THE INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL No 156 £2 July 2018

Train travel is tough with a buggy: Page 2 Picture: RAY KING Picture: RAY PAGE ONE PICTURE: How parents struggle to cope in a child-unfriendly environment Generating Reasons to Inhibit Projects There is nothing better than a in the ordinary carriages. I feel relaxing journey by train. the least they could have done Railfuture campaigners with good would be to open up first class.” ideas for improving the railway But for Hackney GP Dr Golda have for years had the wind taken Ninan, travelling by train gets Given the chance, Golda would out of their sails by the GRIP system. tough when she takes her two- travel by train much more often year-old son Guy with her. GRIP is ’s Governance Picture: RAY KING Picture: RAY but she added: “I have obsessed for Railway Investment Projects, and fumed about train travel. Her local station, Cambridge formerly called the Guide to Rail Heath, has steep stairs which “The accessibility of public Investment Projects. make it virtually impossible for transport for the young is key her to take her buggy unless part- Sadly GRIP sometimes proves an in engaging their interest and insurmountable hurdle which pre- ner Marc is on hand to help carry investment (emotionally, not just Guy and the buggy. vents good schemes going ahead financially) in and, even at its best, introduces To make life easier when trav- for the future – otherwise they delays. elling by train, Golda has been are going to turn to other modes leaving the buggy behind and of transport. Officials say schemes have to be carrying Guy in a sling. “Also, my personal view is that subjected to the GRIP process to climate change is the key loom- ensure that public money is not But as Guy gets older – and wasted. heavier – transporting him in a ing disaster for us all. Better, more accessible public transport is key Campaigners say large amounts of sling is becoming impractical. KING Station sign: Main picture: RAY to getting people out of cars. public money are wasted by sub- The family still use the train as “I know many people with jecting schemes to expensive scru- often as they can and Golda trav- young kids who use cars because tiny. els to work in Stoke Newington they cannot bear the difficulties every day by train. Here CHRIS AUSTIN examines the of a child on public transport.” steely grip of GRIP, arguing that its “It’s a great service on the Over- Golda’s local rail users group principles are right. ground although it was a bit of is campaigning for lifts to be a challenge when Transport for But he believes that the process is installed at Cambridge Heath first took over the- ser not working properly and is actu- and London Fields stations. vice. There were a lot of train ally jeopardising many new station cancellations. Now the service is Lifts are often seen as an issue projects. much better.” mainly for disabled people but He also considers the introduction making stations accessible ben- But travelling by train to visit of the Government’s new way of friends and family is becoming efits everyone, especially people assessing rail projects – informally more stressful. with luggage or bikes, older dubbed the pipeline. UPHILL STRUGGLE: The stairs at Cambridge Heath station are ­people and children. “We regularly go to Bicester, a big stretch for a little girl,especially when Dad has a bike too Considering the enormous CROSSRAIL NEARS COMPLETION: A new Elizabeth Line train under test near the new Custom Chippenham and Worthing by Funding House Crossrail station in east London in April with road-rail construction vehicles in the train and they all involve bad amounts of public money spent train is nearly always crowded that is important when you are on the railways, the network One of the principal benefits of background. Crossrail was approved in 2007 before the GRIP process was introduced. With a experiences. Great Western is with people going shopping at travelling with children.” privatisation was the financial £14.8 billion budget, it is said to be Europe’s largest infrastructure construction project the worst. I have had to stand should not just be for able-bod- Bicester Village and it would be She added: “I have often won- ied young people. It should be freedom it gave to break away up holding Guy for the entire and, after approval, “Deliver and shift from car to rail in a part of stakeholders to deliver and to almost impossible to find space dered why trains don’t open up available for everyone. from annual funding limits and journey to Chippenham in the for a buggy if I had it with me. constant changes resulting from Deploy.” Exeter that is a perpetual traffic expand the scope of the project. gap between the carriages. Not a their first class carriages when Golda added: “We choose not to the restrictions of public sector jam. But its costs have risen from Add the fundamental organisa- pleasant experience. “Although Southern has been something has gone wrong – have a car so are dependent on GRIP funding. a £4.2 million estimate in 2014 to tional changes within NR that “And when the train ticket can attracting a lot of complaints say when I got the three-hour public transport but I am now So, the five year control period There is some overlap with Net- £13 million today, and the fund- have taken place during this cost around £100, it does not seem recently, the journey to Worthing delayed Great Western train back considering getting a car, just set up for Network Rail was work Rail’s Governance for Rail- ing gap prevents work starting fair. The journey to Bicester on is actually easier. For one thing, from Chippenham to London. because of the difficulties of tak- period, the fact that every aspect one of the real benefits, particu- way Investment Projects, which on a station originally planned to Chiltern is not much better. The the trains are not so crowded and They squashed all us commoners ing Guy on the train.” including project management is larly as the Regulator, and then was introduced to provide a open in 2016. fragmented through contracting the Office for Road and Rail, rigorous assessment method to The reasons for the cost escala- out, as well as the problems that Chair’s column: People with skills needed to help Railfuture set spending at a level that was ensure both value for money and tion are unconfirmed but are arise from a stop-go policy on needed, rather than one the Trea- to provide some idea of scheme thought to relate to an altered electrification over many years, Railfuture recently received responses to consultations expertise needed to fulfil its sury wanted. priority. specification requiring wider and it is perhaps inevitable that a donation from the National by our train operating responsibilities. These include The GRIP process has eight platforms, longer ramps and things did not go as originally Council on Inland Transport, company liaison officers, expert knowledge of their key Enhancements stages, starting with “defining more extensive piling (the clue planned. which was winding up and campaigning on the key campaign topics, the ability the outputs.” Only at stage 4 do is in the station name!) with lon- Underlying all this is the require- because its membership had national topics identified in The next step, outlined in a you reach a single proposal for ger possessions than originally to research for evidence, the Government consultation paper ment for more enhancements declined. the Annual Review, namely development. thought. ability to write concisely, the in March, is the Rail Network than there are the resources Fares and Ticketing and We offered a year’s ability to represent Railfuture Enhancements Pipeline, which The process is designed to mini- These things should have been (financial and human) to deliver, ‘Passenger First’. complementary membership in a professional way, the for England and Wales moves mise risks, and includes four revealed by the GRIP process, and it is hard to see how the orig- of Railfuture to its remaining The new Membership Group ability to work as part of a away from a five year cycle and review stages to ensure that which for some reason failed in inal aspirations can be met. members. However NCIT has the particularly important team, contacts with the rail on to a continuous pipeline of ­projects remain viable. this case. The costs of other new It is frustrating, but the new offers an object lesson in what remit of changing Railfuture industry, and specialist skills enhancement projects, not lim- Many major projects, such as station schemes have also risen, procedures are inevitably going will happen to Railfuture if we so that it is attractive to a wider such as finance or information ited to a five year period. the Reading flyover and re- driven by a changed specifica- to extend the planning time for do not change to attract a wider range of potential members. technology. Obviously group Enhancement projects funded signalling, have been completed tion, in some cases associated projects, with no guarantees range of potential members This will require us to buy members will not each have all by third parties are the subject of on time and within budget, but with the need to alter signalling that they will resolve the basic and to campaign more actively. Railfuture chair Chris Page some external expertise, which these skills, but they will each separate Market-Led Proposals there are also a number of cases to accommodate the station. problem of poor specification by Last year the Railfuture board Freight, Communications, will include creating a much be expected to take a specific Guidance (on which I will report where the process has not been project sponsors or the limited agreed a new strategy to make Finance & IT, Governance, stronger social media presence role and to contribute to the in a later issue). able to prevent the project going Major project resources available to Network disastrously wrong, both for Railfuture a more effective Membership, and European to create a parallel ‘virtual key tasks of the group. The proposals stem from the Rail. small and large projects. If it can fail for a small proj- campaigning organisation, by Passenger Group – is now branch’ of online members and We wish to increase the review of Network Rail under- For Railfuture, we will have to ensuring that we prioritise and supporters. The new European ect, little wonder that it proved represented by a director. diversity and expertise of taken by Dame Colette Bowe in be looking for the smart proj- focus on initiatives which are Passenger Group is focusing Small scheme inadequate for a major project This year we have created each group, so if you are a 2015. like Great Western electrifica- ects that are worth doing, but realistic and achievable. The on tickets, services and can be carried out with modest terms of reference for each Railfuture member and feel In practical terms, they add a Marsh Barton station in Devon tion, where the plans are highly first step was to allocate each connections for travel between resources, or by an agency other group, defining the key tasks that you can bring something series of tests for enhancement on the main line between Exeter complex, linked to procurement director a portfolio of specific the UK and other European than Network Rail. responsibilities. Each of our that they need to perform. For countries. To be effective, extra to one of our groups, projects with gateway decision and Newton Abbot will serve a of new rolling stock of innova- specialist groups – Passenger, Passenger Group these include each group must have please let me know. points to decide whether or not busy business and retail park of tive design, and where Network Above all, we are going to require Infrastructure & Networks, defining policy, coordinating members with the skills and [email protected] to proceed. They are described as 6,000 people, planned to rise to Rail was under pressure from a great deal of patience! There is “Determine, Develop, Design” 8,000, and will encourage modal Government, train operators and no silver bullet to fix this one. 2 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture conference in Reading, Berkshire on 10 November 2018 Hotel Novotel railwatch July 2018 3 on tickets. This is at least 50% higher than the figure. This is crucial because inaccurate DfT figures affect the benefit-cost analysis used to decide Fares and ticketing up for review [email protected] investment priorities. The figure was achieved n n‘Inter-City Kitty’ needs beefing up despite timetable limitations, disruptive Railfuture’s passenger group wants to see changes to how rail Railfuture East Midlands’ key campaign for this roadworks in the area which have a significant effect on a parkway station relying on road fares are assessed to meet the year is for improved services on the line from needs of the travelling public. to , which we have nicknamed the access, and the lack of local routes to the

Inter-City Kitty (it should be a lion). An hourly station. FREE PRESS Picture: BURY To this end the group has set out single-coach class 153 unit is inadequate for n n three campaign aims for fares Branch AGM KING Picture: RAY a service linking the major cities of Derby and and ticketing: Value for money, Stoke, and interchanges of the importance The guest speaker at Railfuture East Midlands clarity of fares, and the effective- AGM on 24 March was Andrew Pritchard, of Crewe and Derby. The line offers great ACCESS PLEA: Jo Churchill MP, Jen ness of “smart” payment. whose roles include director of policy and potential for high-quality inter-regional Overett, Needham Town Councillor These accord with recent SENIOR: One of the longest infrastructure at East Midlands Councils. He services to north-west England, for example Terence Carter, Transport Secretary Chris research by the multinational journeys on the Scottish rail spoke about priorities for improving the from Nottingham to Liverpool, Chester or Grayling and Needham District Councillor accountancy and consultancy network. Leave Newcraighall region’s passenger services and the prospects Manchester Airport. We have commissioned Wendy Marchant company KPMG (t), which was at 07.42 and arrive at Thurso for economic growth associated with High artwork as a focus for the campaign and are published by the Rail Delivery at 17.55. Cost: £46.55. Speed 2, including around the proposed said: “The 49 steep steps to access the Ipswich- planning a launch event in Derby, to be held Group, on what passengers think Stunning views no extra Staveley maintenance depot near Chesterfield bound platform are not only prohibitive for after the £200 million project to upgrade when they buy a train ticket. as well as the Toton hub and regional rail wheelchairs. It is a physical challenge for fare rates apply to a train which signalling and track layout there in completed. freight. passengers with limited mobility, buggies, Fewer than one in three passen- is off-peak for part of its journey. n nTV boost for -Burton line small children, bikes or heavy luggage too.” gers are confident they have pur- Increasingly people are using n nMP speaks up for Kettering rail users chased the best value when buy- Railfuture East Midlands chair Ariadne n nRailfuture promotes the cause home computers and mobile Kettering MP Philip Hollobone spoke in a ing a ticket, and an even smaller phones to buy tickets. A rise in QUEUE HERE: Not enough ticket machines at London’s Victoria Tampion was interviewed for the BBC East Railfuture East Anglia provides speakers Westminster Hall debate to put forward the number (29%) expressed satis- part-time and freelance work station in May. A station staff member who was asked about the Midlands TV Inside Out programme about the to various organisations in the region. We various demands of Kettering Rail Users, faction with their ticket buying patterns has undermined season problem said: “Yeah, it’s rubbish isn’t it?” Leicester-Burton line which was broadcast including restoration of a half-hourly service addressed the Norfolk Railway Society in April. experience. ticket revenue. But there is wide- in February. The programme was a boost for northward along the to give Railfuture’s Ian Couzens also presented our Railfuture’s passenger group is spread suspicion that the review to a 2018 report, Tomorrow’s pas- by legal “dodges” such as split the campaign to reopen the line, which is the town the connectivity it needs, and also submission to the Norwich area transport plan important for connections to Leicester and also planning to produce a fares and will make matters worse for pas- sengers: understanding how to make ticketing. One of the ways fares improving connections from Corby. He also to members of South Norfolk District Council. ticketing strategy to encourage rail travel more attractive to infre- could be reduced for regular to Birmingham via Burton. raised the issue of fares. The off-peak London This included making the case for new stations sengers, who have seen average rail companies to make fares rail fares rise by more than infla- quent and non-users, published by users is to introduce a national n nRail (and less road) needed for future return from Kettering is £48.50, whereas from serving developments such as Long Stratton. clearer, especially for infrequent Transport Focus, almost 40% of rail card. Rugby or Peterborough, both further from tion for years. Railfuture East Midlands has called for more n nValue of Wisbech central station rail users, and to help rail users The long-standing impressive people who never or rarely travel In 2003 Railfuture commissioned London, it is under £30. by train state that the cost is the research showing how a national emphasis on improving the rail infrastructure Following our representations to the Wisbech find the best way to buy a ticket. growth in number of rail passen- in our response to the draft strategic growth n nDouble track restored to Corby Allison Cosgrove, passenger gers has stalled in some areas, main reason. rail card could increase both access strategy consultation, that suggested patronage and revenue. plan from County Council. The restoration of double track on the cutting the railway formation on the approach group chair, said: “We are com- which has been partly attributed Janet Cooke, chief executive of Currently the strategy is focused on road- Kettering-Corby line was completed in to the town centre, it appears there has been mitted to trying to make the to continually rising fares. London TravelWatch said: “We Demand for a new under-30 rail- building, in particular a new “A46 Expressway” February, together with works to strengthen a change of mind by the councils concerned. ticket buying process more open Mick Cash, general secretary of have been lobbying for simpler card was so strong it crashed the around the east and south sides of Leicester bridges and viaducts, lay cabling and install The near town centre site for the station and understandable. the Rail, Maritime and Transport fares for many years. Rail pas- railcard website the day it went to enable major new housing and industry signalling, install drainage and stabilise suggested in previous studies was to have “It is shocking that so many union, said: “No one trusts pri- sengers continue to pay fares on sale in March. All 10,000 cards developments. We want to see greater capacity embankments, ahead of electrification which been abandoned for a station south of the A47 people do not believe they are vate rail firms to do the right thing that increase annually faster than quickly sold out. Proof of the for both freight and passenger trains, new should be completed by 2020. bypass two miles out of town. We reminded getting value for money. People by passengers.” Anthony Smith, their incomes. The least they demand for cheaper tickets for stations, in particular at Blaby, Croft and the planners that the importance of stations must feel that they are getting chief executive of the passen- deserve is a fairer system.” young people. Elmesthorpe on the Leicester-Nuneaton line n nCP6 has been recognised in the Government’s the best deal possible.” ger watchdog Transport Focus, People who research their own t KPMG was criticised by a within the proposed A46 Growth Corridor, and Network Rail’s control period 6 (2019-24) housing White Paper which cites “railway which is backing the review, The passenger group is also rail journeys realise that station House of Commons commit- at Castle Donington, which would support a includes upgrades costing over £16 million stations as key anchors for the next generation said: “Rail passengers want a encouraging all members to ticket machines are useful for tee headed by Frank Field and proposed Northern Gateway development. We each on Nottingham-Newark and Nottingham- of urban housing developments.” The local fares system they can trust, that participate individually in the picking up pre-booked tickets, Rachel Reeves. The committee also called for reopening the National Forest Chesterfield lines. plan has allocated 3,550 new homes to Wisbech is simpler, offers better value for national consultation on fares but can be a financial disaster for said KPMG which signed off Car- Line from Leicester to Burton-upon-Trent which bringing the population of the town up to money and is more understand- which began on 4 June. The pub- people who buy their tickets on illion’s accounts was “complicit” is not even mentioned in the draft strategy! www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Midlands+Branch 46,000. The White Paper said: “As the UK’s able. Opening the debate on lic consultation lasts until Sep- the day of travel. Several phone in its January collapse. Carillion We have opposed development in areas such Twitter: @RailfutureEMids population grows and urbanisation continues reform is overdue.” According apps offer ways to reduce fares had many rail contracts. as Lutterworth which currently have only road apace, stations are the epicentre of growth and tember. access, but would be happy for development regeneration and are destinations in their own You can register to take part at to proceed if a rail connection was reinstated. East Anglia right for shopping, working and socialising.” www.britainrunsonrail.co.uk/ Coincidentally, developer DB Symmetry has www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia+Wisbech fares A cheap day return to confusion revealed plans for a huge industrial complex, [email protected] The current fares system dates By Graham Morrison the site shows the same fare as for including a rail freight terminal on land n n Rail response to snow King’s Cross. n nRailfuture reply to Cambridge study back to the 1990s when the rail- [email protected] between the M69 and the Leicester-Nuneaton Railfuture East Anglia sent a letter to Network ways were privatised by John There is much discussion about the complexity Greater Anglia offers Advance single tickets as line to the north-east of Hinckley. There would Network Rail has been commissioned by the Rail, Greater Anglia and ORR, highlighting Major’s government. of the current fare system, which tends to low as £7 each way, which can be available in be vast warehousing, and a rail terminal to Government as part of the Chancellor’s 2017 shortcomings in the rail industry’s response to concentrate on longer and more complex peak times – but advance planning and careful cope with 800-metre-long trains. autumn Budget to develop the East Anglian the snow in late February. We called for better One problem now facing the Rail Delivery Group, which rep- journeys. I have been struck by the lack of assessment of the risks is required. n n network east of Cambridge with emphasis preparation, trains to be kept running and Leicester to Coventry on improving connections to Ipswich and better information. Network Rail is carrying out resents the private train opera- transparency about fares on even simple return Many people who live or work in London already Midlands Connect has started advocating Norwich, to integrate with a review and thanked us for the comments. tors, will be how to reconcile the journeys, and was moved to start researching have a return ticket that includes travel in zones strongly for a direct Leicester-Coventry service, developments. We met Network Rail officials NR excused the branch line closures because problem of specifying how peak some examples, using official websites and a 1-6. They can buy an add-on to Cambridge for improvements for which we at Railfuture East to promote our proposals. Network Rail is it allowed staff to focus on 43 key main line little bit of help from a friendly ticket clerk. For £30.60 peak and £24.50 off-peak. Those rates Midlands are already campaigning. The existing expected to report to the Chancellor soon. locations. An inaccurate forecast was followed simplicity I have ignored the impact of railcards are not advertised online and can be obtained rail journey can take up to 65 minutes with a by snow affecting services for three days. and cheaper weekend only tickets. only at staffed ticket offices. n nNeedham Market access battle change at Nuneaton, whereas a direct service There is competition for passengers between As many readers will know, these tickets have n nPromoting the pluses of PlusBus would cut the time to 40 minutes. It would Campaigners calling for improved access at London and Cambridge, and with Greater Anglia the advantage that they are valid on trains that do require major works, probably a Nuneaton Needham Market station took their fight to Railfuture’s recent report Seamless Public trying to increase its share of the market on not stop at a boundary station. But the sharp- dive-under, estimated to cost £50 million. Westminster in April, delivering a petition Transport in East Anglia highlights the value the Liverpool Street route its fares are usually eyed will have noticed that the off-peak rate is Trains could even bypass Nuneaton station to calling for Government funding to improve of PlusBus, the add-on to rail tickets which cheaper than the King’s Cross route. actually higher than the fare from Liverpool Street access. Jen Overett, who organised the allows rail passengers to use with their achieve faster timings. For a day trip to Cambridge the straightforward on Greater Anglia services. Since all Cambridge 1,400 signature petition, said: “The access rail ticket. Railfuture is liaising with Journey services on that line call at Tottenham Hale, if n nEast Midlands Parkway arrangements at Needham Market station are Solutions Partnership travel, which administers NORTH: Thurso-Inverness return fares are £37/£36.80 peak (via King’s Cross) and £25.40/£19 off-peak (Liverpool using that line you’d think it would be cheaper to Railfuture East Midlands vice-chair Terry Holt woefully inadequate and deter many residents PlusBus, to promote the idea. Please contact costs £13.95 for a senior buy an off peak return from Tottenham Hale – but has learnt from East Midlands Trains that the from even using the trains.” The campaigners Trevor Garrod if you can give examples of good Street). Interestingly, on some websites the fare www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland- on the semi-fast trains now diverted from King’s it costs £22.40 – more than the ticket from the true footfall figure for East Midlands Parkway are hoping to win an Access for All grant to fund or bad practice: [email protected] by-rail/great-scenic-rail- Cross to St Pancras is quoted as £39 peak and terminus at Liverpool Street at £19. for the 12 months ending September 2017 alterations, which could include the installation www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia journeys/far-north-line- £27.40 off-peak. That seems to be an error, as was 498,000, including passengers travelling of a lift or slope. Town councillor Terence Carter Twitter: @RailfutureEA inverness-thurso-wick Straightforward, is it not? 4 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Algeria inaugurated a new 10 kilometre £200 million line in March in Ouargla railwatch July 2018 5 RAILFUTURE AGM 2018 Edinburgh London & South East Scotland

[email protected] [email protected] Scotland ‘will get the best’ from its railway n nRailfuture under scrutiny in Sussex n nChallenging view of rail reopenings By Lloyd Butler no VAT or fuel duty on air travel. Railfuture’s campaign to reinstate the Railfuture Scotland’s AGM heard editor of Rail [email protected] The session ended with a display Uckfield-Lewes line has attracted attention Engineer and long-time railwayman David Alex Hynes told the Railfuture of stunning photographs from from key stakeholders. We were called before Shirres speak on line reopenings, where he AGM on 12 May that he planned Norman McNab of Friends of the Lewes District Council’s scrutiny committee. confirmed the suspicions of many members to give Scots the best railway West Highland Line. Our presentation can be seen on the by stating: “The Authorities are totally they had ever had. Railfuture website at www.railfuture.org.uk/ opposed to expanding the rail network and Fraser McDonald said the Uckfield+Lewes only do so when community action results Mr Hynes, managing director of Friends were formed when the We believe some of Brighton’s 30,000 needed in strong political support.” In Scotland he both ScotRail and Network Rail Serpell Report suggested cutting homes could be located so as to support the considered only Levenmouth to be a soundly Scotland said integration of track both Oban and Mallaig lines back and trains would play a key role case for a Brighton-Lewes-Uckfield link. based prospect, based upon population and

© Picture: NORMAN McNAB to Crianlarich and they work to in reaching his target. economic deprivation. He considered many ensure passengers can continue n nRailfuture Light other campaigns throughout the UK to be total Mr Hynes was speaking at the to enjoy the spectacular scenery Three light rail experts addressed our branch non-starters, claiming that the sheer number AGM, held at the Macdonald on the line. AGM. There were presentations by KenEx of reopening campaigns actually harms the Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh. In the business session after Thames Transit which aims to connect Dartford, chances of the “very few” good ones. Railfuture He highlighted how severe lunch, Ian Brown was returned Gravesend and Grays, and on the Cambridge Scotland takes issue with this assertion, noting weather in March (dubbed the to the Railfuture board after a Connect ideas. The third speaker was from that the successful Scottish campaigns such as Beast from the East) proved the one year absence, along with UK Tram which represents tram operators, those for the Borders, Airdrie-Bathgate, Larkhall advantages of having single Wendy Thorne and Chris Page, promoters, manufacturers, contractors and and Alloa lines, were opposed and ridiculed control – command and control re-elected for three years, and consultants. The links and presentations by the transport authorities. They are now joined up and integrated. A Norman McNab picture used on a postcard which was given Stewart Palmer, who will serve a can be seen at www.railfuture.org.uk/ fulfulling essential roles. But perhaps Mr Shirres As a result, Scottish passengers away free to passengers on the West Highland line. The Friends two-year spell. London+and+South+East was trying to let us down gently, observing that big road projects seem to sail through fared better than the customers of are trying to persuade Abellio to continue with the initiative. A The AGM voted to give the Rail- n n Goodbye Angel Road? Membership of the Campaign for Borders some train operators in England. Glasgow-Oban train near Inverhaggerie crossing, Strath Fillan future board the power to cre- the appraisal process that trips up so many rail Rail has grown to 1,240, and there are plans The Railfuture-backed schemes. He even admitted that the appraisal He also said there were far more ate new membership types and to advertise in major newspapers to recruit to rail, criticising the franchise and Perth, while the railway reduce fees if necessary. STAR project (Stratford- for the dualling of the £2 billion A9 road to more. The campaign is arguing for the people who want to use the rail- system by saying companies had remained single track in places. Tottenham Hale-Angel Inverness included a significant monetary way but the lack of capacity pre- As a result, the Railfuture board Borders line to be extended to Hawick and He also asked for rail connec- Road) entails the value benefit assigned to “reducing motorists’ vents them. a legal duty to their shareholders, agreed on 2 June to reduce the Carlisle. Campaigners have met MPs John whereas the only shareholder tions when new factories are replacement of Angel frustration”. With the well-known willingness Stevenson and John Lamont. A transport If you cannot run more trains, membership rate for individual on the railway was the public. built, saying “no-one would sug- Road station on the West of motorists to switch to trains, we are certain corridors study by consultant Jacobs UK then you must have more car- members from £21 to £18. gest you build a factory but not Anglia main line. Work that this innovative idea could be used in rail assessing the viability of extending the 30- riages, so ScotRail was increas- He felt it important to shift the A motion on Railfuture’s Euro- build a road to it.” has alrready started on appraisals too! mile track by almost 70 miles into England ing its train stock by 25%. John emphasis from road spending to pean passenger group was the new station serving was published in April. Now extending the Finnie, the Green Party MSP for rail, saying that £60 billion was He criticised the suggestion that passed with an amendment. n nGreens win £2m for rail development Meridian Water which line will be examined among 21 road, rail the Highlands and Islands, also committed to improving roads airport tax should be reduced, More information at www.railfu- is planned to open In return for supporting the Scottish and other transport options backed a more positive approach between Stirling, Inverness reminding members that there is ture.org.uk next May, but unless Angel Road is formally Government’s budget, Green MSPs negotiated closed some trains will have to continue to £2 million for this financial year to assist local call there instead, diluting the new service. rail campaigns with the expensive appraisal appraisal for reopening two former West Coast Railfuture believes retention of London’s least- process. Among contenders are the campaigns main line stations at Law and Symington. The used station makes no sense so will support to reopen Newburgh station, to extend immediate priority is to introduce Sunday its closure. The Lea Valley Rail Programme passenger services from Alloa to Kincardine trains to Carstairs, one of the few stations with can be seen in www.railfuture.org.uk/CLUA- and Dunfermline, and for a new St Andrews only a six-day service, to obtain the full benefit Introduction line. The University of St Andrews Playfair from the reinstated service to Edinburgh. Consultancy has also produced a business There is also pressure to rectify the nonsensical n n Railfuture supports heritage line case for a St Andrews line which shows strong situation where the train to Hamilton leaves a Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy oversaw support from the student population, most of minute before the one from Clydesdale arrives, the linking of the Rother Valley Railway to whom make frequent journeys to Edinburgh, meaning a long wait for a connection. the National Rail network at Robertsbridge in and also from most businesses. The conclusion Contacts: late 2016. Now the heritage line is applying was that previous estimates of passenger Rail Action Group, East of Scotland: to the Department for Transport for powers numbers were very conservative and that many www.rages.org.uk/ to build a new railway between Bodiam and more passengers would use trains to and from Beattock Station Action Group: Robertsbridge Junction. This will join up with the “Home of Golf”. www.beattockstationactiongroup.org.uk/ the Kent and East Sussex Railway between n n Bodiam and Tenterden. Railfuture is lending Give Bonnybridge its railway back St Andrews Rail Link campaign: support to RVR Ltd’s proposal. Between 1832 and 1967 the small town of www.starlink-campaign.org.uk/ Bonnybridge had four railway stations. Now facebook.com/StARLinkCampaign n n Campaigns 2018-19 it has none. In 2015 a campaign to reopen twitter@StARLinkRail Each division in Railfuture London & South East one re-activated, with useful discussions LevenMouth Rail Campaign: will run a specific campaign in the coming year, with Falkirk Council. There is a ready market www.lmrc-action.org.uk/ following a decision by the branch AGM: for reopening. Railfuture Scotland’s Roddy facebook.com/LevenmouthRail/ o Eastern – shaping the new rail strategy by McDougall has shown from the last census data Capital Rail Action Group: Essex County Council that a large number of Bonnybridge residents www.capitalrail.org.uk/ commute by car to towns with a railway, and a o Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire – improving Bonnybridge station would make commuting Newburgh Train Station campaign: the Midland main line timetable and new to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth much easier. http://newburghtrainstation.org.uk/ franchise Forth Rail Link (Dunfermline-Kincardine-Alloa): o Kent – promoting Hoo Peninsula passenger n nGive RAGES their two stations www.forthraillink.com railway, to support new housing A petition has been raised to get the long- facebook.com/forthraillink/ o London Metro – West London line service promised East Linton and Reston stations to twitter@forthraillink frequency (Hounslow-Hampstead/Hendon) open in Network Rail’s control period 6, which begins next year. A member of Rail Action East Bonnybridge Railway Campaign: o Surrey – Gatwick-Oxford services via the of Scotland started the petition, which has http://bonnybridgerailway.scot North Downs line using tri-mode trains 3,000 signatures so far. RAGES hopes to meet www.facebook.com/bonnybridgerailway o Sussex & Coastway – further developing Transport Minister Humza Yousaf to press him Thornhill Station Action Group: MarshLink/East Coastway services on this matter. facebook.com/thornhilltrainstation/ www.thornhillstation.co.uk/ www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East n nBetter links to Carstairs needed Campaign for Borders Rail: Twitter: @RailfutureLSE Clydesdale Rail User Group is pressing for an http://www.campaignforbordersrail.org/ 6 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @RailfutureScot www.railfuturescotland.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ You can join the Railfuture lottery at www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery railwatch July 2018 7 Your views Our growing railway the Woodhead route. There are still glaring gaps in Scotland’s Britain’s Growing Railway is electrified rail system. Glasgow Northern connections a fine book which details new Central lines to Kilmarnock This is the front cover of the artwork. Radio 4’s Dame and reopened stations and and East Kilbride share some a new booklet designed to Jenni Murray wrote the lines across the country. It is common track out of Central explore the history of some welcome page for the booklet, an uplifting story of the railway station. Both are operated by the remarable women – and to which includes famous getting closer to its customers. ubiquitous but increasingly old stimulate tourism by rail. women such as the Bronte sisters, novelists Elizabeth But I could not find any mention Super Sprinters on these hilly, The booklet highlights the multiple stop routes. Electric sometimes hidden histories Gaskell and Sylvia Plath, of two significant new stations Channel swimmer Sunny – those at Rochester (2015) class 385s would be just fine of remarkable women and could serve the Kilmarnock from Chester, Northwich, Lowry, suffragette Emmeline and Bromsgrove (2016). Both Pankhurst, singers Kathleen are relocations and rebuilds, route still better if it was Knutsford, Altrincham, Stockport, Manchester, Ferrier and Gracie Fields, with modern standards of extended around 1.5 miles to an Rochdale, Hebden Bridge, and less well-known women accessibility and passenger inviting site just beyond Bellfield Halifax, , Leeds, such as engineer Laura Annie information. The new Rochester roundabout. Burnley and Blackburn. Willson, diarist Anne Lister station is nearer the city’s This level, rail connected site and embroiderer Rachel Kay- is easily accessible by road The 40-page booklet shows historic centre than the old how you can travel by rail Shuttleworth. One of the key station. The new Bromsgrove from two sides, serving much people in the revival of rail’s of Kilmarnock, also Hurlford, to discover more about 32 station, with two island inspirational women. fortunes, Barbara Castle who platforms, becomes the southern Crookedholm and further became MP for Blackburn, terminus of the extended cross- flung hamlets. Mauchline and Historian Richard Lyons, a the minister of transport Birmingham service to/from the Cumnock await reopening. Both Railfuture member, joined who accepted the idea of the Lichfield line. are on the Glasgow-Dumfries- forces with Alice Mannion of social railway. The booklet Carlisle rail route which has the Association of Community And there is the Godley was launched at Elizabeth seen four stations reopen since Rail Partnerships to produce relocation (1986) on the Gaskell’s house in Plymouth 1984. Thornhill and Eastriggs short biographies, suggested Grove, Manchester. It can be Manchester-Glossop line (see should be reopened too. This itineraries and travel tips. Railwatch 129). Together, these downloaded from the website You can join the rail knitwork route needs a fast bi-mode train Nicky Thompson produced amazingwomenbyrail.org.uk three stations have more than to Manchester Airport to restore two million passengers/year. Railfuture director Wendy Thorne thought members might direct, cross border trains. Keith Rogers, Stockport like to knit a steam train. A free pattern is available at Graham Lund, Girvan £51 million of works will be connection to the Great Western needed at Nuneaton to enable main line near Acton Main Line Corrective action www.clarescopefarrell.co.uk/knittedsteamtrain.html this to go ahead. Surely trains station. How do we get someone Pathetic Stratford can simply go into Trent Valley important interested? Andrew Oldfield in Railwatch of these CrossCountry trains hours of its 4½-hour journey. There are now hardly any station, then back out again the Chris Read, Milton Keynes 155 complements Britain’s also serve the Derby-Sheffield Paul Abell, Rotherham through trains to London same way? Growing Railway as “a decent section of the MML on their (extraordinary, given the Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby Power source addition to the list of Railfuture journeys to and from the North importance of Stratford- publications” and refers to Bimode failures The excellent article on East. Thus the Derby-Sheffield upon-Avon as a tourist Pressure on MPs alternative power sources for “omissions”. Readers who know I wish I could share the section carries four passenger destination), and it takes up I sympathise with colleagues in electric traction in the absence of any omissions, errors and trains per hour, with bimodes enthusiasm of Trevor Garrod, to 24 minutes to travel the Devon at the in-action in getting of a firm commitment to rail inaccuracies, please let me already promised for the in Railwatch 155 for bimodes. 19km between Stratford-upon- the rail route from Okehampton electrification reminded me of know. London-Sheffield service. The We had the class 73 as long Avon Parkway and Warwick to Bere Alston via Tavistock another power source the UK Roger Blake need to provide longer trains ago as 1962, when they were Parkway, a pathetic average stock has lost half its toilets, from Edinburgh on the Highland re-instated. I lived in Tavistock government is evaluating. That [email protected] for the frequently overcrowded called electro-diesels.They speed of 47.5km/hr. Choice leaving only one at the shared Chieftain, one of the First Class for a number of years and have is the use of Small Modular CrossCountry services brings a were massively underpowered of destinations is severely Bimode appeal carriage-end vestibules. The vestibule toilets was locked out family still in the area. One way Reactors. Their potential for strong case that there should be when off the 3rd rail. Ending limited by the continued lack same reduction has occurred on of order, meaning there was an of campaigning would be to rail applications could include In Railwatch 155 Graham Nalty a requirement in the forthcoming of the Stratford-Honeybourne electrification short has a long its refurbished Class 321 units. almost constant queue of people lobby every surgery that Devon providing power to recharge gives an excellent rebuttal of the renewal of the CrossCountry link, so it is disappointing to and inglorious history. On transferring to Marylebone waiting to use the remaining MPs hold until a firm plan is battery-powered trains or cancellation of the Kettering- franchise that these should be read in Railwatch 155 that Wesley Paxton BA, Annan for our journey to Birmingham WC. fully funded and a start date hydrolysis for hydrogen-powered Sheffield section of the Midland bimode as well. Warwickshire County Council Moor Street, ’ Lloyd Butler, Suffolk announced. units, desalination and of main line electrification, but there A full house of bimodes would Electrify now is “not interested” in reopening course as a supply of current to refurbished Mark 3 coaches MPs do not like pressure but is an even stronger case when then give a much stronger case this short but potentially valuable also appeared to be stripped Leicester-Coventry overhead and third rail as and Graham Nalty rightly calls for they will respond quicker. you remember that the Midland for electrifying Derby-Sheffield, missing link. of conveniences. I did not see I used to live in Atherstone, when routes become electrified. the Midland Main Line to be Geoffrey Heathcock BEM JP, Railway also had a main line with the trains using their diesel One can hardly blame motorists one when leaving my seat in the going to college at Nuneaton Laurence Fryer, Stoke Newington electrified (Railwatch 155). Cambridge to the west of England from engines on the non-electrified for voting with their wheels. second carriage all the way to and then to the polytechnic at More power to his elbow and Derby. This route now offers a sections at either end until these Chris Benson, Epsom the front of the train on arrival. Coventry. So I was interested n Contact details may the wires extend beyond Bad Schandau Derby-Birmingham service of can be electrified in their turn. to read in Railwatch 155 of a four trains per hour, operated to Leeds via Barnsley, via Inconvenient truth Furthermore, we still seem to be Railwatch has excluded contact Even now a Newcastle-Reading proposed direct service from The 8km long metre-gauge by Arriva CrossCountry. Two train is under the wires for 2 Rotherham and Manchester via charged for using the facilities details of letter writers in this issue. Am I alone in noticing at Marylebone and Liverpool Leicester to Coventry. However, tramway from Bad Schandau In future, when letters are received, the shrinking number of Street. On a journey back south I just don’t believe that does not go to Sebnitz, as stated the editor will assume that postal conveniences on our trains? in Railwatch 155. It goes from and email adddresses can be Be an electronic winner with Railfuture A recent trip to Birmingham Bad Schandau to Lichtenhainer published unless speciifically MORE Railfuture lottery entrants are choosing £12 to Railfuture Lottery, 24 Chedworth Place, highlighted the issue. Greater Chance to win a RUG award Wassenfall and was opened in asked to exclude them. to take their winnings electronically – meaning Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. Anglia’s refurbished inter-city It is time to think about nominating your suggestions for this 1898 to transport tourists to the more money in the prize pot and more for Recent winners -- February: Dennis Parkinson, year’s Rail User Group Awards. The deadline is Saturday 1 waterfall and the inn. Martin Smith, Abingdon Railwatch welcomes campaigning. Winners can now be paid via A T Hill, Mark Edgell, Richard Shaw, Lianne Send your letters­ September. The categories are: 1 Best website, 2 Best social articles and pictures PayPal or Internet Banking, and the majority of ­Woodman, Steve and Sue Boulding. March: media promotion, 3 Best newsletter, 4 Best new group, the Heathrow link recent winners prefer this method to a cheque Gerald Chandler, P J Rowland, William Morton, and emails to: Oliver Lovell Award, 5 Best campaign, 6 Best campaigner, the from rail users and in the post, saving on stamps and stationery. David Smith, Michael John Savage, David The Editor, 4 Christchurch Clara Zilahi Award [Railfuture members only], 7 Judges’ Spe- Why isn’t there a direct service rail user groups Square, London E9 7HU to Heathrow from the WCML? You could join this scheme, with half the Miller. cial Award. The seventh annual RUG Awards will be presented Send your material to: The revenue going into the prize fund and half to April: Robert Burrows, Graham Smith, Martin­ Email: [email protected] at our autumn conference in Reading on Saturday 10 Novem- The route actually exists. At Editor, 4 Christchurch Square, Harlesden there is a single campaigning – and it only costs £1 per month Fiedler, Mark Edgell, Roger Blake, Peter R Railwatch also welcomes ber. Award winners receive next year’s Railfuture membership London E9 7HU per entry. You can join online using PayPal at ­Lawrence. May: Ian & Jane Appleyard, Robert ­articles and pictures track link which I understand is Email: [email protected] subscription free. Full details in Rail User Express at www.rail- cleared for use by passenger www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery or send a cheque, Burrows, Terence­ Sheppard, Robert S Grainger, Please use email if possible but future.org.uk/Rail+User+Express and on the Railfuture website Please use email if possible but payable to Railfuture Lottery, for a multiple of Alexander Macfie, Walter Richardson. include your postal address services on diversions and include your postal address at www.railfuture.org.uk/RUG+awards which then has a direct 8 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Mexico has officially launched its 17 kilometre tram-train link in Puebla railwatch July 2018 9 Tapping into the potential of heritage railways for commuter travel By Chris Austin ­ticketing. What additional safety [email protected] and regulatory requirements A quiet revolution has been tak- might be required? GSM radio ing place over the past five years. and the standard train protection The national rail network is and warning system are gener- expanding by starting to use the ally not used on heritage rail- ways, which rely on traditional potential of heritage railways. A Picture: GORDON safety measures and more staff Trains are already working from on hand, to check train doors, for the national network on to steam example. lines – and there are more to come. Politically, the prospects are bet- ter now than at any time in the Heritage lines have also become past. In December Transport Sec- major tourist attractions in their retary Chris Grayling said his own right.

vision for an expanded rail net- KING Inset: MRLG Picture: RAY World leader is the North York- work included routes such as the shire Moors Railway with around line to Okehampton, that are not 350,000 passengers a year. owned by Network Rail, and on Other railways also attract which heritage trains run. hundreds of thousands of visi- Peter Wilkinson’s approach tors, such as the Severn Valley would seem to leave the way (240,000) and the West Somerset open for services over heritage (180,000). lines to be provided under sub- BISHOPS LYDEARD: A preserved Great Western steam loco in 2010. INSET: An artist’s The Bluebell Railway in East Sus- contract to the train operator impression of a possible future with a modern train in the station at Minehead sex was the first standard gauge MAKING THE CONNECTION AT OKEHAMPTON: A Pacer from Exeter, left, alongside a preserved and funded through the fran- privately owned railway to be former Hampshire unit (nicknamed Thumper) which is bound for Meldon chise agreement subject to the normal value-for-money criteria. West Somerset’s gateway to opportunity run by volunteers, and will cel- broadly based public transport ebrate its sixtieth anniversary in on these lines? So far, this has not With so many links now in place, By David Latimer was instrumental in creating “It is ridiculous, in this age of two years time. been tried as everyone has been Network Rail has the expertise [email protected] Somerset Rail Campaigners, worsening traffic jams and Of the 140 heritage railways and looking for services that can be to deal with through services Ever since British Rail closed an alliance of the five main rail increasing awareness of green railway museum sites in Britain, provided without Government to and from heritage railways, the Minehead branch line in campaign groups in the county. issues and inclusion, that the 53 provide a standard gauge link support, but this may be about to while train operators such as 1971, local people have been Informal, friendly meetings short section of line linking between communities. change. Great Western have actively calling for the line from Taunton were held, without any Bishops Lydeard to the main The untiring work of volunteers encouraged travel, with through to be reopened. commitments at this stage by line is only used for occasional The radical approach of Peter tickets and leaflets encouraging over half a century has ensured Shortly after closure a railway any parties. excursion triains.” heritage lines have developed way, there is a clear opportunity Wilkinson, the Department for visitors to use heritage railways. their survival. Transport’s managing direc- association was established Following considerable media MRLG realises that at present through services. for the huge numbers of visitors Becoming a national rail opera- Some lines still serve major tor of passenger services, who by local people, one of the coverage and support from it would be impractical to Today’s standards are more rig- to the railway itself, as well as tor is a major task for a heritage towns, notably the East Lan- providing better access to Butlins is responsible for franchising, aims being to re-establish a rail businesses and residents, extend the Minehead-Bishops cashire Railway where the com- orous. Main line certification of makes clear that he wants to railway, requiring huge man- service to Taunton. Lydeard steam trains into rolling stock is required even for at Minehead, where 7,000 visi- agement effort, and it could be MRLG grew and a robust bined population of Ramsbot- encourage special train operation It took years however to get a Taunton. the mile or so required to reach tors move in and out on summer highly risky financially. It could management committee was tom and Rawtenstall is 38,000, and extend franchised services to steam-operated heritage line Wareham, and there is no low changeover days, all currently by change the character of the heri- formed. But GWR trains could run or Dereham on the Mid Norfolk destinations off the national net- fully operational from Minehead cost way of upgrading 60-year- road. Most importantly, it will tage railway which has been Sponsorship was secured from to Minehead, giving West with a population of 19,000. work. as far as Bishops Lydeard, six old diesel multiple units. Swa- help to support West Somerset’s painstakingly and lovingly cre- many local firms, displays were Somerset regular through On heritage railways, there is miles from Taunton. But the business models for local nage Railway has done a deal ailing economy, and improve ated over many years. mounted in commercial centres trains to Taunton, Weston- railways and heritage railways clearly scope for better con- super-Mare, Bristol and . with South Western Trains to social mobility in an area ranked Will this deter volunteers or The section of track linking and leaflets distributed. are quite different. bottom in the national league nections and several railways Bishops Lydeard to the Great Such a service would reduce provide a Wareham-Corfe Castle such as the Bluebell, have made even put off visitors in search of Train planning diagrams have Local railways generally pro- tables. The only question is who Western main line and Taunton traffic congestion and parking shuttle service on summer Sat- extraordinary efforts to link up the steam train experience? Who been produced that prove there vide a service from 06.00 to urdays, which is a good start- pays for the service. will ride on the steam train if the remained for occasional is capacity on most days to run problems as well as giving with the national network. The excursions and periodic freight 23.00, 363 days a year at fares ing point, but it has a big role Other railways such as the Welsh national rail service over the line at least seven GWR services a realistic alternative to Bluebell has extended its line to trains bringing in stone for sea- comparable to the bus (or some- to play in encouraging visitors Highland and the Keighley & is half the price? off the main line through to commuters, holidaymakers and times cheaper), using paid staff, connect with the national net- defence work. to the resort and in relieving the Worth Valley are able to provide work at East Grinstead. Despite the pitfalls, there are a Minehead, while retaining the business community. and are heavily controlled and chronic congestion on the A351 car-free access to a national park The dream of re-linking the capacity for a steam train regulated through the franchise There are other opportunities. number of cases where a restored It is also the best way to revive as well as providing car-free or an historic town, and offer heritage line to the national service between Minehead agreement or their licence. The could run public transport service would Minehead’s holiday trade. access to the sensitive Isle of Pur- valuable tourist transport. What network and running commuter and Bishops Lydeard, with gap between costs and revenue on to the Severn Valley to serve be value for money and a real A report and business-case beck. On the West Somerset Rail- prospects are there for more boost to the local economy. services to Taunton and Bristol some adjustments to the steam is funded by the Government a new development at a former never died. study on the commuter service through the franchise agreement. industrial site at Foley Park, and While this is not quite “reversing timetable to allow steam and potential has been produced by A number of attempts to get diesel trains to pass each other By contrast, heritage railways are Five heritage lines with National Rail links perhaps go on to Bewdley. Beeching”, as some media com- students from a Pennsylvania mentators described the Gray- things moving were made over at passing loops on the single seasonal, running perhaps 240 The North Moors funded car-free access to The Great Central might have university. ling statement, there are sev- the years, to no avail. track line. days a year, typically between Railway runs from Pickering Dartmoor with a summer potential once the two halves of MRLG is now aiming to get a eral other cases where tourism Then in 2015 Minehead It is also hoped that following the hours of 10.00 and 18.00 and to Grosmont and on to the Sunday service from Exeter to the railway are linked at Lough- full feasibility study done so transport could be considerably businessman Alex de Mendoza the appropriate agreements largely dependent on unpaid vol- Esk Valley line to Whitby, Okehampton. borough, providing a run from they can get down to talks with unteers. They charge premium Leicester to Nottingham. Both enhanced by through running, and former Cheshire Railtours with the Office of Rail and bringing visitors to the town The North Norfolk Railway all parties, including trades fares because the cost of running Epping-Ongar and Alton-Alres- and more again where good con- proprietor David Latimer got Road, the customary 25 mph while keeping their cars out now runs a dining train unions, to ensure the dream steam locomotives is very high ford may also have valuable pub- nections are the answer. together to form the Minehead speed restriction applied to of the national park. service from Holt through to becomes reality. and, while safety is regulated by lic transport roles to play. However, the high start-up costs Rail Link Group and a number heritage train services could Cromer on the Bittern Line, The group has tremendous the Office of Rail and Road, the The Swanage Railway has mean that this will work only of local councillors and be raised on sections of the after years of isolation from The public transport business support from local people timetable is at the discretion of re-established a rail link to where large numbers of people residents quickly joined in. heritage railway. the main line to Waterloo at the national network. model means that financial and business and has been the railway. Trains are slow, with support would be required. It want to travel, or there is a prob- The aim was to work with “Until recently, many people Wareham. The Torbay Express The Swanage experience encouraged by the helpful and a 25 mph speed limit. No public would also necessitate a different lem such as traffic congestion local authorities to extend did not realise we have a fully offers a summer Sunday trip shows just how hard this co-operative response from all subsidy is paid to them. approach to the way the heritage which the railway can mitigate. some of GWR’s Cardiff/Bristol serviceable line from Minehead from Bristol to ­Kingswear process can be, and all credit parties. On privatisation back in the railway is run, using more paid Running trains, even with vol- to Taunton services over the right into Taunton with track (for Dartmouth) using the to the railway for sticking to 1990s, the idea of using any heri- staff and a strengthened manage- unteers, is not an inherently West Somerset heritage line to and signalling maintained to n David Latimer is publicity Paignton & Dartmouth the vision of connecting with tage line as part of the national ment team to deal with the more profitable business, so the key Minehead. high standards”, said Alex de Railway. Devon County main line trains at Wareham ­officer for the Minehead Rail Link network would have been complex issues, particularly question on links is who pays for MRLG joined Railfuture, and Mendoza. Council has for many years despite huge difficulties. Group. laughed at, but since then five in relation to performance and the social service element. 10 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail freight delivers £1.7 billion benefit to the UK economy – Rail Delivery Group railwatch July 2018 11 parking spaces on land adjacent to platform However, this would affect the steam railway’s Severnside 4, something we had asked for in a BBC Radio plans to extend to Ryde St John’s Road and Gloucestershire interview in 2014. Direct access have a run-round loop as there is only space to Where next with CrossCountry Trains? [email protected] from this platform to Great Western Road and accommodate one or other loop. The heritage Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will be possible operator rules out track sharing because it By Steve Wright A change of train is necessary for n nTicket office surprise when stage 2 of the work is completed this would mean compliance with Network Rail [email protected] passengers wishing to go north of Railfuture Severnside’s AGM on 14 April was summer. regulations, and they say reversal at Ryde with Later this year the Department Derby and we have some doubt hosted by our affiliated group Friends of n n “top and tail” locos would be too costly. for Transport is expected to start about the demand for direct jour- Rail’s potential for Bristol centre neys between Nottingham and Bridgwater Station. Members arriving by train n nBoxing Day services consulting the public on the were surprised to find that the ticket office Railfuture was invited by Bristol City Council future of CrossCountry Trains. stations south of Birmingham.

to respond to its City Centre Framework Railfuture was among a group of stakeholders KING Picture: RAY and booking hall had closed at 12.45 because Unless the DfT decides to extend The possible exception is Univer- of staff shortages. Great Western Railway consultation. This is mainly concerned with consulted as part of South Western Railway’s sity and this could be provided movement within a narrowly defined area decision-making process about running trains the existing franchise or make had promised to extend opening hours from another direct award, the new by alternative services. early 2017 but has yet to do so. In March which excludes Temple Meads station. Our on Boxing Day. We have long been aware of response expressed concern at the scant widespread frustration among rail users over XCT franchise will start towards There is a strong case for direct FOBS wrote to the regional station manager the end of next year. express trains from pointing out that Bridgwater station had mention of rail in the consultation document, the lack of train services around Christmas which gives the impression that only buses time. As well as a day for visiting friends and There are obvious shortcomings to Birmingham and beyond. been under-resourced and lacked adequate Whether these should go to New- ticket office facilities for many years. The town have enjoyed a dramatic increase in use in family, Boxing Day has become a major day at present. Trains do not have Bristol in recent years. In fact, rail station figures for shopping and attending entertainment or enough seats, luggage or cycle castle, Edinburgh or just Leeds is has a population of 38,000 and is the second open to debate. Stations between busiest National Rail station in Somerset, yet reveal a rise in passenger numbers at the city’s sporting events. In our submission we say that, space, there are insufficient four- 12 stations from 4.1 million in 1997/98 to 13.2 if Boxing Day services are to be introduced on seat bays, poor alignment of seats Gloucester and Newport might the Department for Transport had declined be better served by enhancing funding to improve disabled access, citing million in 2016/17. The consultation document principal sections of the SWR network, they to windows, expensive walk-on says that most car journeys into central Bristol need to be given two or three years to bed in fares, and some cities are poorly the present services from Arriva “comparatively low footfall” (344,000 passenger Trains Wales while stations north journeys in 2016/17 according to the Office of originate from outside the city boundary. We as there have been no such services for many served. STOPPING SERVICE: An XCT train at March, Cambridgeshire, in have replied that rail has the most potential to years. of Cheltenham (including the Rail and Road) and a low priority by GWR. Other concerns include poor September last year. Could a local operator do better? future Worcestershire Parkway) Railfuture was planning to raise these concerns achieve modal shift for these journeys and we refreshment facilities, smelly expect to see the West of England Combined n nSouthern passengers pay high price might be best provided by West at GWR’s community rail conference in June. toilets, lack of on-the-day reser- Most XCT services suffer over- trains or by splitting and combin- Authority make progress with MetroWest. Rail passengers in our region deserve to see Midlands Railways. However in May Somerset County Council vations, inadequate stakeholder crowding because at some point ing trains. www.railfuture.org.uk/Severnside Branch some improvements to their services, however The present hourly trains announced that £1.2 million would be spent involvement, and diesel trains on their journey they are ideally Twitter @RailfutureSSide small. New analysis by the Southern Policy There is almost certainly demand between Birmingham and on improving the station frontage, car park and operating under electric wires. timed for use by commuters. for an additional train per hour links to buses. £800,000 of it would be funded Centre reveals how the burden of paying for Stansted provide the only ser- the UK rail system falls unfairly on passengers in Railfuture submitted a compre- Inter-city service between Birmingham and Leeds vice to Stamford, Oakham and by the DfT and the remainder by EDF Energy as Wessex hensive set of aspirations prior to to give a half hourly frequency. part of its Hinkley Point mitigation funding. central southern England. Their research found , apart from one that passengers are paying 16.6p per mile more the present arrangement, follow- Core stops on the Plymouth to Additional and longer trains train each way between the last ing consultation with branches, north-east England service might n nHope for Minehead [email protected] than the cost of running the service, while capable of 125 mph would be two and London St Pancras, and and Railfuture is now starting a be Exeter, Bristol, Birmingham, Minehead Rail Link Group, which is affiliated to those in northern England, Scotland and Wales needed to tackle overcrowding. also the only service between n nWoE campaign goes to Westminster are receiving subsidies of up to 40p per mile. similar process in advance of the Sheffield, Leeds, with occasional Leicester, Peterborough and Railfuture, recently reported a very constructive stops at significant towns where If an inter-city set of services The Salisbury-Exeter Rail User Group has now www.railfuture.org.uk/Wessex+Branch DfT’s stakeholder consultation. Cambridge. All these trains are meeting with GWR at Taunton station. Although demand is known to exist. Bris- as described above were to be taken its campaign to the House of Commons. Twitter @RailfutureWessx However before deciding our local in character rather than an GWR did not have sufficient rolling stock to tol to Plymouth and Penzance added to the present pattern, In February, group chairman Bruce Duncan aspirations for 2019 and onwards inter-urban express service. extend any Cardiff-Taunton services to Bishops is wholly within GWR territory, this might provide even better (who also chairs Railfuture Wessex) travelled fundamental questions need to Lydeard this year, it told MRLG that it was while Leeds-Edinburgh direct is opportunities for inter-urban ser- This service does however pro- to Westminster to meet a group of MPs whose West Midlands be addressed. confident of doing so in the summer of 2019. soon to be provided by 125 mph vices to serve new destinations vide a useful connection between constituencies adjoin the West of England Currently XCT’s core services trains from Northern. The only or existing stops more frequently. Birmingham, Leicester, Peter- n nNegative vibes from the National Trust line. SERUG’s realistic four-point plan for the are hourly expresses between section on this route currently borough, Cambridge and on to line includes: 1 Reinstatement of double track Birmingham to The National Trust has replied to our request Edinburgh and Plymouth – served by XCT alone is between Stansted Airport. between Dinton and Tisbury. 2 A long loop east (Railwatch 155) for nearest stations to NT many starting and finishing in Bristol and Derby. The regular Nottingham or Leicester Would a better service overall be of Crewkerne. 3 A loop near Whimple. properties to be listed in its handbook. The Glasgow, Manchester and Bris- service to intermediate stations, These services connect major provided if local services were trust said the majority of its members reach its 4 The ability to split and rejoin units at Yeovil tol – several extended to Exeter, other than Birmingham, could run by a local operator, with a Junction. Together, these would achieve greater Midlands cities but are more properties by car and it saved £200,000 per year Manchester and Bournemouth, be provided by a different train local transport in character. limited-stop Birmingham-East in printing costs by omitting information such capacity, improved resilience, faster journey and Newcastle and Reading – operator. Anglia service calling only at, times and the opportunity for new services. Instead of XCT, they could be as access by public transport. NT did, however, some extended to Southampton. run by East Midlands Trains or say, Nuneaton, Leicester and send a copy of its Getting Here booklet which Without exception, the MPs confirmed their A similar rationalisation could Aberdeen, Dundee, Penzance, West Midlands Trains or possibly Peterborough, then splitting at gives details of bus routes (and in most cases, support for the proposals. It fell to Sir Oliver apply to the Reading to north- Paignton and Guildford have east England axis, with most jointly under a Midlands Con- Ely for Cambridge, Stansted and railway stations) closest to its properties. The Letwin MP to send a formal request to Rail occasional extensions of one or Picture: Uraban Growth Company trains from Bournemouth to nect brand. selected stations to Norwich? booklet is available to NT members on request. Minister Jo Johnson asking him to initiate other of these core services. funding for a costed appraisal. A follow-up Manchester stopping only at An all-stations could be pro- This will be the last chance to n nPositive action from English Heritage XCT also runs hourly semi-fast Southampton, Basingstoke, reform XCT services for years meeting at Westminster with Jo Johnson took n nBirmingham International vided but so too could a limited- By contrast, English Heritage continues to give place in May so SERUG could expand on the services between Cardiff and Reading, Oxford, Birmingham, stop express service which could and DfT officers recognise the details of access by rail to sites in its members’ issues affecting the WoE line. The politicians’ This is an artist’s impression of what Nottingham and between Bir- Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent even be extended to Worcester current shortcomings and appear handbook and the 2018 edition is up to date interest is encouraging but SERUG supporters Birmingham International station could look mingham and Stansted Airport, and Stockport. A further refine- and Lincoln. to be open to novel suggestions. with the inclusion of Hayles Abbey Halt on the are urged to continue lobbying MPs to make like, once is built. The Urban and also hourly stopping ser- ment might be that each of these But I am Birmingham-based, and Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. sure things start moving. Growth Company – set up by Solihull Council vices between Birmingham and services alternate each hour Cardiff-Nottingham make no claim to understand the to maximise the benefits of HS2’s arrival – has Nottingham and Birmingham – Plymouth-Leeds and Bour- Birmingham-Stansted n n needs of all parts of such a wide- n nRail is answer to pollution developments been awarded £9 million to turn the station and Leicester. nemouth-Manchester one hour, ranging operation. into an integrated transport exchange. The Railfuture’s response to the Cheltenham Local Railfuture’s representative on the Isle of Wight The DfT must decide what XCT Plymouth-Manchester and Bour- Suggestions for the future for estimated cost of the entire Birmingham nemouth-Leeds the next. these are somewhat more prob- Members’ views on what ser- Plan consultation supported the borough bus and rail users’ group reported back from a should offer in future. vices their local communities meeting of the Island Line stakeholder forum. International station project is £286 million and lematic since both are cross- council’s policy of safeguarding the route of the Should XCT concentrate on being There might also be scope for an would benefit from would be South Western Railway looks set to plan for a the UGC hopes to secure funding to deliver the regional and connect major ur- former Honeybourne line within its boundary. a quality, long distance inter-city overnight service from the south most welcome. regular 30-minute service, compared to the project by December 2025. ban centres. Neither can be re- We said that while it would be technically express service, serving only the and south-west of England to present service which runs at alternate intervals garded as inter-city standard, Let me leave you with one final feasible to reinstate a link from the GWSR n nAction group for Droitwich passengers most significant conurbations? Scotland, joining or splitting at heritage line along its original route (currently a of 20 min and 40 min, by installing a passing and demand, with some notable heretical thought. Do we actually Droitwich Spa Town Council has backed a Birmingham New Street. cycleway) to Lansdown Junction, an alternative loop at Brading. The group queried this on the Or should it provide a frequent exceptions, is probably not great need a XCT franchise? Would it suggestion by Councillor Alan Humphries to route from Cheltenham racecourse to the basis that a Brading loop could not achieve the inter-urban service similar to that Inter-urban service enough to justify an inter-city be better to allow regional train set up a Droitwich Rail Users Action Group. main line in the Swindon Village area should desired aim of connecting both into and out of at present? style service. At some stations operators to provide express and Mike Posonby, chairman of Bromsgrove Rail The present franchise provides a also be considered. A disturbing revelation in the Portsmouth catamaran with the same train. XCT provides the only regular semi-express services between User Group, said: “We welcome the creation of Or should it be a combination half-hourly frequency between one of the consultation documents is that the However, the chief executive of Wightlink said service. centres within their own bound- the group as this is a significant development of both? Should the local ser- Birmingham and Bristol, Man- whole of Cheltenham borough is an air quality he would be prepared to run catamarans at aries and to those of their imme- for putting forward the interests of railway vices between Birmingham and chester, Reading and Sheffield. Cardiff is poorly provided with management area because of a very high level times to connect with both the trains from diate neighbours? passengers.” Leicester or Nottingham remain This is a service pattern that we express services beyond the of car commuting. Waterloo and the Island Line. part of XCT or be allocated to a would want to perpetuate and Midlands. The present service Could inter-city services (wash SWR’s planning manager would like to see n nRailfuture West Midlands contact: different train operator. What is hourly but is used to serve your mouth out, Wright) be left n nDirect link to hospital promised if possible extend to serve major the loops at Sandown and Ryde St John’s [email protected] should be done about the semi- centres not well-served now, numerous stations en route and to open-access operators? At neighbouring Gloucester, Great Western Road retained to allow for late running, peak [email protected] fast Cardiff-Nottingham and such as Cardiff, Gloucester and provides for intermediate jour- n Steve Wright is XCT liaison offi- Railway has provided an additional 240 periods or growth of the traffic on Island Line. www.railfuture.org.uk/West Midlands Branch Birmingham-Stansted services? Liverpool, possibly with extra neys rather than long distance. cer for Railfuture’s passenger group. 12 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Join Railfuture online at www.railfuture.org.uk/join railwatch July 2018 13 submitted ideas to Transport for the North’s Thames Valley Strategic Rail Plan. The basic aims of the plan Yorkshire THE CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL FREIGHT were to provide half-hourly passenger services [email protected] as a minimum, to standardise minimum n nOxford remodelling speeds for different types of passenger line, Rail to rescue as landfill sites get scarcer and to link everywhere in the north directly to Railfuture Thames Valley’s meeting in Oxford Manchester airport. Railfuture supports these GB Railfreight has signed a stra- in February heard Network Rail’s Rob Mashford aims. Nowhere on the Coast line yet has such give us an update on the Oxford corridor tegic agreement to carry waste to through links and no TransPennine expresses Manchester and Leeds, on behalf works. As Carillion was the main contractor, yet run east of Middlesbrough on the Saltburn the work was taken in house by Network of the waste management com- line. However, there are signs that TransPennine pany Biffa. Rail through a subsidiary company called is waking up to the idea of extending existing Western Enhancement Delivery. The former Middlesbrough trains to Redcar and Saltburn. Biffa recently opened a transfer Carillion team were taken into Network Rail Middlesbrough MP Andy Taylor, who is the NEWS Picture: KEIGHLEY station in Manchester and a simi- employment so that work could continue shadow transport secretary, favours restoring lar site is to be opened in Leeds. Picture: GB RAILFREIGHT without interruption. Work is currently a third platform, but running right through the Mick Davis of Biffa said: “Rail proceeding on the down carriage sidings and station, behind the existing platform 2. transportation will enhance our new northern ladders into platforms 1, 2 and service offerings from our exist- 3. Works on new up sidings and new canopies ing landfill network while also n nGRIP – how to win and lose on platforms 1, 2 and 3 will allow passive providing significant environ- provision for electrification. All signalling will Construction is expected to start soon on a mental benefits compared to transfer to the Thames Valley signalling centre new station for Horden/Peterlee with a likely road transportation.” at Didcot. The new layout will allow increased opening date of February 2020. Costs are high With a declining landfill capacity, parallel moves, with four-aspect signals and because Network Rail’s Governance for Railway waste has to travel further to find bi-directional signalling for greater operational Investment Projects process requires material THIS WAY FORWARD: Transport a final home, one of them being flexibility. There will be extensive blockades, for platforms to last for 100 years. Secretary Chris Grayling at Colne station Biffa’s landfill facility in Roxby, starting in July, with platform 4 the only The GRIP process was explained by station with Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson near . operational platform for trains to/from the project officer Ray Brewis in a lecture to South and Chiltern trains terminating at Oxford Railfuture North East. He showed a diagram These two strategic rail links are Parkway. Rob was unable to answer questions summary of the eight-stage GRIP procedure. He n nSkipton-Colne high hopes expected to cope with 250,000 about the rebuilding of Oxford station, the said his six-year-old grand-daughter saw it and The campaign to reopen the Colne to tonnes of waste a year, the equiv- Cowley branch, Didcot-Oxford electrification asked: “Is that a new board game? If so, when Skipton line has had its most productive year, alent of approximately 16,000 and possible quadrupling. As programme does a player win?” according to chairman Peter Bryson. He said: lorry journeys. CLEAN AND TIDY: A class 66 freight loco is named the Flying Dustman at York in March manager, he is responsible for implementing Biffa is considering other regions “Standing in front of us all on Colne station, May. It is hoped the one train a Railfreight Park marks an excit- plans which have been approved, as and when of the UK where rail might pro- n n Revised May timetables Transport Secretary Chris Grayling made the week service will expand to six ing chapter for the delivery of funding is released. Work on a new platform 5 vide similar advantages. New rail guide game-changing announcement that not only trains a week. sustainable transport in central and rebuilding Botley Road bridge is still in the Delayed completion of electrification schemes would the Government be funding the next The Insider Rail Guide to the elsewhere and a shortage of rolling stock have Scotland. development stage. The road will be lowered feasibility study, he also confirmed that that the Eurotunnel has invested in a not prevented welcome improvements in Intermodal park whole-train scanner at Frethun, “Not only will MIRP play an Kyle of Lochalsh Line by David and widened, and the new bridge work can be leadership of this project would soon pass over the North-East, following the May timetable A weekly train of tar tank wag- near Calais, in an effort to boost important role developing Cen- Spaven and David Fasken is assembled on the site of the youth hostel which to his own department. We now obviously wait, changes. It has not yet proved possible to ons will be the first rail traffic at Channel Tunnel rail freight. tral Scotland’s freight infrastruc- a pocket-sized book of 128 will be demolished. with great interest, to see just how quickly both double the overall frequency between Carlisle A V Dawson’s new £2.6 million ture, it will also support sustain- pages, with 40 historic and n nNorth Downs line hopes and Newcastle as Northern had hoped. the Department for Transport and Transport for intermodal park at Tees River- able economic growth within the Scottish news contemporary photographs. For many years, decades even, Railfuture The Coast line, south from Newcastle to the North can take this project forward into the side, following a deal with Tata region and help to deliver our Thames Valley has been advocating the Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, next exciting stage.” Steel at Port Talbot, south Wales. Peel Ports has partnered with DB ambitious plans for the future of It includes a history of the Cargo UK to provide a new rail reopening of the flyunder east of Reading now has better connections from Scotland. Managing director Gary Daw- rail and freight. line from its opening to n nGo slow rail freight service for containers via the Port station, for through trains between Oxford Bishop Line services are now hourly throughout son said the firm is committed to “The Scottish Government is Stromeferry in 1870 and the and Gatwick. Since the rebuilding of Reading the day, and all go to or come from Saltburn via of Liverpool for the first time. Lucy Hudson, head of freight at Transport for Government objectives to move committing record levels of later extension to Kyle of station, some North Downs Line trains have Middlesbrough and Darlington. the North, was guest speaker at Railfuture heavy freight from road to rail. The new service started in May investment in rail as part of our been terminating in platforms 14/15. Now TransPennine connection-times to and from the and will provide shipping lines, Lochalsh. The next guide Yorkshire’s meeting in April. Members were He added: “We built Tees River- £5 billion package of transforma- the proposal for trimode trains equipped Coast line at Thornaby are now much improved forwarders, tank operators and will cover the Aberdeen- told that because of capacity problems on side intermodal park because we tive improvements to infrastruc- for overhead AC and third-rail DC current in both directions and the promised hourly the route, biomass trains take seven hours cargo owners with a seamless ture and services in Scotland’s Elgin-Inverness line. Sunday services to Middlesbrough have also knew there was an opportunity route between the quayside at collection and diesel power offers the to get from Liverpool to Drax power station, to take a substantial amount of railways up until 2019.” possibility of a through service between begun. an improvement on the previous nine hours! Liverpool and Scotland. heavy traffic off roads and con- ADVERTISEMENT Gatwick and Oxford. This could be the third SENRUG is hoping that some redundant electric Members suggested a range of reopenings The return service to Liverpool units from elsewhere could improve services vert it to rail, while offering a train per hour on the North Downs Line, which would address the capacity restraints more efficient delivery process will carry Scottish goods for between Morpeth and Newcastle. provided that Network Rail’s usual objections facing freight. for customers.” export, with a large proportion about capacity can be overcome. destined for America. RDS GROUP TRAVEL to LEIDEN n nNorthern potential for the future The tar tanks from Port Talbot n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/Thames Valley Branch n nNorthern Powerhouse will be delivered to Koppers, Scottish family-run company Railfuture is hoping that, once Northern has Four-day visit by train Twitter @RailfutureTV at Port Clarence, near Middles- Walkers Shortbread will be one put all its franchise commitments into effect, Railfuture Yorkshire chair Nina Smith submitted of the first customers, exporting a response to the Transport for the North brough. Dawson already trans- to historic Dutch city it could add an electric local service between ports steel coil from Port Talbot 700 containers a year to America. North East Darlington and Berwick to link Chester-le-Street, consultation on behalf of four Railfuture of Leiden, within easy branches. We called for an early start on to Middlesbrough. Andrew Stokes, head of inter- Cramlington, Morpeth and Alnmouth with the national sales at Walkers Short- reach of Amsterdam, rest of the main line. implementing the [email protected] proposals and the long-term rail strategy, even Depot at risk bread Ltd, said: “Increasing our Coastliners is hoping for a Sunderland- logistics efficiency and reducing Utrecht and The Hague though it is vague at this stage, particularly n nNetwork Rail, Transport for the North Darlington service which might also serve There are fears that the end of DB our road haulage miles are both Picture: NETHERLANDS TOURISM Northallerton. Such a local service would, at concerning the proposed high speed line via stone traffic at Hamworthy Quay key to our export strategy.” Railfuture North East has responded to long last, link the three artificially isolated Bradford which will probably require expensive in Poole harbour, Dorset, may Mossend International Rail- Network Rail’s East Coast main line Investment stations of Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Stockton, all tunnelling sections. lead to the depot being sold off freight Park was launched in Choices consultation, as have Coastliners and in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees. It would The phrase Northern Powerhouse Rail will for housing. Railfuture’s freight May after owners P D Stirling the South East Northumberland Rail User provide a credible rail alternative to the busy, have a hollow ring to it if it does not improve group will be on the watch. celebrated 85 years of rail opera- Group. We have confined our attention to the congested A19 road that parallels them, as well connectivity for the whole of the North, not just tion. David Stirling of PD Stir- York-Newcastle-Berwick section. We consider as enabling passengers to change to a main the cities. Silk Road link ling Ltd said: “This will help that the alternatives between Northallerton, line train at Northallerton with ease, thanks to Scotland lead the world in pro- Eaglescliffe, Stockton, Ferryhill, and Leamside its simple platform layout. Already inter-city A new flow of containers has n nHarrogate Azuma viding a lower cost, efficient and need upgrading for much higher speeds. All style trains serve Northallerton, with Grand started operating through the more sustainable alternative to of them, as well as the lines towards Saltburn Central calling five times daily and A Virgin Azuma train visited in April, Channel Tunnel to Germany long haul road transport.” Monday to Thursday 1 October to 4 October 2018 (including Teesport) and along the Durham every two hours, and at least two TransPennine a precursor to a promised two-hourly direct with onward connections to Coast, need to be electrified if rail as a whole is services hourly each way. service to London starting in May next year. Poland and via the Silk Road Keith Brown, the Scottish Gov- to play a greater part in the broader economy to China. The first CMA CGM ernment’s Cabinet Secretary for Details from Trevor Garrod, 15 Clapham Road South, n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/North East Branch of the North East. n nwww.railfuture.org.uk/Yorkshire+Branch Logistics train left London Gate- Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ [email protected] Coastliners and Saltburn Line User Group have Twitter @RailfutureNEast Twitter: @RailfutureYorks way, heading for Duisburg, in said: “The Mossend International 14 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk railwatch July 2018 15 bi-mode trains are not ready, but Northern has Cymru Wales received some class 158 diesels from Scotland. With a top speed of 90mph, they are easier to The many faces of rail in the West Midlands timetable on the West Coast main line than the [email protected] current class 156 and 153 units. However, the By Colin Major To Manchester new units will entail an extensive driver training [email protected] To Crewe

n nWales and Borders new franchise Picture: VIVARAIL programme, and their lack of availability is What is the West Midlands? It The new operator of the causing significant cancellations on this line may seem like a simple question, franchise was announced in May with in particular. Northern has apologised for the but in rail terms defining the KeolisAmey replacing in cancellations and said that the May timetable area is an intellectual challenge. October. , a not-for-profit change should have seen an improvement, and Following the recent creation company owned by the , that these should continue after that date. of new statutory and transport has chosen the joint French-Spanish venture of Some of the proposed additional services bodies in the West Midlands and

KeolisAmey to operate the £5 billion Wales & VIVARAIL: Three-car diesel-battery that were in Northern’s provisional timetable Map: SAGREDO/ELLIE KING the award of the old London To Derby Borders franchise, including the rail component trains from Vivarail will be used on the for May 2018 have not arrived either, notably Midland franchise to West of the South Wales Metro. The franchise will Wrexham-Bidston, Conwy Valley and the doubling of services from Greenbank Midland Trains Ltd, there are run until 2033 and has received enthusiastic Chester-Crewe routes by the new Wales and Macclesfield to Manchester. These are many transport organisations in Wilnecote coverage in the mainstream press. Railfuture & Borders franchise still hourly services rather than the twice per the region with West Midlands To Leicester Cymru/Wales welcomed the 61% improvement Water Coleshill Parkway April to June, followed by the closure of the hour service promised. Some services that in their titles. Orton promised for Sunday rail services and called are currently operated by electric trains will Duddeston for early action on its implementation. As part route through Patchway and Severn Tunnel. So much so that passengers and The branch was closed for several be changing temporarily to diesel operation of the deal, the UK Government is providing because of the incomplete Manchester-Preston Railfuture members wishing days for electrification work at Ebbw and Gaer Coventry £125 million towards the £738 million cost electrification. to contact or influence travel Arena of the next phase of the South Wales Metro. junctions. This involved the provision of the provision may feel like Alan The “core Valley lines” from Merthyr, , bases for run-off electrification. Newport- Davies answering a question on Treherbert, Aberdare and Coryton to Cardiff city Cwmbran was closed for many days at various n nNorthern extends penalty fares BBC2’s QI programme. times from April to July for similar work at centre, Penarth and Barry, will be electrified to Northern introduced the scheme Kenilworth To London Euston allow tram-trains to operate on existing track Maindee West junction. Cardiff-Severn Tunnel on some routes within its central region from Question and some on-street sections in both Cardiff Junction was reduced to a two-track railway 14 May. This is a franchise commitment and and the Valleys. The rolling stock on the metro on many days, with services being withdrawn follows trials of the scheme on the Airedale “Who are the following and will be a combination of metro vehicles and tri- because of lack of capacity. Railfuture has and Wharfedale lines in Yorkshire, and is now what do they do? West Midlands To Bristol To London Marylebone mode trains (diesel, batteries and 25kV electric). expressed its concern that many travellers in extended to four lines in the North West: Combined Authority, Transport The use of batteries will enable a “smart” South Wales are being inconvenienced by these Manchester Victoria to York via Hebden for West Midlands, West electrification programme, requiring limited works even though they will not benefit from Bridge, Manchester stations to Liverpool via Midlands Rail, West Midlands modification to bridges. electric trains in future. Swansea Malliphant Trains Ltd and West Midlands Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Central, To Bristol & Oxford The franchise also promises new rolling stock sidings, which has electrification masts in place, and Manchester to Wilmslow via Manchester Railway” procured by the Welsh Government at a cost has received additional expenditure, to provide Airport. Northern has put up posters at affected West Midlands County of £800 million, to be introduced from next fuelling facilities and toilet discharge facilities stations and started making announcements Answers year. On-board toilets will be retained on all which were not part of the initial plan. Welsh on trains in mid April. Customers travelling Secretary Alun Cairns continues to state that West Midlands Combined new and existing trains. The plans include without a ticket on a Northern train anywhere Authority is a strategic authority assembling over 50% of the new trains in Wales it was not worthwhile to electrify to Swansea on any of the above routes could face a penalty with powers over transport, WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY: The network which serves West Midlands County and its surrounds and it is expected that 95% of trains used by because it will save only two minutes for fare of £20 or twice the single fare, whichever is economic development and the franchise will be new or refurbsihed by services from London Paddington. This ignores the greater. regeneration. It formally came 2023 with a few existing loco-hauled services the benefits of electrification for local services. Ticket vending machines that do not issue the into being on 17 June 2016 Railfuture Rail Users Conference 2018 surviving. Four new stations will be built in Electric trains are more environmentally particular ticket passengers want, will have a Cardiff – at Gabalfa, Crwys Road, Loudoun friendly and with faster acceleration would and comprises Birmingham Rail driving growth in the Thames Valley “promise to pay” ticket available, which will City, Coventry City, Dudley Square and the Flourish (next to the Millennium be able to accommodate more services and have the starting station printed on it and Novotel, 25B Friar Street, Reading RG1 1DP Centre). A new Treforest Estate station will be more station calls, including those planned for Metropolitan Borough Council, this will get around the common trick of fare Sandwell MBC, Solihull built nearer to Nantgarw. Every existing station , Cardiff Parkway and Llanwern. dodgers saying they got on at stations closer 5-10 minutes walk from Reading station MBC, Walsall MBC and in Wales will be upgraded at a cost of to their destination station than they actually n nInfrastructure expenditure Wolverhampton City Councils, Saturday 10 November 2018 10.00-17.00 £194 million and the stations will be powered did. Rail minister Jo Johnson has announced Network Rail’s expenditure for control period with an elected Mayor of the by renewable energy. that, while fare dodgers will continue to 6 (2019-24) does not provide funding for work West Midlands as chairman, There will be 285 extra weekday services, in receive penalties, those with a genuine reason over from SPEAKERS in Wales and the Borders to a level that would currently Andy Street, former contrast to the no-growth franchise awarded to for not having a valid ticket will now be able in December 2017 and is a Councillor Tony Page, chair, Reading Council ATW 15 years ago. However ATW did increase be expected for a rail network of that size. No chief executive officer of John consortium of three companies: money has been allocated for enhancements. to challenge a penalty with an independent the number of services by over 20% during its committee. Once an appeal is received, the Lewis. Abellio, JR East and Mitsui with Reading’s successful transport strategy franchise. Railfuture Cymru/Wales has called The North Wales resignalling has been Transport for West Midlands two separate business units. curtailed, as have the north to south Wales clock will stop on the 21-day deadline for the Howard Smith, operations director Crossrail for the new franchise to deliver on rolling stock payment of a penalty fare, until the outcome is the executive body of Those routes and stations in the meeting the standards set out in Railfuture’s line speed improvements. Welsh AMs and MPs the WMCA that oversees Crossrail and its future as the Elizabeth Line are requesting that the £433 million saved on is resolved. The process will also give greater map area above are one business Welsh Development Plan. consideration to circumstances of how and why transportation (road, rail, unit and branded as West Ian Baxter, SLC rail not electrifying to Swansea should be made bus and Metro) within the n nBridgend’s new £1.5m station available for enhancements in other areas. the penalty was issued to ensure people are not Midlands Railway. unfairly penalised. metropolitan county. The Developing a business case and building new stations A major £1.5 million station improvement n nElectrification cuts in South Wales organisation incorporates The other operates the lines from Anna Holbrook, Network Rail project has just been completed at Euston as London Northwestern The House of Commons report The cancellation n nRUG predicts overcrowding in Bolton the previous responsibilities station, the fifth busiest in Wales. First Minister of Centro and the West Railway. Western rail link to Heathrow project of rail electrification in South Wales was The Bolton Rail User Group is very concerned officially opened the new Midlands Integrated Transport Both brands have their own Howard Elliot, Network Rail facilities at his “home station”. The National published in May and includes references to that timetable changes in May and December submissions by Railfuture Cymru/ Wales . Authority. TfWM currently has unique livery. Station Improvement Programme provided the will cause local services to become significantly responsibility for franchising Electrification www.railfuturewales.org.uk overcrowded. Members have recently carried It is intended that any future funding. The station will benefit from free wi-fi bus routes, alongside the ability Twitter @RailfutureWales out train loading surveys which showed franchise operator in the West Mark Walker, Heathrow Southern Railway Ltd as part of a substantial investment in Welsh to set standardised fares across significant overcrowding on all services not Midlands will retain the West stations by the Welsh Government. It will be all operators similar to Transport The new way of getting a bigger and better railway operated by class 185s (mostly run in pairs to Midlands Railway unique livery, installed in the coming months. The project North West for London. make a six-car service) and noted that with the which may well be extended to began in autumn 2017. The new facilities £25 Early bird (members only) include an improved concourse area with a new reducing number of those being used on local West Midlands Rail was the Metro . information desk, ticket office and new seating, [email protected] services, more overcrowding was inevitable. established in December £30 Members after 31 August 2018 2017 jointly by the 16 local refurbished passenger toilets including a new n nElectrification delays and disruption With the prospect of electric services being Still confused? £30 Non members baby changing facility, a waiting shelter, CCTV, operated by four-car class 319s, which cannot authorities covering the stations The cancellation of Oxenholme-Windermere Contact Railfuture West £20 16-25 Railcard holder signs and passenger information displays. be coupled as eight-car units because of shown in the map, above. It and delays to the Manchester-Preston platform limits at some intermediate stations, has joint responsibility with Midlands and we, like Sandi However the screen showing bus departures electrification schemes caused significant from Bridgend bus station has disappeared. BRUG is calling on Northern to address the the Department for Transport Toksvig, will provide more Includes welcome refreshments and buffet lunch disruption up to and from the May timetable detailed answers and award n n issue by ensuring an adequate number of six- for overseeing the franchised Electrification work causes disruption change. The Lakes Line between Oxenholme car services. West marks! You can book your place at: and Windermere is feeling the effects of the Electrification work throughout south Wales www.railfuture.org.uk/North West Branch Midlands Trains Ltd. n Colin Major is secretary of failure to electrify that line. The replacement https://www.railfuture.org.uk/conferences/ was causing disruption on most days from Twitter @RailfutureNWest West Midlands Trains Ltd took Railfuture West Midlands. 16 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Please remember Railfuture in your will: www.railfuture.org.uk/legacies railwatch July 2018 17 Chinley is part of a national problem Lifeline for west Wales By Mike Walker per year, an increase over the PAUL ABELL reports on the and Adrian Kendon same period of almost 50%, in latest moves to make Chinley line with the growth of rail travel It is now impossible to travel by Map: ALEX AKINS station accessible for all rail from south Wales to north throughout Britain. passengers without crossing the border into Passenger numbers have England. increased significantly in rural The cover of Railwatch 154 fea- This sad state of affairs has areas, reflecting the social as well tured the campaign spearheaded ABELL Picture: PAUL existed since the Carmarthen- as economic role of the railways. by the Chinley & Buxworth Picture: JOHN BEEDLE Aberystwyth line lost its passen- It is no longer reasonable to Transport Group to reinstate ger service in 1965 and the Afon expect all costs to be met from accessibility at Chinley station. Wen to Bangor line closed. fares. The railway brings major The status of Chinley station as Decisions made in London have economic benefits to the wider a crucial railhead for the district blighted rail travel in Wales ever community, not just those travel- surrounding the village itself since. ling by rail. prompted the Transport Group Rail passengers who want The Traws Link Cymru cam- to organise a petition to the to travel from Carmarthen paign has attracted support Department for Transport calling FOOTBRIDGE AS BARRIER: Trains at Chinley station call at THE BLAYDON THREE: Craig and Aberystwyth must go via throughout west Wales. for level access to the station. either side of this island platform, which can be reached only Harrop of Northern, Fiona Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Public meetings have been held Signed by more than 800 people, by the green footbridge. The 24 steps visible on the left are Forsythe of the Tyne Valley Shrewsbury, and take more than matched by a similar number on the right. The whole bridge is Community Rail Partnership at all the principal towns that the petition was presented dur- five hours. would be served by the new ing the evening session of the open to the weather and tricky even for able-bodied passengers (centre) and Liz Twist, MP for in the wet, especially if they have luggage or young children Blaydon But five years ago, a local cam- railway: Aberystwyth, Llanilar, House of Commons on 12 March paign group, Traws Link Cymru Tregaron, Lampeter, Llandyssul by High Peak MP Ruth George. one, used by northbound trains the Newcastle platform. To cross Rail Partnerships. On a beautiful was formed, which aimed to and Carmarthen. The response Along with the MP, the Trans- on the West Coast main line. Pas- the line the footbridge had to be spring morning, the entrance was re-establish the Carmarthen- has been universally positive. port Group has now arranged a sengers returning south will find negotiated, causing problems for formally opened by Liz Twist, Aberystwyth rail link. The ben- Meetings have been held with meeting in June with Transport that they have arrived at plat- the disabled and families with MP for Blaydon, who talked of efits of reopening this rail link prominent local bodies, and with Minister Nusrat Ghani (who has form 2 – which is not accessible. prams and pushchairs. the importance of the railway to and, in due course, the Afon politicians and Cabinet Ministers responsibility for Access for All), Wen to Bangor connection, are And you can forget about using to Blaydon. in the Welsh Government. while Network Rail has under- The Tyne Valley Community ­enormous. the Cross-City Line to reach Bir- Rail Partnership came up with a Since a timetable change five Members have also travelled to ISSN 0267-5943 www.railwatch.org.uk taken to fund and carry out a It would provide a rail corridor mingham from platform 3. That scheme to provide level access to years ago use of the station London for face-to-face meetings feasibility study at the station, connecting north, mid, west railwatch so watch this space! The Chinley can be reached only by climbing the platform via a surfaced path- has grown steadily. Craig Har- with the Welsh Office Minister is edited by Ray King, 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU 33 steps (it is not called the High way from the adjacent Keelman’s rop, for , thanked and south-west Wales within an campaign has echoes in many inter-regional transport network. Stephen Crabb and Transport Tel: 020 8985 8548 [email protected] other places, as shown by the Level for nothing). Way, the riverside path. Gateshead Council for funding Minister Guto Bebb. Printed by Print-Out, High Street, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4JD the ramp and hoped the new There would be a direct rail con- letter from Lichfield Rail Promo- This has provided better links Tel: 01223 232709. Railfuture members receive ­Railwatch free. entrance would encourage even nection from Aberystwyth to Support comes from health tion Group chair David Dixon in Accessible at last from the station for Hadrian’s more people to use the station. Cardiff, reducing the rail journey boards, universities, schools, Railwatch abides by the National Union of Journalists’ code of conduct. Railwatch 155 complaining that However, John Beedle reports Wall walkers and also for resi- time by more than two hours and businesses and councils along online at www.railfuture.org.uk/shop or by even Lichfield Trent Valley is still progress on the Newcastle dents of the Stella Riverside From the new timetable in May, Non-members can subscribe offering a more socially inclusive the line. A petition has attracted sending £8 (cheque payable to Railfuture) to: Alan Cocker, 11 Derwent waiting for lifts, despite the sta- to Carlisle line, where a new housing development, with its Blaydon benefits from trains form of transport. almost 20,000 signatures. tion being used by more than 1.2 entrance has been provided at 500 homes. The scheme was stopping every hour. Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QR. million passengers annually. n Rail services would be integrated The Welsh Government pro- Blaydon station. For years use funded by Gateshead Council, Railfuture vice president Paul closely with the bus services, vided £30,000 for an initial scop- Copy deadlines: For the next issue, published in September/October, The only accessible platform at of the station was hindered by the Department for Transport and Abell is a former editor of Todays enabling further investment in ing study by engineering firm please email ­material to [email protected] by Monday 27 August. Lichfield Trent Valley is platform the lack of a step-free access to the Association of Community­ Railways UK the latter to provide feeder links AECOM, who in 2015 reported Emergency late news up to Saturday 8 September. from more outlying communi- favourably on the prospects for Postal address: 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU. FAREWELL TO JIM WADE, A GREAT FRIEND OF THE RAILWAY ties to the railway line. reopening and gave an indica- Advertising: Full page: £190. Half page: £95. Quarter page: £45. The funeral took place on Friday lived for the whole of his life. The played truant to watch the trains A new railway would provide a tive cost of around £750 million Small ads are free to members. Otherwise: 30p per word. for the project. 6 April of Jim Wade, who died son of a railwayman at Corby from the nearby railway bridge. major boost to the regional econ- Please report any problems with the delivery or condition of your copy of on 17 March after a period of ill steelworks, Jim had a lifelong He did the same on his second omy, as has clearly been the case A Welsh Transport Planning and Railwatch to [email protected] or to the E9 7HU address above. health, writes Steve Jones. He was interest in railways. On his first day but was apprehended and, in Scotland with the reopening of Appraisal Guidance assessment 75. James Hammond Wade was day at Rockingham Road Infants as he put it, “was brought into the Borders line. was carried out by ARCADIS. Railfuture born in 1942 in Corby, where he School in Corby, in 1947, he compliance with the education Commuting to work would be Plaid Cymru has given strong system!” is independent and voluntary. Railfuture Ltd is a not-for-profit company easier and the line would contrib- support. limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No 05011634. Later, in the 1950s, he would help ute significantly to the economic A full feasibility study was car- ­Registered Office: 24 Chedworth Place, Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. his father load racing pigeons infrastructure of west Wales, ried out by engineering and Join into “pigeon special” trains to especially during the period of consultancy company Mott Mac- Media enquiries Get four copies of Railwatch magazine a year, early-bird Scotland. He was not especially construction, and would provide Donald in 2017. The report was Bruce Williamson, 29 Granby Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4LT. discounts for our two annual conferences an option for freight transport. Tel: 0117 9272954 Mobile: 07759 557389 interested in pigeons, it was the Telegraph Picture: Northants Evening submitted to the Welsh Govern- and the chance to help improve Britain’s railways trains that he really went to see. It would be a major boost to ment and will also go to the new Email: [email protected] JOIN USING PAYPAL AT www.railfuture.org.uk/join Jim was a founding member of the tourist industry, providing Infrastructure Commission for the Corbyrail campaign in the a safer and environmentally Membership £21 per year. Pensioners, n Individual £18 per year Wales. early 1980s and was a longstand- GENTLEMAN: Jim Wade friendly mode of transport. students and unemployed: £14. Joint: £23. User n Joint £23 When Traws Link Cymru began ing member of Railfuture. groups, community and parish councils: £21. Businesses: £35 n Pensioners, students and unwaged £14 county councillor, a licensed lay There is obvious demand for the campaign, few believed they You can join using PayPal via www.railfuture.org.uk or by post, please n Rail user groups, community and parish councils £21 The opening of the new station at reader at his local church, and an public transport in west Wales. would succeed. n Corby in 2009 was the culmina- active member of the Torch Trust, The current Carmarthen to ­contact Railfuture Membership, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold Businesses £35 There is still a long way to go, tion of many years of campaign- a charity for the blind. Before he Aberystwyth bus service carries DN38 6JH. Email: [email protected] retired, Jim was a paramedic for but it is remarkable how much Name ...... ing. The reopening of the line to almost a quarter of a million pas- Corby might never have hap- 28 years. He was also a volunteer sengers annually, but takes two has been achieved. Renewals and other membership queries: pened without Jim’s passion and at the Nene Valley Railway. hours 20 minutes on twisting People are no longer asking if Address ...... Use PayPal on the website or send a cheque to dedication. Jim was one of those once met, and uneven roads. the railway will open, but rather when. Railfuture Renewals, 24 Chedworth Place, ­Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND...... Postcode ...... Living close to the station, he never forgotten people. He was a There is already proven demand Email: [email protected] was there almost every day in his thorough gentleman with a quiet for rail transport in west Wales, We now look forward to sitting Email ...... role of station adopter, maintain- and friendly bearing. with over 300,000 passengers on a train, drinking a cup of cof- Elections Board elections held annually. Nomination forms can be ing the flower tubs on the plat- His death coincided with the per year now using Aberystwyth fee from the trolley, and enjoy- obtained from www.railfuture.org.uk/Elections Send to Railfuture, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold DN38 6JH form as well as chatting and hav- opening to traffic of the rein- station, a 40% increase over 10 ing the beautiful scenery of west Many other useful contact details can be found on the Cheques payable to Railfuture. Email: [email protected] Who’s Who ing coffee with friends. He was stated double track on the line years. Carmarthen station has Wales on the 10.00 service from ­Railfuture website: www.railfuture.org.uk well respected, having been a between Corby and Kettering. more than 400,000 passengers Carmarthen to Aberystwyth. 18 railwatch July 2018 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ European Rail Timetable available at http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu railwatch July 2018 19 Main picture: FRASER PITHIE Inset picture: MERSEYTRAVEL

KENILWORTH: Local residents wait to board the 06.16 Leamington to Coventry train (a single coach class 153) as it approaches Kenilworth on 30 April. Inset: Students who designed artwork for the new Maghull North station on gather at the station to see their pictures unveiled by Mayor of Maghull June Burns. The station was expected to open on Monday 18 June New stations open at Kenilworth and Maghull North For the first time for 53 years, not run on Sundays. But I for one Maghull North station will be is also making progress with passenger trains now serve will be catching it to work every of huge benefit to local residents long-awaited plans for the Hal- Kenilworth following the open- morning.” He said many people while also playing a big part in ton Curve. Extra track was laid ing of the town’s new station on had experienced F.E.A.R – frus- the on-going development of in May, clearing the way for 30 April 2018. tration, embarrassment, anger the area. This art project helps to new services to be introduced in The old station was closed in and resignation. bring a bit of colour to the new December. 1965 leaving the Leamington Rail expert Andrew Long com- station site.” A new hourly service will oper- Spa-Coventry line as a freight- mented: “Will the original Brit- Maghull Mayor June Burns said: ate between Liverpool and only branch. ish Rail through service ever “It was an absolute pleasure to Chester, serving Liverpool Lime From the 1970s, passenger trains, be restored, which saw direct meet all of the children who have Street, Liverpool South Parkway mainly Bournemouth to Man- Leicester-Leamington Spa trains helped brighten up the site.” (for Liverpool John Lennon Air- chester CrossCountry services, via Nuneaton [Trent Valley] and port) Runcorn, Frodsham and have used the line although they Coventry? It would be ideal to Helsby, with future hopes to will not be stopping at the new compete with the M69 motorway expand the services further into station. while also avoiding Birmingham North Wales. New Street.” A 30-year-long campaign came The £18 million Halton Curve to fruition in 2013 when £11.3 project has been funded through million of funding was agreed Maghull North the Government’s local growth between Warwickshire Council, Seven weeks later, on 18 June, fund and the Liverpool City Coventry and the local enterprise Maghull North station was Region Combined Authority. partnership, with the Depart- expected to open on Merseyside. Andy Heath, managing direc- Ken Skates, Welsh Govern- ment for Transport involved via Local residents visited the new tor of Merseyrail said: “Maghull ment Transport Secretary, said: its new stations fund. station in March for the unveil- North will make our rail network “Improved rail connectivity much more accessible for those The station is however more ing of art work designed by local between North Wales and Liver- living nearby and it is great to than 15 months late, which has children, exhibited on hoardings pool will create significant eco- see the station already becoming led many campaigners to doubt around the £13 million station. nomic and social opportunities part of the community.” that the existing process is fit for for passengers and businesses.” Students from Maghull High, n purpose to deliver enough new Deyes High, St Andrew’s Pri- Network Rail’s Rob Grey said: With new stations now stations efficiently in future. mary, St George’s Primary, St “The station forms part of a planned throughout Britain and Kenilworth town councillor Gregory’s, St Thomas Primary massive £340 million railway campaigns for even more, the Richard Dickson said it was and Summerhill Primary schools investment in the Liverpool City Railfuture website includes an important for the county council showed off their artistic talents. Region.” interactive map of all known new station proposals. to review the process and iden- Rob Grey from Network Rail Maghull North is between the tify what went wrong before it gave the students a presenta- existing Maghull and Town ISSN 0267-5943 embarks on more major projects. tion about the work involved in Green stations on the Ormskirk 56 Richard, also a member of building a new station, and the branch of Merseyrail’s Northern Friends of Kenilworth Station, jobs and skills that are needed to line. said his excitement at the open- work in the rail industry. A nearby housing development ing was muted as residents had Councillor Gordon Friel of the includes 370 new homes, with waited so long. He said: “It is Liverpool City Region Com- more homes planned for the area only an hourly service that does bined Authority said: “The new in the near future. ­Merseytravel 9 770267 594000