Agenda Item No COUNTY COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL 5

THURSDAY, 30 JUNE 2016 AT 10.00 AM

RAIL STRATEGY

Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment

Author: Trevor Mason (Tel: 01992 556117)

Executive Member: Derrick Ashley, Executive Member for Environment, Planning & Transport

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To seek the Panel’s endorsement of an interim Rail Strategy.

2. Summary

2.1 The Rail Strategy sets out the County Council’s aspirations for improvements to the rail network.

2.2 A new interim Rail Strategy has been developed to support the County Council’s responses to the current round of Department for Transport and consultations.

2.3 The strategy has been developed through stakeholder engagement workshops and full public consultation.

2.4 This interim strategy will be reviewed once additional work, including the Transport Vision and station audit, has been completed.

3. Recommendation

3.1 That the Panel: a. Endorses the draft Rail Strategy as set out in Appendix 2 to the report; b. Recommends to Cabinet that Cabinet approves the draft Rail Strategy as set out in Appendix 2 to the report at its meeting on 11 July 2016.

4. Background

4.1 The Rail Strategy forms the basis of Hertfordshire County Council’s responses to rail industry consultations and for pro-active lobbying. The current Rail

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Strategy was published in April 2011 as part of the Local Transport Plan. Since then there has been a national shift to a more active development of the rail network, with major new infrastructure such as High Speed 2 and 2 being developed, and other projects such as Crossrail 1 and the Programme approaching completion.

5. Consultation

5.1 The draft strategy has been developed through a series of stakeholder engagement exercises, followed by full public consultation in Summer 2015.

5.2 There were a total of 455 responses to the consultation, of which 55 were from organisations and 400 from individuals. A table summarising all of the individual responses made and how these have been reflected in the revised draft strategy is included as Appendix 1 detailed at this link – Environment, Planning & Transport Cabinet Panel - 30 June 2016 -Item 5 - Appendix 1 - Responses to the Rail Strategy Consultation A hard copy of this appendix is available for Members in the Members’ Lounge; a copy will also be available at the meeting for Members to refer to if they wish. If any Member wishes to receive a hard copy, please contact Theresa Baker on telephone number 01992 556545 or by email to [email protected].

6. Additional Technical Work

6.1 The consultation raised a number of issues which required further input from consultants Arup. In addition, further work has been undertaken to inform the County Council’s position on Crossrail 2. The outcome of this work has been incorporated in the revised draft strategy.

7. Changes to the Draft Strategy

7.1 The consultation responses gave overall support for most of the proposals set out in the draft strategy. There were, however, a number of proposals which were not fully supported, and some additional or alternative proposals.

7.2 The responses have also helped to clarify the County Council’s position on issues where there were a number of alternative approaches.

7.3 The key changes / clarification of position arising from the consultation are set out in Table 1:

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Table1: Key changes / clarification of position arising from the consultation

Issue Arising Change to Draft Rail Strategy

Alternative terminus for Crossrail2 (currently None. Further technical work has confirmed assumed to be Broxbourne). that the terminus at Broxbourne provides the best solution for Hertfordshire.

Mixed views on role of Stevenage as a long- No change i.e. continue to support (and seek distance or regional stopping point. improvements to) Stevenage as an InterCity stop.

New Stevenage southern suburban station Supported in principle as this will not on Hertford loop. significantly impact on existing train services.

Mixed comments on introducing intercity Amended wording to referring to enabling stops at intercity stops at times of disruption and maximising connectivity at Luton.

Mixed views on Crossrail 1 link to Tring Amended wording to support Crossrail WCML link but with no specified terminus.

Bus Rapid Transit and not favoured Removed as formal proposal, but retained for Abbey Line wording allowing for alternative technologies to heavy rail if opportunities arose to improve the service.

Hemel Hempstead station needs to be Added to strategy. redeveloped / relocated.

Calls for through running of Abbey Line Included as longer-term aspiration to be trains to Euston. considered post HS2.

Mixed views on to Aylesbury Retained but text amended to set out need services. for a future strategic review of potential new services

Orbital rail route from Watford to Heathrow. Not included as Crossrail link to WCML would provide connectivity required

Reintroduction of line from Stansted to Not included as outside the county, and Braintree because journey opportunities and Essex CC’s aspirations are unclear.

Implications of Radlett rail freight terminal Amended wording to include the status of the terminal and need to ensure that impacts on passenger services are considered if progressed as a scheme.

Accuracy of housing & employment figures. To be updated with latest figures from

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districts prior to publication and with any subsequent changes to the Strategy.

Station facility detail. Full review of facilities at all stations to be included in Final Rail Strategy.

Various ticketing/fares related issues. Summary position added, including on smart ticketing, ticket interoperability, etc.

Reliability of services. Included as general aim.

Level crossing closures. Text included on how these should be managed in conjunction with HCC.

More not all long distance services to stop at Amended text. Watford Junction.

7.4 The resulting draft Rail Strategy is attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

8. Further Changes

8.1 The final Rail Strategy will need to include any changes to rail infrastructure that may be developed through the current Transport Vision / Local Transport Plan process.

8.2 In addition, as noted in Section 7, the full audit of facilities at all 50 stations in Hertfordshire needs to be reviewed.

8.3 Therefore it is proposed that a final Rail Strategy is adopted in 2017 once all of these changes have been made.

9. Next Steps

9.1 Following comments from the Panel, the draft Interim Rail Strategy will be presented to Cabinet on 11 July 2016

10. Financial Implications

10.1 The Rail Strategy sets out proposals which the County Council will lobby the rail industry to deliver, and therefore there is no direct financial implication for the County Council.

10.2 The delivery of some proposals may require a financial contribution from the County Council and / or other third parties however, the requirement for such funding cannot be predicted. Therefore any future financial County Council contributions sought will be reported to Members for consideration as they arise.

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11. Equalities Implications

11.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves rigorously considered the equalities implications of the decision that they are taking.

11.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure that proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) produced by officers.

11.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

11.4 An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) has been undertaken and this is annexed at Appendix A to the report.

Background Information

Local Transport Plan 2011-2031

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