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Covcc Report To 13 abc Public report Report to Cabinet 8 August 2006 Report of Director of City Development Title Rail Franchises for Cross Country and West Midlands Services 1 Purpose of the Report 1.1 The purpose of the Report is to consider a response to suggestions made by the Department for Transport in the Draft Franchises for Cross Country and West Midlands rail services. 2 Recommendations The Cabinet are recommended to agree the comments made in paragraph 4.6 of this report. 3 Information/Background 3.1 The Department of Transport issued Draft Franchises for Cross Country and West Midlands rail services on 8 June 2006. They sought responses to these documents (as well as one for the East Midlands which does not affect the City) by 7 August 2006. Officers have confirmed with them that your recommendations included in this Report will be considered although they will technically have been received after the deadline. It is intended that the franchises will operate from November 2007 although some services will be revised in conjunction with the introduction of improved services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) in December 2008. Cross Country franchise 3.2 The Cross Country franchise is similar to that currently operated by Virgin Trains but modified in the light of: • experience of travel patterns: • improvements to the WCML; • other changes in rail franchises; and • operational difficulties at Birmingham New Street. The immediate consequence of this is that direct services through Coventry will only run between Bournemouth and Manchester. 3.3 In general, experience has shown that there are few passengers that make a complete journey from one end of the country to the other but a considerable amount of both inter- and intra-regional trips. This means, for example, that there are considerable flows between Cornwall, Devon and Bristol and between Bristol and Birmingham as well as local flows along the Leamington/Coventry/Birmingham International/Birmingham New Street (BNS) corridor. 3.4 Improvements to the WCML have led to the conclusion that these services to Glasgow should be preferred to the continued Cross Country operation. Passengers will be expected to change at BNS to the improved WCML services. 3.5 Other changes mean that direct services to Brighton will now be terminated at Reading where there are many possibilities for onward travel. Services from Birmingham to Stansted Airport and between Nottingham and Cardiff will be transferred to the Cross Country franchise from the current Central Trains franchise. 3.6 It is suggested that services on particular routes follow the most convenient path at BNS minimising crossing other routes and services. The consequences of this are that: • services which currently run through Coventry to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Tyneside and Scotland will no longer do so; and • more passengers will need to change platforms at BNS. The need for passengers to change platforms at BNS will be more of a problem as the "Gateway" proposals for the redevelopment of the station are implemented. West Midlands franchise 3.7 The West Midlands franchise consists of an amalgamation of the current Silverlink County services (London-Northampton) with the parts of the current Central Trains franchise that operate over the former London & North Western Railway lines. Other parts of the current Central Trains franchise will be operated by the proposed Cross Country and East Midlands franchises, by extension of the Chilterns Trains franchise and by other franchises. 3.8 A benefit from this change will be the likely improvement of the Birmingham to Coventry service to 3 trains an hour with 2 of these being extended to Rugby and Northampton which will improve connectivity from Coventry to the east as well as provide additional fast services to Birmingham. Conversely, it is unclear what effect this will have on the current services which stop at Canley and Tile Hill stations in conjunction with the improvement of the WCML services to 3 trains per hour. 3.9 As far as the Coventry-Nuneaton line is concerned, this is referred to briefly as part of the "Community Rail Strategy" section. It refers to the lack of a Community Rail Partnership and indicates that the DfT will "designate the service rather then the line". Officers have attempted to establish exactly what the DfT mean by this as well as its implications but have been unable to do so. It appears to mean that the passenger services are regarded as subordinate to the freight needs on the line. 2 General Issues 3.10 There is an ongoing issue with overcrowding on most services in the West Midlands during peak hours whether operated by Virgin or Central Trains. Both franchise documents refer to the need for longer trains for increased capacity and recognise the consequential need for longer platforms and/or the ability to operate selective door opening. 4 Proposal and Other Option(s) to be Considered 4.1 In the light of these suggestions, your officers have made considerable attempts to influence the reports being taken to: • the Passenger Transport Authority (PTA); • the Planning & Transportation (P&T) Sub-Committee; and • the Regional Transport Partnership (RTP). 4.2 The original PTA Report already raises the issues of: • the loss of direct rail connections between Coventry and Birmingham International and the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Tyneside and Scotland; • the increased need for passengers to change platforms at BNS; • service patterns on the Coventry line; and • general issues with overcrowding. The comments on service patterns on the Coventry line are vague which is a consequence of Centro's involvement in the process of establishing appropriate service levels which precludes direct statements on their objectives. 4.3 The report has the ability to be altered before its final submission and the current draft refers to the need for active co-operation to improve services on the Coventry-Nuneaton route. 4.4 The P&T Sub-committee report,(which is attached as an Appendix to this report) appears to be based on the original PTA report refers to the loss of direct rail connections to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Tyneside and Scotland, the increased need for passengers to change at BNS and general issues with overcrowding. It does not, however, refer to service patterns on the Coventry line and, most importantly, still contains inappropriate wording with regard to the Coventry-Nuneaton services that the revised PTA report has altered. 4.5 The RTP report is expected to take all these points apart from the Coventry line one (bullet 4 below) into account 4.6 Notwithstanding the coverage in the other reports, your officers consider it important for you to comment on: • the loss of direct rail connections from Coventry to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Tyneside and Scotland; • the consequential increased need for passengers to change platforms at BNS; 3 • support for the improved services suggested between Birmingham and Northampton; • concerns that Canley and Tile Hill station (the latter in particular) retain a consistent service pattern, preferably 3 services per hour; • the need for franchisees to actively co-operate with the PTA, the City Council and Warwickshire County Council to develop proposals for improved services on the Coventry-Nuneaton route; • issues with overcrowding on existing services and the need for franchisees to address this through a combination of longer trains and longer platforms. 5 Other specific implications 5.1 Implications No (See below) Implications Neighbourhood Management √ Best Value √ Children and Young People √ Comparable Benchmark Data √ Corporate Parenting √ Coventry Community Plan √ Crime and Disorder √ Equal Opportunities √ Finance √ Health and Safety √ Human Resources √ Human Rights Act √ Impact on Partner Organisations √ Information and Communications Technology √ Legal Implications √ Property Implications √ Race Equality Scheme √ Risk Management √ Sustainable Development √ Trade Union Consultation √ Voluntary Sector – The Coventry Compact √ 4 6 Monitoring 6.1 When the final franchise specifications are issued (probably October 2006), it will be possible to see whether changes have been made in line with the City Council's suggestions. A further report may be appropriate at that time. 7 Timescale and expected outcomes 7.1 Yes No Key Decision √ Scrutiny Consideration √ (if yes, which Scrutiny meeting and date) Council Consideration √ (if yes, date of Council meeting) List of background papers Proper officer: Director of City Development Author: Telephone 024 7683 1315 Martin Trewinnard, Senior Policy Planner, City Development Directorate (Any enquiries should be directed to the above) Other contributors: Colin Eastman Transport Strategy Ex 1387 Papers open to Public Inspection Description of paper Location 5 Agenda Item: 17 WEST MIDLANDS PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION SUB COMMITTEE Date: 28TH JULY 2006 REPORT OF CEPOG Department for Transport Rail Franchise Consultation 1. Purpose of Report 1,1 To agree a response to the Department for Transport’s consultation document issued on the 8th June 2006 which sets out the proposed base specification for the new West Midlands Rail Franchise and the revised Cross Country Franchise. Such responses are required by 7th August 2006. 2. Recommendations 2.1 That the Planning and transportation Sub Committee agree that the responses to the consultation from the Joint Committee be as set out in Appendix 3 for the West Midlands Rail Franchise and Appendix 4 for the Cross Country Franchise, or as amended at your meeting. 3. Report Details 3.1 Background The Railways Act 2005 proposed a new structure for the rail industry with the role of the Strategic Rail Authority being abolished and its responsibilities split between the Rail Regulator, Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail. DfT have taken over the rail franchising process and have previously announced the splitting of the Central Trains franchise which covers much of the West Midlands Region. Most of the ‘eastern’ services are combined with Midland MainLine to form a new East Midlands franchise.
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