n nHS2 connections about ticketing, no public-address system, at Ely will be funded in Network Rail’s control Midlands is well in there, dis- strategy has been adopted. period 6 (2019-24). This is a vital piece of More worrying is the well-worn Stratford International. cussing and advocating these Options for connecting the East Midlands HS2 customer information screens or CCTV. The Following serious campaigning, station adopter is struggling against difficult work for the East Anglia passenger and freight theory that money can be better Some trains could have termi- issues with stakeholders, all to HS2 will serve central Sheffield station at Toton to Derby are being debated. network, also being identified when Chris spent on something else. There is nated at Stratford and some at positive effect. An extension of the Nottingham tram network circumstances. rather than the Meadowhall Starkie, chief executive of the New Anglia Local Ebbsfleet. to Toton appears viable but the East Midlands The findings have been given to the Hereward no reason to assume that money The HS2 route to the North West Shopping Centre. We should Community Rail Partnership which recognises Enterprise Partnership came to talk at our would be spent on other rail proj- Nevertheless Old Oak Common has also improved, the most sig- continue to campaign for a more HS2 strategic board has said a tram line members’ meeting in September. from Toton to Derby would be too expensive. the problem and now proposes to extend ects if HS2 were to be cancelled. station, combined with Cross- nificant change being the Crewe Rapid bus services to Derby are now being the platforms bringing them closer together, www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia Against this background, Rail- rail, is destined to be far more HS2 hub proposal in the form Continued on next page considered, with the boss of Trent Barton linked by a footbridge, and encouraging Twitter: @RailfutureEA future has been careful to posi- significant, along with­Heathrow of links to the existing rail net- 4 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ £9 Paris-Bordeaux Ouigo high speed rail tickets launched for December 2017 railwatch December 2017 5 HS2 on track after 76-year wait for Crossrail London & South East [email protected] Castle cafe scheme to mention is Manchester From Page 5 n nLook ahead to 2041 A new Victorian style cafe to Preston and Blackpool. This “with a nod to steampunk” integrated solution for the East hit a totally different problem The Mayor of London’s attempt to involve has opened on Newark Midlands. Together with can- when the contractor walked off people in deciding the shape of transport for Castle station, offering cellation of Midland Main Line the job at an early stage. the next 20 years included a suggestion that environmentally friendly free rail use would grow by 80% by 2041. Railfuture electrification, the East Midlands This is a shame as the North water refills and recyclable cities get a raw deal, devoid of West is probably the most intel- suggested this target should be broken down into interim steps and endorsed the policy of coffee flasks. Carriages, owned integrated planning. ligent example of incremental Picture: ADVERTISER NEWARK giving the Mayor and Transport for London by Wendy Baird, aims to play Leeds is another story, a very electrification where each stage, control of more London rail services. a crucial role in the local successful one in terms of cam- starting with Manchester to Railfuture also advocates an eastern arm of community, and is backed paigning by all parties, including Newton-le-Willows, gave extra by East Midlands Trains. Railfuture. First the Leeds HS2 electric service benefits. This Crossrail 2 linking into Stratford International and Barking. At Stratford Crossrail 2 should Volunteers helped finish the station is to be built adjacent to first stage facilitated the hugely also link with new Overground/West Anglia TEAM: Wendy Baird with Peter and Suzie new cafe which will offer the existing Leeds (City) station. popular Manchester Airport to platforms. Jones who helped design the cafe interior weekly meals to the homeless. It has recently been announced Edinburgh and Glasgow electric that there is to be a single-line rail service. Not extending the incre- We welcomed the identification of Hounslow- connection from HS2 into Leeds mental approach to the Winder- West Hampstead via the Dudding Hill route for Borders Rail is now targeting an extension (Acton-Cricklewood) as a potential outer orbital City station, so providing limited mere branch is less intelligent. Scotland of the line to Hawick and thence to Carlisle. potential for much improved link. It is hoping the Anglo-Scottish Borderlands There are actually 11 electrifica- access into the West Yorkshire Railfuture’s Thameslink 2 concept should [email protected] Proposition might unlock funding from both region. We need to campaign to tion schemes that should see the be developed as a long-term cross-London the UK and Scottish governments. Carlisle ensure this potential is realised. Tunnelling work started on Crossrail in 2012, although this light in 2018 so our campaigning link between Stratford and East Croydon n nElectric trains herald a cleaner future City Council leader Colin Glover attended the British Rail/London Underground marketing picture from for electrification has not been via Canary Wharf. To speed up access to campaign’s AGM in Hawick in October. In summary, it is fair to say that entirely in vain. Ten years of planning and four years of work 1991 shows that plans were well-advanced nearly 30 years Stansted, Railfuture suggested a fast rail line n nLanark bids for Edinburgh rail link Railfuture’s strategy of visibly ago. Two years after this picture was issued, the government could be built from the Harlow direction rather on the ground will culminate in a faster electric supporting HS2 while working If we look at this programme as train service on Scotland’s busiest inter-city of John Major privatised the industry. Railtrack, the new rail than adding a second tunnel to the existing Railfuture Scotland is working on a demand with stakeholders to make it bet- stand-alone it is one of the big- route between Edinburgh and Glasgow via infrastructure body, decided not to go ahead with Crossrail circuitous route. model for a Lanark-Edinburgh service, ter has paid off. gest electrification programmes Falkirk High. The electrification phase of the The concept was first mooted in 1941, although the name we have ever had. What we following the return of some direct Carstairs- However HS2 is not built yet, n nRUG Award winners in South East EGIP (Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Crossrail emerged following the 1974 London Rail Study. A need now is to emphasise the Programme) cleared the way for new Hitachi Edinburgh trains. Lanark, which has a regular although 2018 should see far Crossrail Act was passed in 2008. The project was taken forward successes here and campaign trains which began test running in October. electric service to Glasgow, is campaigning more evidence that the project as a joint Transport for London/Department for Transport The scheme will be completed in 2019 but key for the restoration of a service to Edinburgh. is actually happening. No indi- for incremental additions as At present, buses fail to connect with trains project, illustrating the value of devolution. In 2009 the project strongly proposed by Railfuture aspects of EGIP were trimmed to save money. vidual party can claim responsi- received a £1 billion loan from the European Investment Bank. and tourists are unlikely to use park and ride bility for these changes, although North West. There is, however, n nStations wait for STAG studies facilities. The total cost of the project is £18 billion a capacity crunch in Manchester it is clear that our combined Proposals for a station at Beattock, as well as n nRail freight hit by road spending efforts with stakeholders and if sustainable electric traction is to be optimised. The Piccadilly- those for Eastriggs and Thornhill, are going with informed responses to con- to STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guide) Dualling the A9 road between Perth and sultation have certainly made a This too was delayed and cost ­service on the Thames Valley Victoria link is almost there but Inverness will damage rail freight, according Victoria has only four through level 2. The studies will be funded by the ­difference. inflated by an idiotic European taken to a new level with the regional transport authority SWESTRAN and to a report by AECOM for the Scottish platforms. This requires running The challenge remains to achieve Union change of clearance speci- coming of Crossrail. will cost £40,000 apiece. Government. The Scottish Rail Freight Group suburban services through Vic- a good pattern of service on the fication which should have been This will be another game has warned there could be massive losses toria to the recently completed n nMSPs back Far North line upgrade new line. We must ensure that mitigated by a proper risk assess- changer which will potentially of rail freight. The rail network is smaller than it was a century ago but roads continue to regional feeder services provide ment. Despite this, the 42-minute turnbacks at Stalybridge (the stimulate massive growth in rail Calls for improvements to the Far North Line be upgraded and new ones built, promoting electric service starts in January second fastest passenger growth have been made by MSPs Rhoda Grant and an economic stimulus to whole use in this corridor as long as car environmental and economic damage. 2018, to be followed incremen- corridor in Greater Manchester) Jamie Stone. Campaigners suggested a regions, not just individual city park capacity is increased and Six of the 18 nominations for Railfuture’s 6th Ironically the Scottish Government says it tally by other fill-in schemes that and Rochdale requiring incre- seven-point plan to cut the Inverness-Thurso centres. better bus links to stations are annual Awards came from our area. The Hadley wants to boost rail freight by 7.5% by 2024 result in diesel replacement to mental electrification. journey from four hours to less than 2 hr 30 Electrification went through a provided. Wood RUG achieved the Best Campaign Silver RFG’s David Spaven said: “The imbalanced Stirling and Alloa and also the min by replacing jointed with continuously It is clear that 2018 will see more Award for achieving a step-free access scheme approach to road and rail investment between low in 2017 with cancellation of Edinburgh-Glasgow route via It will also provide a large cas- welded track, double tracking as far as Muir schemes midway such as at Bath changes to the rail network than on their down platform, and they also picked Perth and Inverness threatens some existing Shotts. The Shotts route could cade of diesel multiple unit trains up a Commendation for Best New Group. Their of Ord, replacing signalling with LED colour and Kettering, and indecision on for Bristol and the West of Eng- in most recent years, yielding an rail freight flows and severely undermines the not be justified as a free-standing altogether happier if not ­strategic leading light Francesca Caine won this year’s aspect lights, raising the line speed to 90 mph whether to complete Manchester land. It is a shame that Oxford is where possible, building the Georgemas chord, scope for rail to win new traffic from the roads.” project but it makes economic New Year. It really is up to us, national Best Campaigner Award. For Hadley to Leeds/Church Fenton. not included as yet. This failing building the Dornoch link, and cutting out all Contacts: sense as an incremental scheme. working with other stakeholders Wood this comes soon after a visit by Michael Not particularly smart, nor stra- is mitigated to a certain extent non-loop station stops south of Tain for the Rail Action Group, East of Scotland: The central belt of and industry partners, to cam- Portillo to unveil a plaque (above) in memory of tegic, although the die is now cast by the fact that many trains con- one-time resident Sir Nigel Gresley. long-distance Caithness services. www.rages.org.uk/ Scotland, benefits tinue north-west of Oxford, and paign for more coherent, sustain- with large orders being made for n nRAGES calls for 2019 station plan Beattock Station Action Group: directly but there is the also by Chiltern’s excellent new able ways forward, using these n nAnother way is Essex dual-mode trains. Chris Austin www.beattockstationactiongroup.org.uk/ dealt with this in Railwatch 153 additional benefit for Oxford service (from London major developments as a new Reston and East Linton stations, which should base. Railfuture members participated in The Future St Andrews Rail Link campaign: and gives added insight on page other parts of Scotland Marylebone) which was strongly of our City/the Future of Transport workshop, have opened last year, are now scheduled to open between 2019 and 2024. Having already www.starlink-campaign.org.uk/ 3 of this edition of Railwatch. in that a large fleet supported by Railfuture. Fears that Brexit will reduce the organised by Chelmsford CityLab. Roger Blake demand for travel will subside. waited 20 years, Rail Action Group East of facebook.com/StARLinkCampaign If we ignore the awful stop-go of relatively modern Chiltern’s new train set worked spoke on the essential role of rail in the future. twitter@StARLinkRail The squeeze on the motor car A new station on the Great Eastern main line, Scotland is pushing for 2019. approach to some projects, and diesel multiple units straight out of the box, both oper- the appalling waste that goes ationally and, importantly, com- will probably result in a modal to serve a development of 3,600 new homes n nGreen MSP links Fife rail campaigners LevenMouth Rail Campaign: with it, there is quite a lot hap- is available for use on mercially. shift to rail, bearing in mind that at Beaulieu Park, remains part of the Vision www.lmrc-action.org.uk/ non-electrified lines for Chelmsford, which was recently named as Green MSP Mark Ruskell has convened a facebook.com/Levenmouth-Rail- pening in 2018. Oxford-Cambridge will be the a small transfer from car use is a elsewhere. massive increase in rail demand, Transport Local Authority of the Year. rail forum embracing the Fife rail campaigns Campagin-432832616900648/ Try to forget for a moment the same, although at the recent – Newburgh, Dunfermline-Kincardine-Alloa, Capital Rail Action Group: 3,000 relatively new electric Railfuture Scotland has served us given relative market shares out- n nDriving growth in the East Midlands prestigious railway Derby Din- Levenmouth and St Andrews. A submission is www.capitalrail.org.uk/ multiple unit trains which will well, maintaining good relations ner at the Roundhouse event one side London. being prepared for Transport Minister Humza The Department for Transport wants the next be trashed because Britain does with politicians, stakeholders of the after-dinner speakers, Rob It is difficult to change the world, Yousaf. Following a Scottish Parliament Newburgh Train Station campaign: not have a rolling programme of and the rail operator, and mak- but working with Railfuture’s East Midlands franchise to deliver “connectivity debate, Mr Yousaf has instructed Transport http://newburghtrainstation.org.uk/ Brighouse, said: “Sorry Ian, we as a driver for social and economic prosperity”. electrification. ing sure they were no pushover. branches and stakeholders it is Scotland to carry out a GRIP 4 exercise. After are not building this for freight”. The franchise covers half of Railfuture’s Forth Rail Link: That will not be easy if you read The current state of Paddington- clear that we can make a differ- the publication of the Policy Review, StARLink facebook.com/forthraillink/ At least he is building it. Rail- branches. With East West Rail coming to is preparing to commission another part of the this riding in a Pacer, although Wootton Bassett (not Bath) elec- future East Anglia and Thames ence in promoting sustainable Bedford mid-franchise, the town should be twitter@forthraillink trification is as daft as it gets stra- railway development in Britain. STAG pre-study into St Andrews reopening. that is unlikely on these short Valley have campaigned for recognised as a strategic interchange hub with StARLink has also launched a student branch. Thornhill Station Action Group: winter days given the lighting tegically. this to good effect, demonstrat- Makes all these efforts worth- two northbound inter-city semi-fast services facebook.com/thornhilltrainstation/ level in those vehicles! But Paddington-Didcot will ing that active campaigning can while, doesn’t it? every hour as well as the two Corby services. n nCross-border funds hope for Hawick www.thornhillstation.co.uk/ Glasgow-Edinburgh electrifica- be an overwhelming success. get results, provided the project n Ian Brown CBE is policy adviser www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East Following the undeniable success of the Campaign for Borders Rail: tion (EGIP) is a game changer. Next year will see an all-electric is a sustainable one. The third to the Railfuture board. Twitter: @RailfutureLSE Edinburgh-Tweedbank service, the Campaign http://www.campaignforbordersrail.org/ 6 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @RailfutureScot www.railfuturescotland.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ You can join the Railfuture lottery at www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery railwatch December 2017 7 Your views Access for all now! inferior service. Passengers now have to change at Rugby. Fifty organisations wrote to Britain’s Connections are not held, so the Transport Secretary Chris you may have to leave about Grayling to demand that he 30 minutes earlier to be sure of restore vital Access for All rail best catching the train at Rugby. projects. Despite being one of Trains are usually crowded. LM the wealthiest countries in the station often seem incapable of running world, the UK still has a long more than four coaches. way to go on rail access. Nearly Picture: BARRIE FORREST 80% of stations across the I have used LM trains to get to UK are not accessible to deaf, cafe Manchester, changing at both disabled and older people. At the Crewe and Stoke. Faster trains current rate it would be over 200 The Coffee Station at Hebden are certainly to be found at years before our rail network is Bridge station in Yorkshire Stoke, probably cheaper for the fully accessible. won a Railfuture competition whole journey too. This facility in September to find the best will now apparently be lost. The Government’s own railway cafe in Britain. Peter Fleming, Lovers Walk, figures show investment in rail Railfuture Yorkshire’s Nina Dunstable, Beds LU5 4BG accessibility will pay back nearly [email protected] three times over in economic Smith who lives in Hebden benefits. Access for All funding Bridge said: “I ensured there Go and stop has unlocked parts of our rail was plenty of local publicity for network for deaf, disabled and this contest. Having said that, It is interesting to compare the older people, in many cases the cafe has a large and loyal actions of the British and French for the first time. We urge the customer base, and Hebden governments. In June, the Department for Transport to take Bridge is a can do town!” French launched Paris-Rennes positive action – to commit to Presenting the award, Railfuture and Paris-Bordeaux high speed delivering all deferred Access board member Christopher rail operations. In July, the for All projects by the end of Hyomes congratulated Lisa and British decided not to extend 2020, and to commit to funding Antoinette who have run the RAIL FUTURE: These children can still survives and the branch has been electrified Great Western electrification as additional Access for All projects cafe since 2005. enjoy the pleasure of travelling by rail from so there is a train every hour in both directions far as Bristol Temple Meads and in the next control period. He said that Railfuture had set Drem station. Well before they were born, – to North Berwick and Edinburgh. Now Swansea. Faryal Velmi up the award as passengers, campaigners were fighting plans by Dr campaigners from Rail Action Group East of Professor George Huxley Director, Transport for All especially regular commuters, Beeching to close their station (on the East Scotland is fighting to reopen two East Coast Oxfordshire greatly appreciated good quality Coast main line) and the branch line to North main line stations which were axed, East HS2 connectivity station cafes. Berwick. Thankfully the 1846-built station Linton and Reston. Godsend fares In pursuing the holy grail of fast The ceremony was attended by Tim Mickleburgh, in his letter in London journey times, HS2 has the Mayor of Hebden Royd, The new passenger service will and business park development coming of the railway in 1874 the October edition of Railwatch, ignored the potential benefits to Councillor Pat Fraser. Pete not replace the Metro. There have expanded rapidly since the and which became famous as states that the elderly “are not the wider railway. It has done its Myers and Richard Isaac of are two routes from Newcastle 1980s. We have two local train the terminus for the Atlantic automatically the poorest section utmost to marginalise the cities Arriva Trains North also came. Central Station as far as services (Ipswich-Cambridge Coast Express and the Devon in society, and would benefit and Peterborough) either of of Sheffield and Stoke-on-Trent The top five in the contest Northumberland Park (on the Belle. more from better train or bus which could call at such a from benefiting from HS2, which were Coffee Station at Hebden outskirts of the city). The direct A new Ilfracombe line could services than free fares.” station. Best wishes, is nothing short of disgraceful. Bridge, Canvas Coffee at heavy rail route, currently used attract large numbers of tourists There are some very wealthy for freight only, with just one Barry Moore, Station Road, High speed rail can create Portsmouth and Southsea, if its scenic potential was pensioners, and if Tim is one intermediate station, or the much Claydon, Ipswich IP6 0HS. economic benefits only if CU Latte (aka Moo la la and exploited. of them, good luck to him! connectivity is maintained Karen) at Farnborough Main, longer and tortuous Metro route Editor’s note: Expanding the J H Evered, Goylands Close, However, most OAPs are barely Jubilee Refreshment Rooms at via Gosforth with 13 intermediate Railways can be downloaded Llandrindod Wells LD1 5RB getting by, and concessionary from the high speed station to Hebden Bridge station cafe proprietors Antoinette Hunt and the final destination. It is no Sowerby Bridge and White and stations. from the home page of the fares are a godsend. Lisa Crebbin with Railfuture’s Nina Smith in the centre Railfuture website good getting from London to Black at Poole. Maps on both the Railfuture Crewe mess-up His views on children’s buggies Manchester in an hour if it takes and SENRUG websites clearly taking up luggage space and another hour to get to Rochdale. show this. Ashington trains will Iconic bridge lost It seems that by altering the 153 implies that the decision conference talk from Mr Baker Crewe to Euston service, West reducing railway companies’ Rail journey times between completed several iterations of run along the heavy rail route, profits, if carried out, will only on whether the reopened of the Department for Transport, I was interested by the plan Midlands Trains is already many pairs of large cities feasibility study (which is why it and the Metro service will discourage parents from using passenger rail services to which started with praise for Dr for a tramway from Barnstaple treating its passengers as badly are extremely poor, such as has taken us 10 years just to get continue as is, with interchange trains and drive more cars on to Ashington should be heavy rail Beeching and a startling claim to Braunton (Railwatch 153). as London Midland did. Nottingham-Liverpool, averaging to GRIP 2), all of which confirm at Northumberland Park. Let our already congested roads. or Metro has not yet been taken. that many of his achievements the reopening must be via heavy To get to the town centre from only marginally above 30 mph. us hope the good people of Barnstaple station (Barnstaple Train operators have messed I think Tim is a member of the Graham Nalty In fact the decision was taken went unrecognised, was a plea rail, in suggesting Metro would Gosforth do not get to see around with the Euston-Crewe for campaign groups to do their be better, Mr Baker was asking Junction until 1970) on a wrong organisation. Instead of [email protected] several years ago, confirmed by Expanding Britain’s Railway tramway would require a new service since its inception. homework and get the early us to disregard these feasibility Railfuture, he should join the report after report after report, else we will have a riot on our bridge over the river Taw, unless This has particularly affected feasibility reports done to avoid studies which is contrary to his Association of Train Operating All is not well all of which have concluded the hands should they think we are the tram used the existing Northampton, which has always surprises later in the process. own advice, threatening to slow Companies. Metro possibility is not viable planning to withdraw their Metro mediaeval road bridge. The had an inadequate service. Michael Paine, Willingham by The Rail Delivery Group He rightly said that campaigns down the process yet further as due to significantly longer route. present station is unfortunately Since electrification the only Stow, Gainsborough DN21 5LD launched a promotion exercise journey times to Ashington should not work from nostalgic local stakeholders scurry round Dennis Fancett, chair, SENRUG. at St Pancras station in October, feelings or gut instincts of what inconveniently sited on the northbound trains went to which would cause the business once more to re-submit the [email protected] “wrong” side of the river from the with the self-satisfied message might work, but must go back to evidence that his suggestion will Birmingham, initially once an case for the whole scheme to town centre and the bus station. hour, now three a day. The that “everything is fine on the collapse. Thus the plan is for basics and evaluate everything not work. railways”. It is not. For one Expanding railways Ironically, there was an iconic introduction of the Euston-Crewe passenger trains on the current properly. Send your letters­ thing, Transport Secretary Chris Finally, Britain’s Growing curved rail bridge next to the service was much welcomed, as freight-only heavy rail route, and How disappointing then that, Railway is an excellent Another excellent issue of Grayling has just demoted Railwatch (153)! On page 20 road bridge taking a rail line to it gave connections at Stafford, and emails to: Transport for the North to an this is what the local authority with the Ashington Blyth & Tyne publication and congratulations Ilfracombe but it was demolished Stoke and Crewe. is progressing, in line with the line, he appeared unwilling to its editors. But the entry for you review Expanding the The Editor, 4 Christchurch advisory role. following the Beeching cuts Square, London E9 7HU South East Northumberland to take his own advice. Even the Ashington Blyth & Tyne Railways. Are you able to let me After a few years LM decided Brynley Heaven, know how to obtain a copy as I which left both Ilfracombe and to miss out Northampton and Email: [email protected] [email protected] Rail User Group campaign. The though our local authority has Line is seriously misleading. Bideford without a rail service. am keen to develop the case for send the trains via Weedon. This Railwatch also welcomes Heavy criticism a station at Great Blakenham, If a north Devon tramway does doubtless helped LM save a few ­articles and pictures Railfuture’s vision: A railway system that provides services which travellers and freight forwarders on the Great Eastern main line, come to fruition, it should really bob and may have helped with Please use email if possible but want to use, and which offers more journey opportunities to more people and more freight possibly on the site of Claydon The report on the Expanding the be extended to Ilfracombe, a scheduling stock movements, include your postal address Railway conference in Railwatch station (closed 1963) as housing town which was “created” by the but it gave Northampton a much 8 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Special bracelets and rings can be used to touch in (and pay) on Moscow Metro railwatch December 2017 9 Railfuture Dynamic Triangle conference in Leicester Railfuture Dynamic Triangle conference in Leicester Rail needs to be more dynamic and respond to growing demand Report and pictures ­Chesterfield 23 minutes and Titled Dynamic Triangle – The He explained how UKRL had Sheffield 43 minutes. by Steve Jones East Midlands’ Crucial Role become well established as an The population of Leicester grew in National Rail Connectivity, innovative specialist locomo- Everyone knew that rail was from 20,000 to 200,000 in the 19th the event heard from a range of tive engineering business and a a premium product compared century largely thanks to the rail- speakers from the rail industry growing employer in the centre with the bus and when HS2 way. and local authorities on the past, of Leicester. comes to Toton, Ilkeston will be only five or six minutes away. But the modern railway needs to present and future importance of A new diesel loco could cost £3.5 provide new and better links to railways to the East Midlands. million whereas a re-engined But these days, transport benefits encourage the economy of both The Dynamic Triangle refers to version could be had for £1.6 mil- alone are not enough to justify a new station. Increased housing the city and the wider East Mid- the three cities of Leicester, Not- lion. UKRL has designed a new in the area is also important, and lands region to develop. tingham and Derby. coupling system which could save on using translator vehicles will give the local council a big- That is the view of city mayor Sir ger tax-take. Peter Soulsby, who opened Rail- East Midlands Trains when moving new rail vehicles. future’s Dynamic Triangle con- Jake Kelly, managing director Rail requires large amounts of Early signs are promising in ference on 4 November. of East Midlands Trains, picked money and is a deeply frustrat- terms both of usage of the station up the theme of rail growth and and its effect in giving an -over He said the Government’s ing place to try to establish a development. start-up company, he said. shadowed area a lift in its eco- announcement that it will not nomic fortunes. electrify the Midland main line He highlighted the changes Cash flow is a big problem and There has been a good public and was a dreadful decision. In fact, brought about by East Midlands most businesses go bust in the media response and the station the case for the Midland was Trains during the first 10 years first year. Railfuture’s Ariadne Tampion even has its own Facebook and much better than that for the of its franchise. The company whose daughters Sophie The rail industry needs to address Derbyshire’s Jim Seymour web page. Great Western. had inherited an unfortunate skill shortages. His firm was tak- legacy, especially with its rural and Isobel helped with the who worked on the Ilkeston The hope now is that it will “The GW did not have such a ing on apprentices and Network and inter-regional routes, and conference organisation station reopening project attract higher quality businesses business case,” he said. Rail had 200. to Ilkeston. The former closed- set about a change in culture and offer a possible future alterna- been carried through from “If the Government had gone down Co-op store in the town expectations. The result has been tive to diesel bimodes, at least for Great Central ­initiation to completion, ending ahead with the Midland before centre is already back in use. strong growth and improved branch lines. Battery trains have Tom Ingall of the Great Central Ilkeston’s reputed status as the the GW, they would not be in so customer satisfaction. It is also hoped to attract tour- much trouble now.” LEICESTER CITY MAYOR Sir Peter Soulsby proved highly successful in tests Railway described the project largest town (with a population He said three new stations had and can have a range of 60 miles. to reconnect the two parts of of 40,000) on a passenger railway ists to the town, which has listed It was crucial Leicester could opened during the franchise: buildings, and the 1877 wrought- In some instances, they might be this premier heritage railway but with no station. market the city worldwide by city had no direct rail link to “our about the value of investing in East Midlands Parkway, Corby at Loughborough. Much work iron lattice-work Bennerley via- able to re-charge their batteries at Mr Seymour said station promot- saying that it was less than an nearest neighbour” Coventry. He rail when, as an MP, he sat on and Ilkeston. is under way on the planning, duct over the Erewash Valley is hour from London by rail. At said the National Forest line from the House of Commons commit- station stops. ers should “follow the money” being restored and incorporated As the current franchise nears its design, authorisation and, where which might come from local the moment, the normal journey Leicester to Burton upon Trent tee examining the Crossrail Bill. In questions to Mr Daffern, into a new Sustrans cycle path. end, the challenges now relate to it crosses the Midland main line, enterprise partnerships, rather time is just over an hour. would have been reopened to “It was the most interesting and ­Steven Waring from Halifax said construction of the various ele- n The conference was hailed by passengers by British Rail but the productive time in my career as overcrowding and capacity plus than direct from the Department Nottingham also needed to be the development of the Midland it was vital that Railfuture speaks ments of the “missing link”. As for Transport. those attending as a great success able to say that you can get there process was halted by rail priva- an MP,” he said. up in favour of electrification as well as appealing to enthusiasts and will help to focus Railfu- tisation. main line, especially following The reopening had been depen- in 90 minutes from London. It was vital to increase invest- the cancellation of electrification. crucial to improving the envi- of steam railways, the Great Cen- ture’s campaigning efforts dur- “We are still arguing the case for ment in the existing rail network, ronment and combatting climate tral is a major asset to the com- dent on three different transport ing a time of great change in this The obvious priority was the secretaries. Geoff Hoon had kick- Midland main line but east-west reopening that line,” he said. as well as in HS2. Electrification change. munity generally. Engagement central part of the national rail with local schools, for example, started the idea of reopening the network. rail links were sadly lacking. “It has a stronger business case “We want investment in con- Rob Daffern from Furrer+Frey, Rail leasing station, while Justine Greening than any other currently freight- ventional rail now. We must not a major supplier of electrical adds to the value of this exciting The conference was chaired by Upgraded links to Peterborough Passengers looking out of the scheme. had created the New Stations and Stansted Airport are needed, only line.” be distracted by HS2 or bimode equipment to the rail industry, Fund that paid a significant part Ariadne Tampion of Railfuture’s trains. Rail is vital to the eco- outlined the benefits of electrifi- window as they leave Leices- East Midlands branch. In clos- and people need to get to Cov- Councils are keen to see capi- ter towards the north will have Ilkeston reopening of the £10 million cost of Ilkeston. entry and other parts of the West nomic wellbeing of cities like cation along with some innova- ing the conference, she said: tal investment but they cannot noticed the collection of elderly Value to the community was also Then Patrick McLoughlin Midlands. He said Leicester ben- Leicester.” tive solutions being developed to “The East Midlands has a crucial afford to subsidise rail at the diesel locomotives, some of them central to the project to reopen showed a genuine interest and efited from the Nuneaton West The conference was held at reduce the cost. role in national rail connectivity expense of local buses. He said in immaculate condition, at the Ilkeston station, the newest addi- managed to get the New Stations Coast main line flyover but the he learnt an enormous amount the Curve Theatre in Leicester. Advances in battery technology between all points of the com- locomotive depot. This is the tion to the East Midlands rail net- Fund to emerge again from the pass, but is unfairly neglected base of UK Rail Leasing. Its chief work. dark recesses of Whitehall. as a recipient of rail investment. executive, former banker Mark The conference heard from Jim The new rail service meant that I hope this conference can raise Get on with this essential rail reopening scheme Winter, said he redeemed him- Seymour of Derbyshire County Nottingham was only 15 min- the profile of our region and help The conference reinvigorated the calls to Both councillors pointed out that freight self when he joined the railway.­ Council how the project had utes away, Alfreton 13 minutes, improve the situation.” reopen the Leicester to Burton upon Trent trains from Bardon Hill and new trains RAILFUTURE RAIL USER GROUP AWARDS FOR 2017 freight line to passengers as the National from Bombardier’s factory at Derby regu- Forest Line. larly pass through Coalville, which has not By Roger Blake to the Melksham Rail User Group. Hadley together with honorary president Christian [email protected] Wood RUG picked up the Silver Award, Railfuture East Midlands’ Ariadne Tam- had a station since 1964. Wolmar, adjudicated between this year’s Friends of the Far North Line and the Tarka while Chesham & District Transport Users’ 18 nominations across six award categories pion said: “We want to get the line up the Houses have already been built in the Rail Association each won a Best Newsletter Group and Chinley & Buxworth Transport and eight of Railfuture’s 14 branch areas. national agenda.” Coalville area in the expectation that the Gold Award for their magazines, in this Group each received a Commendation. line would reopen. More land is still avail- Paul Abell, Ian Brown, Roger Ford, Chris She said there was still an option to rein- year’s Railfuture Rail User Group Awards. state the necessary curve at Knighton Junc- able in Coalville which could help to solve The Clara Zilahi Award for Best Campaigner Green, Stewart Palmer, Lorna Slade, and tion, despite redevelopment in the area. Leicester’s housing problems if there was a The Best Website Gold Award went to in 2017 went to Francesca Caine, from the Stewart Stevenson MSP had been able Stourbridge Line User Group. Marlow- Hadley Wood RUG. Councillor Dr Terri Eynon, the Labour reopened rail link. between them to visit almost every one of Maidenhead Passengers’ Association was group leader of Leicestershire County Many people are now so unimpressed by This year’s Judges’ Special Award went this year’s contenders. awarded Silver, and a Commendation went to The New Stations Fund, for enabling Council, said rail provided an alternative Leicestershire County Council’s failure to Roger Ford gave Railfuture some welcome to South East Northumberland Rail User 10 stations to be added to the national to the overwhelming dependence on car get on with reopening the line that they advance publicity in his online Informed Group. network and bringing access to rail commuting in the county. are beginning to look at alternatives that Sources: “Sitting on the judging panel gives services closer to local communities. John Legrys of North West Leicestershire ignore Leicester, possibly from Bagworth Chinley & Buxworth Transport Group me a useful insight into the grassroots District Council said Job Club members to Burton and Birmingham. Conventional won the Oliver Lovell Award for Best You can see the background and awards railway. As Hadley Wood is just down were being sanctioned because they have heavy rail may not be the only answer. New Group, while Hadley Wood Rail User presentation at www.railfuture.org.uk/ the line, I popped over to meet the local COALVILLE CHAMPIONS: Councillors no public transport option to get to poten- Tram-train technology may be more afford- Group received a Commendation. RUG+Awards group organiser who showed me round the John Legrys and Dr Terri Eynon tial jobs. able and flexible. The Gold Award for Best Campaign went Seven of Railfuture’s vice-presidents, station. It was a real eye-opener.”

10 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ £530m European Investment Bank loan to Spain for a Basque high speed rail line railwatch December 2017 11 10.00-13.00. Anne Taylor, secretary of Art Alert unitary area. Railfuture member Saltford Parish West Midlands and member of the Nuneaton station adoption Council recently met Councillor Mark Shelford, NEW BOOK team, said: “We urge people to make a trip of the B&NES cabinet member for transport, who [email protected] discovery to enjoy and learn from the creativity said the council required an assurance from by Art Alert artists John and Becca’s special Network Rail that there were paths for trains to n nNew hope for Walsall-Wolverhampton exhibition at the station.” call at the station. Parish Council chair Chris Rail, vital for the Raj and a new nation Warren advises that this assurance was given For the past two years, Railfuture West Midlands n nRailfuture West Midlands contact: has campaigned with local council officials to by the Halcrow consultancy a few years ago. Railways and the Raj their investment, very generous [email protected] Railfuture Severnside’s initial stance is that by Christian Wolmar terms. Because most of the lines reinstate direct passenger services between www.railfuture.org.uk/West Midlands Branch Walsall and Wolverhampton, although the there would be less potential conflict with inter- were not profitable, or did not city services in the Bristol-Bath corridor when Published in November 2017 local and national elections forced a hiatus reach that threshold, it was 90 mph class 165 and 166 trains take over Here, Christian reveals why in these proceedings. The campaign is now Indian taxpayers – mostly very Severnside local services in the next few years. India’s railway are so fascinating reinvigorated. The Railfuture team were able to poor – who had to make up the www.railfuture.org.uk/Severnside Branch for British readers review progress on the project with a Walsall shortfall. So although the British Twitter @RailfutureSSide built the lines, the Indians transport officer. West Midlands Trains have [email protected] IMAGES Picture: GETTY expressed a desire to run services between effectively paid for them. n n There is something very special Wolverhampton and Walsall subject to a Metro costs being cut Wessex about India’s railway network. My book examines all aspects of feasibility study, as part of a commitment under Many of Railfuture’s concerns about inflated It is not only the fact that it is the development and expansion of the rail network. the new franchise. Recent studies indicate there cost estimates for improving local rail services [email protected] heavily used, by 25 million is a much better business case than previously in the MetroWest Phase 1 project are being people per day, or that it was For example, it considers how thought, especially with new stations at addressed by North Somerset Council, which is n nNot quite there yet conceived and built by the the Indian passengers in third Willenhall and Darlaston (James Bridge). leading the project on behalf of the four unitary British during the colonial class were ill-treated for many So Railfuture West Midlands appears to authorities of Greater Bristol. An initial hourly We are only a few weeks into First/MTR’s period, or even that it is still years by the rail companies be pushing at a half-open door. They are passenger service on the Portishead line would tenure of the South Western franchise, but the most important part of the and yet contributed the lion’s concerned, however, that a viable service is require significantly less engineering work there are signs that timekeeping across the nation’s infrastructure. share for their upkeep and their provided with at least two trains an hour. We than was envisaged in the original proposal for network has deteriorated. The new operator No, it is more than that. profits, most of which found have agreed to assist Walsall Council officers a half-hourly service. In its latest Portishead can point the finger at Network Rail for most their way back to Britain. Rail Services newsletter, the council says it Railways are such an integral at future consultation events. We will soon of the delays but cannot escape responsibility The greatest travesty was the will not be necessary to increase line speed for trains turned out in a dirty condition or with part of the nation’s transport be asking for volunteers. Railfuture can take fact that India was not allowed from 30 to 50 mph or provide a double lead minor faults such as internal doors not working. system that it is impossible credit for re-activating the project through our to develop its own supply meetings with Walsall and Wolverhampton junction with the main line at Parson Street. South Western Railway must also take the rap to imagine the sub-continent Also removed from the scheme are a section of for lack of a trolley service on Waterloo-Exeter without them. industry for the railways, even council officers over the past two years. We will though the expertise was clearly double tracking in the Bower Ashton area and trains. Most worrying is a complaint from one Indeed, that is one of the reasons be doing our best to sustain WMT’s interest. available as a few examples alternative road access at Ashton Vale Road. of our members who, along with many others, India continued to expand show. n nShake-up for CrossCountry services North Somerset Council launched a second had to stand on a journey of 1h 40min because its rail network while other formal consultation in October. The Railfuture Railfuture West Midlands’ committee members a single five-car unit ran a service normally countries were cutting theirs. Instead, virtually all the response reaffirms support for the pragmatic operated by a 10-carriage train. There have locomotives and rolling stock joined other stakeholders and other volunteers reopening of the line. We welcome the decision India has never had a Beeching in October at Department for Transport pre- been few attempts to erase Stagecoach type period. Quite the opposite. were imported from Britain to build platforms at Pill and Portishead long branding from trains or stations, so perhaps we until independence, when one consultation workshops on the CrossCountry enough for five-car trains, although three-car Soon after independence in franchise post-2019. The aim of these sessions have to wait a little longer for the new South of the priorities of the Nehru sets will be used at first. We also support a Western Railway to get into its stride. 1947, despite the backlog in is to identify key issues and possible solutions simpler design for Portishead station. government was to create repairs caused by the war and railway workshops which for the future CrossCountry franchise. n nTimetable ambitions the horrors of the separation The DfT told the meeting that 57% of current n nBetter bus links to station have subsequently produced More encouraging is SWR’s active engagement of Pakistan and India, the thousands of locomotives and passengers travel for leisure, 28% are business Campaigning by Railfuture and our member government began to build new travellers, while only 15% are commuters. with rail users over its innovative timetable tens of thousands of carriages. Cam & Dursley Transportation Group has for December 2018. Railfuture Wessex will lines. Ridership has grown from 32 million journeys The last chapter of my book borne fruit with a dramatic improvement to be coordinating Railfuture’s response to the This was partly because in 2009, when the present franchise began, bus links from the Gloucestershire station in consultation and in the meantime members includes an account of my to 38 million in 2016, and only 10% of delays September. Stagecoach West services 60 and the roads were so poor that first couple of days travelling have been attending meetings to discuss regions without railways were encountered by CrossCountry Trains are 62 now call hourly at Cam & Dursley station on options with SWR managers. On close study, around the Indian rail network, attributable to the train operator. their route from Dursley and Gloucester. The effectively cut off, but it was including a trip along the the alluring promise to “accelerate journeys also a result of the fact that the Transport Focus presented relevant findings average waiting time for a train to Bristol is now on a number of routes” means cutting station Konkan railway on the west from its most recent passenger satisfaction seven minutes and to Gloucester 25 minutes. stops and compromising timetable resilience, system left by the British was coast, built as recently as 1993. not big enough for such a vast survey, showing that ticket pricing and seat Rail connections to Bristol are also shown so difficult choices have to be made. This ROMANTIC IMAGE: A publicity poster for Indian State Railways Nothing matches a rail trip in country. availability were the most important issues to in the bus timetable. David Smith of CDTG dilemma highlights chronic problems with India – it is like none other in the CrossCountry passengers. commented: “We are pleased with this service infrastructure across the network. Inadequate The network was started in gesture towards its colonial There is one little-known fact world. Put it at the top of your The DfT representatives then posed the and it appears that people are beginning to use power supply and poor track geometry prevent 1853 by the British who went possession, there is no doubt ignored by the imperialists. Most it. We are publicising it on the Dursley Matters bucket list. workshop participants an interesting question. trains reaching their maximum speed potential, on to develop them continually. that the development of the of the network built in the first section of Facebook.” This represents an n You can email Christian to reserve Should the CrossCountry franchise remain while flat junctions and single-line sections lead While this has been presented Indian railway system was 30 years or so was constructed encouraging outcome of points Railfuture made to regular delays. We want the best service a signed copy of Railways and the broadly as it is, or should it split up so as to by imperialists as a benevolent initiated and carried out for by private rail companies based provide a long-distance quality express service at a meeting with the managing director of possible on the network which SWR inherited. Raj at a specially discounted rate of British interests. in Britain who were given a serving only main centres, with a separate Stagecoach West in 2014. Car parking remains In addition, we need to press for greater £18 inc p&p for Railfuture mem- a concern at Cam & Dursley but the improved investment in infrastructure if we are to achieve After a slow start, expansion guarantee of five per cent on bers: [email protected] section to provide inter-urban and local bus services should persuade more rail users accelerated rapidly following services, possibly in alternative franchises? real improvement in capacity and journey to leave their cars at home. times. the 1857 mutiny, which could The workshop participants were divided, be seen as the start of the n nBigger car park needed at Freshford although there was some agreement that n nOptions for the Island Line independence movement which local services between Birmingham and Railfuture welcomes GWR’s enlargement of achieved its goal 90 years later. Leicester and on to Stansted should not be SWR has published a 20-page brochure the car park at Kemble and its announcement part of a future CrossCountry franchise. The Developing a More Sustainable Future for the In response, the British realised to extend the one at Gloucester, both of which Island Line. The document is full of options but that the railway was the best present problems are obvious. Trains too Picture: CHRIS GAMMELL we called for in a BBC Radio Gloucestershire somewhat vague about what needs to be done. way of moving troops around short, with insufficient seats and poor seating interview in 2014. Railfuture Severnside configuration (not enough four-seat bays However there is a determination, expressed the country, and was essential has now written to GWR asking whether it Picture: SHUTTERSTOCK and seats not aligned to windows), expensive by the managing director in his foreword, to in retaining control as it would can provide designated parking spaces at seize the moment and secure the line’s future. walk-on fares, and inadequate on-board Freshford, north-east Somerset, where the have been far too costly to have Stakeholder meetings are promised and large barracks stationed in every refreshments. station seems to be attracting commuters who consultees will need to respond by the end of have difficulty parking in Bath. According to town and city. n nNuneaton’s art escape December. the Office of Rail and Road, recorded journeys The pattern of lines also Nuneaton’s station has been adopted by the at Freshford grew from 18,000 in 1997/98 to n nAGM 2018 will be in Southampton favoured British interests. All Art Alert group, which is enabling people 43,000 in 2015/16 but the station approach is Looking forward to 2018, we have booked a the early routes connected ports who enjoy sewing to work on individual and crammed with cars. with the hinterland to facilitate collaborative projects through the Escape Arts venue in the centre of Southampton for our n nFaster trains may aid reopening plan AGM on the afternoon of Saturday 10 March. the easier and cheaper transport Sewing Group. Sewing workshops are now of raw materials to the UK, being held every second Monday of the month We support the campaign to reopen the station n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/Wessex+Branch as well as making it easier to in the Old Station Cafe on platform 1, from at Saltford, in the Bath & North East Somerset Twitter @RailfutureWessx 1983: Barsi light railway distribute British imports. 2013 REALITY: Passengers at Chennai station wait for trains 12 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Join Railfuture online at www.railfuture.org.uk/join railwatch December 2017 13 RENEWABLE TRACTION PROJECT THE CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL FREIGHT A renewable traction project at aim of bypassing the grid. The Network Rail has access to research associate Dr Nathaniel Imperial College London aims car company Jaguar Land Rover 18,000 kilometres of track. Bottrell. Solar panels have an to connect solar panels directly has the biggest solar PV array in Installing solar PV on half of that added advantage for rail. They Rail freight cuts pollution and danger to the lines which provide Britain and can supply 30% of its could meet 40% of its annual produce power at around 750V electricity to trains, with the Staffordshire factory’s demands. traction power demand, said DC, as used by third rail trains. By Lee Davies [email protected] at Bourne End to enable a half-hourly through Thousands of tonnes of materials Thames Valley service between Maidenhead and Marlow. North East needed to construct a major new Derogation from Network Rail’s high standards mine in North Yorkshire could be transported by rail. [email protected] for main lines may be necessary, because of the [email protected] restricted site. The first train for the new n nParking levy for public transport n nDaring plan for Darlington £1 billion Woodsmith mine near n nIdeas for post-HST2 services Oxfordshire County Council is considering the An ambitious scheme to rebuild and enhance Whitby was loaded with aggre- introduction of a workplace parking levy to In response to the Railfuture passenger group’s Darlington Bank Top station includes the gates for A V Dawson’s Teesside fund public transport investment, following the request for ideas on train services on existing construction of another island platform and, freight terminal near Middles- lines to complement HS2 services, the Thames controversially, the separation of the Bishop brough. It will be transported by example of Nottingham. The council’s vision for Auckland line trains from those going towards a futuristic Oxford includes tunnels under the Valley branch committee’s initial aims are: lorry from Middlesbrough, 30 o Reintroduce CrossCountry trains between Middlesbrough and Saltburn, which have miles to the site of the mine. city centre for buses, driverless pods, and the run through without any visible difficulty for reopening of the Cowley line. We can welcome South Coast/Thames Valley and Scotland via the decades. Opposition to this separation is “Hundreds of thousands of GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Picture: RAILWAY the reopening of the Cowley line, but the West Coast main line. already evident, and increasingly vocal. tonnes of aggregates are needed other proposals are from fantasy-land. Apart o More capacity between Coventry and for a project of this size,” said from damage to archaeological remains below Birmingham International to allow two n nNew trains needed for Metro Neil McShane, the rail manager street level, subways for buses or trams require CrossCountry trains per hour to serve those Negotiations continue at NEXUS (Tyne and for A V Dawson. “We are keen access ramps at each end which would take stations, instead of one train per hour non-stop Wear Passenger Transport Executive) to obtain to promote rail wherever we can up a lot of road space in narrow streets, and via Solihull. funding for replacement electric trains for the for the increased efficiencies and the stations would require escalators and lifts o Some CrossCountry trains to run via Milton Metro, which carries 40 million passengers environmental benefits it can to bring passengers up to street-level. In the Keynes to avoid overcrowding on trains via annually (a figure equal to that just reached by provide.” middle of the High Street, perhaps? As for pods Birmingham. Greater Manchester’s Metrolink). The present fleet is over 30 years old, and is showing its Some of the material being An opportunity to clean up the air in London (similar to those at Heathrow Terminal 5), these o More West Coast main line trains to stop at brought in by ship, road and rail have limited capacity and are unsuited for mass Milton Keynes. age. Unless new trains come soon, there will GB Railfreight has signed a three-year contract our services in London and ensure that the have to be reductions in service levels because will be stockpiled at Teesside public transit, unless they are coupled together to until it is needed for the Sirius to manage the movements and preparation of economy continues to function effectively.” n nStratford-Honeybourne the trains are becoming unreliable. Provision of The deal has the potential to lower air pollution form trains! a 25kV AC capability may be included on any Minerals mine project. all trains running in and out of the DP World Railfuture Thames Valley has met Railfuture new trains, as well as the 1.5kV DC used now. London Gateway Port, which began operations in London by reducing the number of lorries. n nProgress in Buckinghamshire West Midlands committee members to discuss A covered conveyor belt is being built to carry 20 million tonnes on the Thames estuary in 2013. John Smith, The picture shows the first intermodal train Railfuture Thames Valley has had a useful proposals to reopen the Stratford-Honeybourne n nBetter Sunday trains on the Coast line of polyhalite a year from the managing director of GB Railfreight, said: from the new port in September 2013, carrying meeting with Buckinghamshire County line. West Midlands has greater priorities The Sunday service along the Newcastle to 1,500 metre deep mine to Tees- “This is a fantastic opportunity to develop containers to Trafford Park, Manchester. Council’s new transport officer James Gleave, elsewhere in the region and one problem is Middlesbrough section now starts over an side where it will be made into who has been asked to produce a strategic access to Stratford from the South. It was agreed hour earlier and finishes later. The timetable a multi-nutrient fertiliser called plan. He seemed interested and keen to listen improvements we thought would not begin until that our top shared priority should be the POLY4 and exported to many ­Channel Tunnel. iPort is expected “It is great to see bulks leaving freight will reduce road conges- to us. During our discussion, we suggested that Cotswold line – redoubling at both ends and a May, in some cases, begin with the December to be operational in the New Year the port from Tilbury’s dedi- tion, road crashes and pollution. timetable change. Most trains now extend 4.5 countries around the world. Oxfordshire County Council’s transport strategy turn-back at Hanborough. n and will be able to handle trains cated railhead. We and URM “These additional rail services could become an exemplar or template for miles from Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe, giving Teesport £6m crane up to 775 metres long, including have invested significantly in the n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/Thames Valley Branch James Cook Hospital a near-hourly service. will remove 840 large lorries each other counties. In the meantime, Atkins has A new £6 million Liebherr continental gauge wagons. An new processing recycling hub. day off the route which is the been commissioned to redesign the junction Twitter @RailfutureTV Also from December, the Bishop Auckland- crane has speeded up container Amazon depot is on part of the We expect to see many more rail Darlington line’s frequency is doubled to hourly equivalent of around 3,360 aver- ­handling at Teesport, five miles site. loads of glass cullet from the port age cars. We urge the Govern- gerard.duddridge every day except Sunday. The improvement from Redcar. The crane was was achieved by extending Darlington-Saltburn n Glass on the go throughout the year.” ment to prioritise further work @railfuture.org.uk Devon and Cornwall co-financed by the European n journeys, as requested by Railfuture and the The first trainload of bulk glass Jumbo train on this key corridor, as part of its n nDisintegration student accommodation The council expressed Bishop Line community rail partnership. Union’s Connecting Europe facil- industrial and emissions strate- ity. Container volumes at Tees- cullet ran from Tilbury, Essex, The first “jumbo” train with The closure of Exeter’s bus closed the road between concern for its revenue gies, to improve productivity n nHexham station refreshments port have grown 12% a year for to Encirc’s factory at Elton, 2,300 tonnes of building materi- station, planned for October, the entrance and exit of St protection and the final and reduce air and carbon diox- the past seven years. Direct rail Cheshire, in October, part of a als in 34 wagons ran from Cardiff is postponed until the New David’s station, and as the response was: “This is Tyne Valley community rail partnership has ide emissions.” links to both north and south of process to give the glass a new to Acton, London, in September. Year, following the collapse forecourt road is one way, something that should been instrumental in reopening the refreshment the UK have enabled the port to life. The 1,200 tonnes of glass is The train carried limestone from n of funding for the associated no buses could call, except be arranged via the utility kiosk at Hexham station. The facility is run by Unfulfilled potential Journey Enterprises, a charity that finds work cut costs, save road miles and the product of a new recycling Wenvoe and Taff’s Well quarries city centre redevelopment. inbound from Bude and company which would have facility set up at Tilbury by URM for use in producing asphalt and Eurotunnel has carried 25 million Okehampton. We contacted for those with learning difficulties. Judging by reduce emissions, according The chaos of temporary to pay for it.” early newspaper reports, the reopened kiosk Ltd. The cullet is produced from concrete in London and south- lorries on Shuttle freight trains stops distributed around the bus company and Earlier contact with the to chief executive officer Frans since the service began in 1994. has been warmly welcomed. Calje. glass collected across the south east England. Train operator DB city centre streets has been Great Western Railway to utility company had revealed n of England, including kerbside Cargo UK said transporting the The rapid growth in e-commerce, avoided for a bit longer. ask for a temporary two- no concern for bus-rail n nInter-city boost for Morpeth Doncaster’s iPort collections and bottle banks. The materials by rail was the equiva- between 20-30% per annum, In a letter to the city council way operation through connections. Railfuture welcomes the improved inter- A £500 million freight terminal port has been reconfigured to lent of 80 lorryloads. shows how essential the Channel in April 2016 Railfuture the forecourt. The bus city service at Morpeth that comes with is being built at Rossington, five create a dedicated bulk materi- n Tunnel has become in the trans- n nMPs back rail Demand management warned that the new bus company said it would like the December timetable. A more local, but miles from Doncaster, which als rail terminal for recycled and port and logistics infrastructure station, further from Exeter’s to, but passengers were left Torbay Tory MP Kevin Foster useful, Sunday service between Newcastle will provide freight train links construction materials. Peter The line from Ipswich to Felix- linking the UK to continental railway stations, would confused and some were had a “positive” meeting with and Morpeth is now offered by Northern. to major British ports and the Ward of the Port of Tilbury said: stowe is to be improved to clear Europe. Approximately one mil- disadvantage rail passengers faced with expensive taxi Rail Minister Paul Maynard in However, efforts to introduce a local service the way for more freight trains. lion e-commerce packages go via travelling on to places such journeys such as £45 to an attempt to speed up plans north of Morpeth are meeting with varying Enhancements will be completed the Channel Tunnel every day. as Sidmouth, Chudleigh and Okehampton. for a £13 million station at success, though several local councils along Five trainloads of stainless steel in 2019 and are part of a plan for Consultants EY, in their research Ashburton. Passengers by car and taxi Edginswell, to serve Torbay the intended route actively support the idea. a strategic rail freight network. paper Economic Footprint of the Railfuture also suggested from the north side of Exeter Hospital, Torquay, as well Efforts to get buses to use the turning circle Four trains a week, each carrying 1,300 tonnes of stainless steel, They will allow another 12 trains Channel Tunnel, published in that connectivity could be were diverted 2.5 miles as businesses and shops in at Morpeth station, referred to in earlier are running from Sheffield to Immingham, thanks to a 40-year- in and out of the port each day, November 2016, estimated that issues of Railwatch, have still not always improved by joining bus through Exeter’s busiest the area. Torbay Council has old partnership between DB Cargo UK and Outokumpu which a 36% increase on the existing 33 goods linked to express and cou- services together, such as been successful, and publicity for them at the operates in 30 countries, including Finland, Sweden, Germany daily rail freight services. rier services transported through streets to the station. already spent more than station is non-existent. Looking to the east of Sidmouth to Exeter with To avoid this diversion we £500,000 on the station and Britain. The steel goes on from Immingham by ship and Philippa Edmunds, Freight on the Channel Tunnel have a value Exeter to Crediton and the area, the South East Northumberland Rail rail to factories in Avesta and Degerfors in Sweden. Another made a request by phone to project. Labour MP Luke User Group is awaiting the outcome of Network Rail Manager, said: “These addi- of around £27 billion per year running via Exeter St David’s Devon County Council for Pollard (Plymouth Sutton trainload of stainless steel runs each week to Liverpool for tional rail freight services can and are responsible for 272,000 Rail’s GRIP 3 (Governance for Railway export to America. Sonia Hampton of DB Cargo UK, said: “We rail station. nearby roadside parking to and Devonport) has called Investment Projects) study over reopening the be filled almost immediately as jobs across Europe. The tragedy are celebrating 40 years of working with Outokumpu. DB Bus-rail integration was also be made free for 30 minutes, for £30 million to be spent to Ashington, Blyth and Tyne rail lines. shippers have been demanding is that much of this freight trav- cut the rail journey time from Cargo UK also transports millions of tonnes of finished metals additional rail services on the elled by rail only through the hit in May when a three- for setting down passengers, n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/North East Branch week sewerage upgrade for during the closure period. Plymouth to Exeter. and raw materials across the UK and into continental Europe.” parallel rail route to the A14 cor- Channel Tunnel. It should go by Twitter @RailfutureNEast ridor for years. Increasing rail rail for the whole journey. 14 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk railwatch December 2017 15 Cymru Wales [email protected] n nElectrification progress Balfour Beatty has been selected to wire

the Great Western main line between Bristol DOMINEY Picture: PHIL

Parkway and Cardiff, excluding Patchway Picture: NETWORK RAIL and Severn Tunnels which have already been Rewards for innovation completed. After a pause in mast and wiring This year’s Community Rail Valleys rode on their local trains work since March, October saw wiring between awards again highlighted and then started to work on Newport and Cardiff to coincide with closures the best achievements of the carbon savings achieved for bridge work. The entire project should be this remarkable grassroots completed by late 2018 and will include the by using train rather than car, four-track sections between Severn Tunnel and movement. I can only touch on producing posters, a book, video Cardiff. the huge range of imaginative debates and spreading the word and innovative projects that I on Facebook. At Cardiff, the four-track main line was lowered was privileged to see as one of At Smethwick Rolfe Street this autumn at the rail intersection bridge east the awards judges. of Central station where it crosses the feeder to between Birmingham and the city’s docks. For different periods, the main From a Railfuture point of view, Wolverhampton, initiated by line and then the relief lines were closed. Train it was good to know that the the customer service adviser services between Newport and Cardiff were first prize in the Innovation at the station, a mural and reduced during these closures. There were category went to Purbeck garden project brought together complete closures on two weekends for bridge Manchester’s three main railway stations were connected for the first time on Community Rail Partnership a diverse community to create demolition and replacement work at Mardy and 9 November when the Ordsall Chord bridge was opened. Rail minister Paul Maynard for the restoration of the them. They also improved the Splott. installed the final rail clip to mark completion of the Network Rail project which Wareham to Swanage service station, with a smartly presented n nWelsh affairs committee will link Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road stations. It will reduce congestion at after 45 years. The restored historical display area which Piccadilly station and clear the way for new services. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy link successfully carried 13,000 can also be used as a room for Railfuture has responded to the inquiry of the Burnham and Salford mayor Paul Dennett joined Mr Maynard to walk across part of passengers in its first 60 days community events. Welsh affairs committee of the Westminster the bridge. The first service is scheduled for December. of operation this year, and the Parliament into the cancellation of plans to Other award-winning projects operating season for next year included marketing campaigns, electrify the 60 miles between Cardiff and but wants to see more details and costings but smaller amounts in the north with the will be extended by 50% to RINGING IN THE CHANGES: The Swanage Town Crier points Swansea in favour of “better value for money” some stunning community before giving support. We need to be sure Wrexham-Chester re-doubling. Railfuture North 90 days. the way ahead as the Swanage Railway rejoined the national bi-mode trains. West wants to see the new franchisee address art schemes, fantastic station existing services to West Wales and along the When it comes to station building restorations, network in June. Winner of the Association of Community Rail Heart of Wales line do not suffer. Professor this imbalance between north and south. n nWales and Borders franchise gardens, the bar has been set landscaping, bug hotels, Partnerships photographic competition, the Swanage Link also Barry’s new line would bypass Neath. We are won this year’s Innovation award A summary tender document of the not convinced that a 30-minute journey time n nNew disruption plan needed high for the past 10 years by information presentation and requirements for the franchise bid was issued between Swansea and Cardiff is achievable Support the Oldham Rochdale Manchester rail Hindley near Wigan, where the carol singing. There was a station friends group has won moving First World War tribute vulnerable children from West with the Friends of Cark station by Transport for Wales on 29 September but at a viable cost. However, the proposals could lines group (STORM) is calling on Network Rail Cumbria. The train ran from and chairs the Furness Railway it provided very little information on expected potentially bring huge benefits for Swansea’s many awards, and where station by Swalerail community rail to revise its disruption plan after Storm Ophelia Maryport station and was Trust. service levels. There were only two indications limited rail network, which it needs. caused cancellations and disruption in October use has more than doubled to partnership that brought a high- supported by Northern, DRS Finally, the Association of of improvements, which were Sunday services on the Calder Valley line from Manchester to 333,000 passengers a year since speed Javelin train to Sheerness, on all lines and 15-minute interval services on n n£50m station planned for Llanwern the group started work on the and the local authority. The Community Rail Partnerships Rochdale and beyond. On Monday 16 October, decorated with poppies to some Cardiff valley lines. Further devolution station. This year, Hindley won third award came for the Rail made a well-deserved lifetime A new £50 million park and ride railway sta- a significant number of afternoon/evening commemorate the important of rail powers is still awaited as is confirmation Gold in the stations category, Room at Millom, an interactive tion is planned for Llanwern, according to the trains were cancelled or terminated short at role of ambulance trains and award to Professor Paul of the financial settlement. Rather than follow as well as second prize in the display about the railway’s Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2018-19, Rochdale. STORM believes that, following the their dedicated crews. Salveson MBE, who started off the traditional model for procuring a rail “small projects” category for role in the town’s industrial unveiled in October. opening of the Todmorden curve, it would be The Department for Transport the community rail movement service, with the issue of a set specification a display of the local area’s past. An award for outstanding www.railfuturewales.org.uk possible for trains to reverse there, giving more makes an award each year for in 1994. The movement that companies bid for, the Transport for Wales mining heritage. To cap it all volunteer contribution went approach is to allow new ideas to be explored Twitter @RailfutureWales passengers a chance to finish their journey the organisation which has continues to go from strength to the Hindley Friends’ secretary made the most outstanding to Tim Owen for work with strength, and Paul continues to and collaborative working relationships to beyond Rochdale. Changes to signal control be developed – setting the tone for the new Sheila Davidson was rightly contribution to community rail, both Furness and Lakes Line drive forward innovative and North West arrangements could also help to improve recognised as providing service. Proposals for the South Wales Metro options for Littleborough passengers. and the overall winners this year community rail partnerships. challenging ideas and to enrich are being developed alongside the Wales the Outstanding Volunteer Tim is also an active volunteer the lives of everyone he meets. [email protected] were Community Rail Cumbria, and Borders service to aid development of an n nPoor ticket gate plans Contribution of the year. who look after the Cumbrian ADVERTISEMENT integrated transport system in the region. The n nNorth-South divide affects Wirral line STORM is concerned about Northern’s plans Children and young people are coast, Windermere and Furness deadline to submit final tenders is to introduce ticket gates at ground level at the future of the railway, so it lines. This year they also won 21 December 2017. In October, German- Services on many Arriva Trains Wales lines have doubled over the past 10 years, while Rochdale station. Currently the ticket office is at is right that one of the awards an award for “involving diverse owned Arriva announced its withdrawal from should be for projects that groups” at Green Road station the new franchise bid. The three remaining the glaring exception is the Borderlands the top of the stairs. RDS Group Travel line between Wrexham and Bidston which involve them in community where station improvements bidders are from the Netherlands, France and n nMid Cheshire line service doubling rail lines. This year the (wholly independent of Railfuture) China. remains an hourly service. This service runs were carried out with the mostly in Wales, but affects a key travel route Following passenger counts before the letting winner was the talented and charity Turning Point, who n nMetro proposed for Swansea Bay in Merseyside. Services within and into Cardiff of the new Northern franchise, Mid Cheshire innovative Devon & Cornwall help people overcoming drug have increased by 128% from 2004 to 14,237 Rail Users Association was invited to make Rail Partnership with a Carbon or alcohol addiction. Another Picture: transat.com A metro system linking Swansea with its Reduction Challenge. Local award came for their work in surrounding towns has been suggested by in 2017, while those between Cardiff, Swansea submissions on the proposed timetable for the Professor Mark Barry of Cardiff University. and West Wales have increased 125% to 1,697 line from Manchester to Chester via Altrincham, schools in the Looe and Tamar arranging a Santa Special for Already known for the South Wales metro in the same time period. In contrast, Marches from May 2018. The proposed doubling of the based on Cardiff, the Swansea Bay version line services increased by about 19% while Sunday service from the present two-hourly would cost over £1 billion. He points out that North Wales line services increased by 5%. The to hourly should lead to big improvements in A lifetime a similar sum will buy only 14 miles of new Wrexham-Bidston service remained the same patronage. MCRUA joined other stakeholders to motorway around Newport. over the same period. protest to Northern about the “awful” Monday- of service Some additional lines and stations could lead Despite this, passenger numbers on the Saturday service. Northern drew up a revised Paul Salveson waving to new rail services, supplemented by buses Borderlands line have grown. Excluding the draft timetable after consulting MCRUA. from the cab of a steam Seven-night spring visit to Toulouse feeding into stations such as Llanelli and end stations where other services terminate, n nHalton Curve work under way engine at Bolton engine Gowerton. The most dramatic feature is a new numbers travelling through all of the other shed in the 1960s. He by high speed trains line between Swansea and Port Talbot. This stations on the line have grown from 811,001 Work was under way in November to install a said: “A little group of would be faster and shorter than the existing in 2004/5 to 1,122,686 in 2014/15 – an crossover at Frodsham Junction to allow trains us developed an early Wednesday 2 to Wednesday 9 May 2018 tortuous route via Neath, and if the curvaceous approximate 38% increase over the 10-year to move in two directions from the main line approach to ‘community Details and bookings: Trevor Garrod, line between Cardiff and Bridgend is upgraded period. ATW passenger numbers increased 66% to the Halton Curve. The £18 million project rail’ by adopting the for at least 100mph, Professor Barry thinks over the same period, from 18 million to aims to improve rail travel from Liverpool into shed and spending our 15 Clapham Road South, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ journey times between Swansea and Cardiff 30 million. Cheshire and North Wales. Sundays cleaning Black could be reduced from 55 to 30 minutes. [email protected] Network Rail and the Welsh Government have www.railfuture.org.uk/North West Branch 5s and 8Fs.” Railfuture cautiously welcomes the concept invested significant sums in South Wales, Twitter @RailfutureNWest 16 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Please remember Railfuture in your will: www.railfuture.org.uk/legacies railwatch December 2017 17 Election clarification It is possible that members may have misinterpreted the article in October 2017 Railwatch concern- A high-speed visit to Bonn ing the Board Election process By David Bosomworth of the freight traffic, to Koblenz described on page 3. The Election [email protected] where we changed on to a dou- Returning Officer is of course A party of Railfuture members ble deck train for the 5000 horse completely neutral in the matter power dash to Bonn, noting that of which candidates members enjoyed an autumn trip to Bonn, starting with a journey from St stairs in a railway coach hardly should vote for. He does not help short station stops. “approve” any candidate. He Pancras to Brussels (230 miles) may however, as has been done on the 10.58 Eurostar, one of the Some of the group sped north to original Alstom units. in the past, append a note to a BISATT Picture: PHILIP Wuppertal to see the famous sus- candidate’s election statement, We went forward to Koln (144 pended tramway, the Schwebe- where a matter of fact might miles) on the latest type of bahn, whose cars hang under influence members’ decisions Deutsche Bahn Inter City Express a steel viaduct high above the on which candidate to support. heading for Frankfurt. street or river. In this particular case, if an indi- Finally, over the last 21 miles up The journey home was marred vidual who is standing has NOT the Rhine to Bonn, we arrived on by border delays in Brussels availed themselves of the oppor- time at 17.12 on the oldest type of where a large number of passen- tunity to have a discussion with THE FLEXIBILITY OF LIGHT RAIL: Route 66 in Bonn travels gers meant the 18.57 Eurostar ran inter-city train, 10 or so coaches underground in the city centre, but surfaces on segregated the Vice Presidents panel, the push-pulled by an electric loco- 25 minutes late, giving us more ERO may append a note to that tracks in the suburbs, and as seen here in Konigswinter, on a time to further consider the pros BLETCHLEY: This is an artist’s impression of what Bletchley station might look like if the East motive. single track, sharing space with road traffic effect with the candidate’s elec- West Rail route is built. The EWR station would be built on the 1960s concrete flyover with Bonn was the capital of West Ger- and cons of Brexit. tion statement. a footbridge connection to the existing station on the West Coast main line. According to a many from 1949 until 2000 when past the Lorelei Rock to Kaub on of the river each carrying a pro- We left with the impression the New £13m station report in New Civil Engineer, the cost of the East West Rail project has been cut by a third and unification determined that Ber- the east bank lasted 100 minutes cession of trains, and many large Germans are “very good at pub- construction work should start next year lin should resume that role, so with the ship unable to make barges and passenger vessels lic transport”. Work got under way in Septem- much speed against the current. on the Rhine – Europe’s great- there was much of interest in the No apparently impossible prob- ber on a £13 million new station at the name of our bank accounts schemes this year. Mr Carne is a £100 - Mr C Brown, North Hyke- For the next two hours the group est artery indeed. A local electric city to see. Celebrated are Bonn’s lems with electrification (their Maghull North, on the Ormskirk former vice-president for the oil are also being changed. Many ham, Lincoln LN6 9ZP two famous sons, Ludwig van was surrounded by “transport” train took us back along the east network is largely finished using branch of Merseyrail’s Northern company Royal Dutch Shell. changes will have to be made to £50 - Hathaway, Isle of Islay Beethoven (1770-1827) and Dr with busy railways on either side bank line, which carries most unobtrusive posts and span line. Merseyrail is also working our documents and website but with Lancashire County Council PA48 7UE Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967). wires) and the country does not historical documents on the web- Engineer honoured ISSN 0267-5943 www.railwatch.org.uk seem beaten by the cost and dis- on providing a new rail link to site will not be changed. £20 - Graham Lund, Girvan Apart from the pleasure of tak- Skelmersdale and a new station Carolyn Griffiths was appointed KA26 9BG ing refreshment and conversing railwatch ruption of installing tramways. this year as president of the Insti- in the warm September sun, the But they are behind us when it at Headbolt Lane in Knowsley in Corby electrification £20 - N Bray, Gloucester GL3 3TE is edited by Ray King, 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU a £300 million project. tution of Mechanical Engineers. group made two excursions. Tel: 020 8985 8548 [email protected] comes to modernising stations Despite cancellation of the Mid- She was the first woman in all £20 - Eric T Smith, Leeds LS11 The first was to the one-time gov- Printed by Print-Out, High Street, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4JD and cleaning the outside of their land main line electrification, nine of the jobs she held during High speed college 7NN ernment administrative centre at Tel: 01223 232709. Railfuture members receive ­Railwatch free. trains. There appears to be little work is going ahead to elec- her career. difference in reliability and time- Doncaster’s new £25 million trify the line from Kettering to £20 - J Harris, Wrexham LL11 Bad Godesberg. We crossed the Railwatch abides by the National Union of Journalists’ code of conduct. 3DA keeping. ­National College for High Speed Corby. Transport Secretary Chris Christmas invitation Rhine to the east bank, to Konigs- Non-members can subscribe online at www.railfuture.org.uk/shop or by Rail officially opened its doors in winter, from where a metre- German inter-city trains spend Grayling was questioned by the Railfuture members could buy £10 - Philip Smart, Ipswich IP3 sending £8 (cheque payable to Railfuture) to: Alan Cocker, 11 Derwent October. HS2 engineers are likely House of Commons transport gauge rack railway ascended the more time in stations than ours Railfuture membership as a 0PU, Mr K Montague, Attlebor- Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QR. do but they have to contend with to be trained there. committee in October about why Drachenfels. Christmas present for a friend. ough NR17 2AS, Ian & Jo Jack- different platform heights and electrification schemes had been This rock gave superb views Copy deadlines: For the next issue, published in April, please email Railfuture name son, Lichfield WS13 8AD, Philip gaps, fewer doors per car and cancelled. south into the Rhine gorge and ­material to [email protected] by Friday 12 January. Late news no Railfuture draw Bissatt, Taunton TA1 4JT, E V very small seat numbers which Railfuture has been the cam- northwards on to the plain later than Monday 22 January. Postal address: 4 Christchurch Square, Network Rail bonus Smith, Lytham St Annes FY8 1JY, luggage-burdened passengers paigning name of the Railway Results of the Railfuture 2017 where, we were told, Koln cathe- London E9 7HU. draw were announced at the Peter Clark, Ayr KA7 2TJ, Ralph find difficult to locate. Development Society since 2001. Network Rail chief executive dral, some 22 miles away, could Dynamic Triangle conference in Coulson, LN8 3DR, S Jones, Mar- Advertising: Full page: £190. Half page: £95. Quarter page: £45. But from 1 January 2018, Rail- Mark Carne is in line for a £50,000 be seen. Small ads are free to members. Otherwise: 30p per word. The supply of new trains seems Leicester in November: ket Harborough LE16 7DE much the same as at home and future will be the official name bonus on top of his £683,000 sal- The one-mile-long rack line itself £500 - John Rice, Halsall, Orm- The draw was organised by Chris Please report any problems with the delivery or condition of your copy of there are few locomotive-hauled too. The change of name was ary. Network Rail has been criti- was of great interest. Opened skirk L39 8RJ Bates who reports that there was Railwatch to [email protected] or to the E9 7HU address above. passenger trains. approved by the annual general cised for failing to implement in 1882, electrified in 1955, and £200 - Peter Turner, Halstead, a net profit of £1,549, after ticket meeting in May. The name of our electrification schemes prop- modernised in the mid-1990s, On the freight side our wagon Sussex sales of £2,559. Railfuture not-for-profit company will be erly, leading to the Government it contained a well-presented fleet, such as it is, is generally notified to Companies House and scrapping several electrification museum at the lower station. is independent and voluntary. It is the campaigning name of the Railway cleaner than DB so rail freight ­Development Society Ltd, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. looks better in the UK, but it is RAILFUTURE AGM 2018 Transport for the day was by Registered in England and Wales No 5011634. thinner on the ground. Notice is hereby given that the Election and AGM paperwork, U-Bahn, a heavyweight tramway ­Registered Office: 24 Chedworth Place, Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. 14th annual general meeting of including a booking form for sometimes in the street, at other Trevor Garrod organised and Join Railfuture Ltd (formerly known the optional buffet lunch, will times in shallow tunnel, which Media enquiries conducted the visit so the writer Get four copies of Railwatch magazine a year, early-bird as the Railway Development be produced for the printer by operated frequently with speed Bruce Williamson, 29 Granby Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4LT. thanks him on behalf of those discounts for our two annual conferences Society Ltd) will be held at Holy- 28 February 2018 and should be and precision and which catered Tel: 0117 9272954 Mobile: 07759 557389 who took part for his initiative, and the chance to help improve Britain’s railways rood Hotel, 81 Holyrood Rd, received by members around very well indeed for the travel Email: [email protected] hard work and kindly attentive- JOIN USING PAYPAL AT www.railfuture.org.uk/join Edinburgh EH8 8AU on Satur- mid-March. needs of the citizens. The ticket ness to our needs. machines speak English. £18 per year (special offer). Similar trips are planned for n day 12 May 2018. Motions for discussion at the Membership Individual £18 per year (special offer price) Pensioners, students and unemployed: £14. 2018. There is much to see and n There will be a morning session AGM must be sent to the Com- The second excursion, next day, Joint £23 Joint: £23. User groups, community and parish councils: £21 much to learn from our neigh- n starting at 10.45 with two guest pany Secretary, 24 Chedworth centred on a paddle-boat ride Pensioners, students and unwaged £14 You can join using PayPal via www.railfuture.org.uk or by post, please bours. n speakers followed by a break Place, Tattingstone, Ipswich, Suf- southwards, up the Rhine gorge. Rail user groups, community and parish councils £21 ­contact Railfuture Membership, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold for lunch. The formal AGM will folk IP9 2ND to arrive by Satur- After an 80-minute journey on an all-stations, privatised, electric DN38 6JH. Email: [email protected] commence at 14.00. day 28 April 2018. They should Railwatch welcomes Name ...... train through Koblenz along the be posted in typed format or articles and pictures Nominations for election to the busy railway on the west bank of Renewals and other membership queries: board of directors must be sent emailed to CompanySecretary@ the river, the group alighted at from rail users and Address ...... Use PayPal on the website or send a cheque to to Railfuture Returning Officer, railfuture.org.uk. Bad Salzig to await the paddler rail user groups 12 Valley View, Great Bourton, Railfuture Renewals, 24 Chedworth Place, ­Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND...... Postcode ...... By order of the board, L Butler, Goethe. Banbury OX17 1QJ to arrive by Email: [email protected] Send your material to: The Company Secretary. Railfuture Although built in 1913 and still Thursday 1 February 2018. Editor, 4 Christchurch Square, Email ...... is the campaigning name of the propelled by paddle wheels, Elections Board elections held annually. Nomination forms can be London E9 7HU Nomination forms can be Railway Development Society the ship was diesel driven. So it obtained from www.railfuture.org.uk/tiki-index.php?page=Elections Email: [email protected] Send to Railfuture, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold DN38 6JH obtained from the same address Ltd. More info about the AGM: looked original, vast and opu- Many other useful contact details can be found on the Please use email if possible but Cheques payable to Railfuture. Email: [email protected] Who’s Who or from the Railfuture website http://www.railfuture.org.uk/ lent, but had an out-of-character ­Railfuture website: www.railfuture.org.uk include your postal address www.railfuture.org.uk/elections. conferences/ smell and rumble. The voyage 18 railwatch December 2017 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ European Rail Timetable available at http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu railwatch December 2017 19 Brighter electric future for Breich Pictures: JOHN LEATHERDALE The Scottish Transport Minis- ter has intervened to prevent Network Rail closing Breich station on the Glasgow-Edin- burgh line via Shotts. Humza Yousaf said the station would be retained after the “overwhelm- ing response” to a survey was in favour of keeping it open. Mr Yousaf said talks would also be held on whether more ser- vices could stop at the station, which is currently served by one service a day in each direction, six days a week. The future of the station was under review as part of an elec- trification project on the Shotts line. It would have been the first closure of a Scottish station for 31 years - after Balloch Pier in 1986. Rail campaigner Graham Lark- bey said: “This is a victory for opponents of closure by stealth. “It’s a pity Chris Grayling wasn’t so robust with Network Rail over Pilning as his Scottish coun- terpart was over the exact same situation at Breich!” Despite losing its footbridge a year ago to make way for over- head wires, thus reducing its ser- vice to one-direction-only, usage at Pilning this year is already well up on the total for 2015/16, thanks to promotional activity by the station’s user group. CEREMONY: Francesca Caine and Andrew Sidgwick watch Will Pike cut the red ribbon You can check out the video and “Footbridge Demolition First Anniversary Song” and buy a A great ‘step’ forward for rail passengers T-shirt at www.pilningstation.uk More than 100 Hadley Wood group awards. Hadley Wood to the venue where she was residents gathered at the RUG picked up the Silver to speak. She told the local Night trains Hertfordshire station earlier Award for Best Campaign paper, the Comet: “Being at Night trains have a role to play this year to celebrate a rare while the Clara Zilahi Award an unmanned station at night as part of an international or achievement – the official for Best Campaigner went to when you are disabled and long-distance network, enabling opening of the accessible Francesca Caine. blind and there are fast freight trains rushing past is quite a rail to offer an alternative to the step-free entrance to the Also at the event was Andrew scary experience. plane and long-distance coach, northbound platform. Sidgwick, GTR’s programme writes Trevor Garrod. The impact of initiatives manager, who was said to be “It is a disgrace that The French region of Occitanie is like this on people’s lives the prime mover in the project. Biggleswade station is a ‘no subsidising a night service. was described by Will Pike Francesca thanked GTR for go’ place for disabled people. Travel for work or leisure is a In November, the Back-on-Track who performed the opening their help in providing the new fundamental right, but disabled network of organisations and ceremony. Will uses a entrance, the first on this route people are still excluded by campaigners went to Perpignan wheelchair since he was within Greater London, and inaccessible buildings and in south-west France for a meet- caught up in the 2008 terrorist many other improvements policies. Companies like Govia/ ing and visit organised by local attack on the Taj Mahal hotel in made in collaboration with Great Northern need to do activists, to learn from each oth- Mumbai. the user group. Elsewhere on better and be less rigid in their er’s experiences. The speech by Francesca the rail network, much needs response to difficulties.” This is to be followed by a con- Caine, chair of Hadley Wood to be done to make stations ference aimed specially at deci- Rail Users Group, was more accessible. Further ISSN 0267-5943 sion-makers at the European punctuated by the occasional up the East Coast main line 54 Parliament in Brussels on Tues- train, each heralded by at Biggleswade, disability day 30 January. Details: www. Will waving a flag. The campaigner Emily Brothers back-on-track.eu or contact achievements of the user had to take two taxis, one Trevor Garrod, 15 Clapham Road group were recognised in from Hitchin to Biggleswade South, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ. Railfuture’s 2017 rail user and another from the station [email protected] 9 770267 594000