PUBLISHED BY RAILFUTURE – THE INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL No 160 £2 July 2019

She came by train and conquered Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg has probably done more than anyone to highlight the advantages of trains. Now TIME magazine has featured her on its front page and called her one of the world’s most influential teens. TIME has the world’s largest circulation for a weekly news magazine and its print edition has a readership of 26 million, 20 million of whom are based in the United States. Greta began her school strike for climate change in August last year, but she decided to stop taking flights at the age of 12, when she realised the environmental damage air travel caused. She travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos by train in January, while the global elite travelled there in 1,500 private jets. The 16-year-old told them they should be panicking: “Our house is on fire.” Her protest sparked the international Fridays for Future movement which sees school pupils take direct action to confront politicians and business leaders. Classmates at her school refused to join her, but using Instagram and Twitter she won support. Many adults in Scandinavia though have been flight-shamed into booking holidays by rail, rather than air. Nearly 10 million people watched Greta’s speech to the United Nations climate change summit in December. In April, Greta came to London to address Parliament. British Prime Minister Theresa May accused the protesters of wasting teachers’ time but 12,000 scientists

TURN TO PAGE 2 Great Greta! TRAINS ARE THE BEST ANSWER TO BOTH CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION

FROM PAGE 1 backed Labour leader Jeremy are waking up to the massive signed a letter in support of Corbyn’s call to declare a climate problems of pollution that road- the youth protests and German emergency. based policies have created. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Green party MP Caroline Lucas

The British government, after Graphic: MEMRAP the protesters were welcome. warned: “Politicians who fail losing three cases at the High Greta answered Mrs May: to respond will be judged by Court for not doing enough to “We will go back to school the history far less kindly than those tackle air pollution, has ordered moment you start listening to striking or taking to the streets.” 36 councils to bring levels of science and give us a future. Is Greta however is realistic. nitrogen dioxide within legal that really too much to ask?” She said: “I am not going to limits “in the shortest possible The Euronews website also be this interesting for long. time”. investigated Mrs May’s 39 Brexit- This attention is soon going Katie Nield, a lawyer with related trips in Europe, mainly to fade out. I just hope that ClientEarth which challenged to Brussels. Her plane, an Airbus the attention sticks to the the Government in court, said A330, burns five tonnes of fuel movement.” she was disappointed with an hour. Brussels is of course Campaigning for better rail the councils’ approach to air served by Eurostar. services is just one way to help pollution. American president Donald prevent climate change. “Some councils are being more Trump meanwhile uses a jumbo British travellers can reach most Greta on the front page of the ambitious, for example in jet to go off to play golf most European cities by direct flights July 2019 edition of WIRED Birmingham they are putting weekends and to rallies to deny but not by direct trains. Rail has their necks on the line to make climate change. the infrastructure to offer similar to call for “A New Green Deal those decisions. In March Greta was nominated direct links but politicians and for Europe” with massive “But others are backtracking for the Nobel peace prize. the industry do not have the will investment in railways to limit on previous commitments and to run the trains. road transport. One idea is a delaying finalising proposals.” Norwegian MP Freddy André green foundation to invest in At the moment, Eurostar has The Welsh Government, Øvstegård said: “If we do railways so that the biggest direct links to just a handful of however, has been brave in nothing to halt climate change it cities in Europe can be linked by major European cities, and plans abandoning the 14-mile will be the cause of wars, conflict high speed trains. and refugees. Greta Thunberg by Deutsche Bahn to launch £1.4 billion M4 “relief” road has launched a mass movement, direct trains to London seem to Going by train produces 27 project. Railfuture must now DALES LINK: The missing 12 miles shown in diagrammatic form with the Monsal Trail and the Peak Rail heritage operation a major contribution to peace.” have disappeared. times less carbon dioxide than develop rail options to present After Greta addressed the Five European political parties driving a car the same distance. to the official commission British Parliament in April, MPs have however joined forces Many cities around the world seeking M4 alternatives. Chair’s column: Electrification is the key to real capacity gains Dales link wins new friends By Stephen Chaytow contractors to lend their support. trains between Matlock and Greenwood and Stephen By Chris Page the North – and operated as more tracks and longer trains and Anthony Kay The campaigners have however Rowsley. The purpose of the Chaytow also attended a [email protected] concessions. If these services to provide the extra capacity A reinvigorated campaign to cleared one hurdle. meeting with Peak Rail is to seek Transport for the North event in People who are considering need public financial support, needed, and investment in bring back passenger trains to They were pleased with the alignment of MEMRAP’s public March. joining Railfuture are likely then the case can be better electrification to reduce rail’s the Midland Railway’s former positive response that emerged service reinstatement with Peak Joined by Peter Wakefield, head to have an interest in rail made locally on local economic carbon footprint and keep pace route from Matlock to Buxton in May, after they went to Rail’s pre-existing consortium, of Railfuture’s freight group, so will want to know our and social inclusion benefits. with improvements in road’s and Chinley is winning friends a Midlands Development which is focused on community, they presented their vision for position on the key issues Inter-city services should environmental credentials. and arguments. Conference at the Ricoh Stadium heritage and freight. The Mott The Peaks and Dales Rail Link. for the rail industry. We put continue to be let as franchises, in Coventry which MacDonald Electrification Campaigners, supported by team includes MEMRAP highlighted an franchising, climate change and but the franchise competition Railfuture resources, have was attended by emissions study from the electrification at the top. must take more account of Electric trains are cheaper transport opinion the development attended a series of events to director of East University of Derby, funded the wider benefits and the to operate than diesel. The present the case for reopening. formers, including by the European Union, which Franchising previous record of the bidders. purchase costs are lower and Midlands Connect Lancashire Railway, Now Transport for the North so it is hoped that shows how carbon dioxide Competing services by different they are more energy-efficient, director Maria emissions could be reduced by Dick Fearn, one of the members has asked for a strategic outline the interests of operators, as proposed by RDG, more reliable, and cost less to Machancoses. re-routing freight trains on to the of the Williams Review panel, business case to be drawn up so Peak Rail will be will only work where there is maintain. reopened route, together with a found two common themes in the idea can be considered fully. Copies of carefully taken spare capacity. They produce less pollution Picture: LLOYD BUTLER modal shift of passengers from talking to members of the rail Railwatch 159, into consideration. industry – a lack of strategic than all the alternative forms Mott McDonald estimates that which contained road to rail. Climate change of traction, and offer the compiling a business case will Achieving a direction and leadership, and a a short report on compromise on By re-routing just 38 loaded decision-making process which Climate change is perhaps the possibility of zero emissions Railfuture chair Chris Page cost £100,000, so the immediate the reopening task will be identifying a source mixing community freight trains over a reopened is asphyxiating. biggest threat to the future of if electricity is generated scheme, were made Matlock-Buxton line (away from our planet. To reduce climate sustainably. of funds. and heritage rail The Rail Delivery Group is emissions will justify the capital available to the services may the Hope Valley Manchester- change we must use more Electrification is the only way to spend. The alternatives to full The local enterprise partnership delegates. Sheffield route), 150,000 suggesting a new organisation sustainable forms of transport, well be a tough provide the additional capacity electrification – battery and and Derbyshire County Council challenge for this kilograms of carbon dioxide to manage the industry, but and travel less. Rail offers One of the some strategic decisions are needed to accommodate even hydrogen – have a place will almost certainly need to be particular line, could be saved. the most sustainable form of rail travel growth without involved. problems of political, so a new organisation transport other than walking on lightly used routes where Monsal Trail but solutions In addition, if the equivalent of increasing operating costs and But the LEP for Derby, reopening which would have to refer them to or cycling, but is already over electrification is not financially have been found 100 annual commuters between therefore requiring government Derbyshire, Nottingham and Transport for the the Department for Transport capacity at times when people justified. See our analysis of the elsewhere in Britain where Leicester and Manchester subsidy. Nottinghamshire has indicated North, Midlands Connect and anyway. The DfT should want to travel. electric alternatives at www. National Rail services are being switched from road to rail, acknowledge its role and get A rolling programme of railfuture.org.uk/article1825. that it will be difficult to help in Transport for the East Midlands integrated with heritage trains. a similar amount of carbon However, old diesel trains the expertise that it needs to act incremental electrification the short term. will have to face is how to Campaigners are also hopeful dioxide could be saved. are not much better than cars as an intelligent client. projects is essential for Network Our message It may be possible to involve the accommodate the popular that Tarmac and Derbyshire The emissions report and for sustainability, particularly Rail to build the electrification Monsal Trail, which currently Dales MP Patrick McLoughlin, Strategic decisions that are at times when they are not Railfuture’s communications LEP later, in the capital phase of MEMRAP’s presentation to skills and experience needed the project. uses part of the rail route. who is a former transport Transport for the North can be technical should be made by fully utilised, and the shift to to reduce the capital cost to group needs more volunteers to The case for reopening secretary, will be supportive. accessed via the MEMRAP link Network Rail acting as a system electric cars will rapidly reduce viable levels. This should help make potential members Derbyshire County Council has been enlivened by the Earlier in the year, MEMRAP on the Friends of Derwent Valley integrator. emissions from road transport. focus on intensively used aware of our position on has financial problems so these key issues through our the campaigners are inviting formation of the Manchester campaigners explained their Line home page at www.fdvl. Urban services should be Modal shift from car and or high speed routes where plans to the Tarmac Group, org.uk devolved to local authorities lorries to electric trains will the journey time savings, branches and social media. Railfuture members to come and East Midlands Rail Action forward with ideas of how to Partnership, which is planning which has lime and cement MEMRAP’s new rail user group – for example, Transport make a practical difference. increased reliability, lower Please let me know if you interests in Derbyshire. for London, Transport for This requires investment in operating costs and reduced can help. raise the cash. One approach a June meeting with Peak Rail, page is at www.railusergroups. could be to encourage rail the heritage railway that runs MEMRAP co-founders Robin net/MEMRAP/index.htm 2 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ DARLINGTON RAILFUTURE CONFERENCE: SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2019 railwatch July 2019 3 East Anglia New hope for Ollerton reopening The joys (and pitfalls) of family travel by rail [email protected] An MP believes that extending the Robin n n Hood line to the Sherwood Forest area Job switch was a promotion for rail could be a reality in five years. A lifelong interest in railways resulted in Martin Sherwood MP Mark Spencer said it will Halliday switching from running the Marina Theatre help young people looking for work if in Lowestoft to getting involved in community passenger trains went as far as Ollerton rail. Martin was guest speaker at Railfuture East and Edwinstowe. Anglia’s AGM in Bury St Edmunds. He has helped Picture: RAILWATCH The Robin Hood line runs from develop promotional material for the East Suffolk Pictures: ANNE HARRILD Lines Community Rail Partnership, including new Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield, posters, arranging special events and books of but there have long been ambitions for it walks between stations. Work is currently under way to serve the Sherwood Forest area. at Lowestoft station to restore the former parcels A £25 million plan involves using a test office. The area is being transformed into a new railway track with a connection near community space for markets and art exhibitions. Shirebrook. HUCKNALL: Served by tram and train Around £100,000 from a variety of sources has Mr Spencer said: “If you compare helped pay for new doors and windows and a the town of Hucknall and the village complete refurbishment of the interior. The new Nottingham.” A spokesman for the of Calverton, they are very similar Department for Transport said: “The space is due to open this summer. to Ollerton and Clipstone, but next operator of the new East Midlands SCOTLAND: Jurgen with Anne. ‘When we were on holiday in n nSizewell potential for lasting legacy to rail the fundamental difference is the franchise will be required to submit a infrastructure. Scotland recently the tram route from Edinburgh airport gave Railfuture East Anglia continues to contribute to business case to the Secretary of State for us a very comfortable and convenient ride into the city centre the Sizewell C consultation progress, providing an “Today, you can get on the tram at the possible extension of the Robin Hood from the park & ride station at Ingliston’ updated response to the third stage of the process. Hucknall and go into the centre of line from Shirebrook to Ollerton.” By Anne Harrild Our position is that the construction of long enough to have to think mother of two lively children seriously about food and drink, Sizewell C nuclear power station should maximise As a Railwatch reader, you are the potential offered by the East Suffolk rail line East Midlands and partly because I perceive certain to support rail travel. But the food available on trains and for the movement of employees and materials. you probably have friends with [email protected] a list of through trains that they believe from catering outlets at stations Investment in improved capacity should aim to children who are wary of giving do more than the bare minimum and achieve, should stop at the station. They believe to be overpriced. n nPositive attitude for new franchise up what they perceive as the when combined with other funding sources, the that any problems resulting from increased Toilets WALES: The narrow gauge has its own very special charm. convenience of the family car for full dualling of the line between Woodbridge and Following the news that Abellio would be travel times can be solved. Castle Caereinion station obviously cannot compete with anything so potentially fraught This is probably the point at Saxmundham. Sizewell C should leave a lasting taking over the East Midlands franchise, which I should mention toilets. York for size but the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway does give n nElectrification as travelling by train. legacy of improved rail services. Even if the rail-led Railfuture East Midlands is encouraged These are a must for a journey passengers the chance of opening the carriage window and option is more expensive than the road-led one, it by the fact that Abellio’s stakeholder Railfuture East Midlands welcomed the Fortunately, taking small of any length, and it is a concern photographing the other train – and enjoying a cake is a tiny part of the total project cost. Our response engagement adviser Edward Funnell took announcement that electrification of the children on the train is usually a when they are not available, was copied to Network Rail which is in contact with the trouble to attend our Inter-City Kitty Midland main line would proceed as far pleasant experience, and in any especially when there seems to Less obviously, and while I can There were no delays and we Suffolk County Council officials. campaign launch event last year, and we as Market Harborough, partly because case it is worth reminding your be a deliberate policy to have see that the practice is probably departed on time, stopping at are optimistic we will enjoy constructive the power supply point is planned for friends that at some time they convenient for train companies, five stations before we arrived at n n Lack of ambition in county rail study fewer toilets on new trains. dialogue on more than the Derby-Crewe Braybrooke, just short of Harborough. We may have to take their children Clearly the people who specify I have a suspicion that only Liverpool Lime Street, again on Network Rail’s newly published Cambridgeshire services with the new franchisee. We also continue to press for reinstatement of the by train because the family car is these things have never been regular passengers time. This gave us plenty of time Corridor Study lacks ambition and fails to appreciate look forward to the delivery of the new electrification programme for the entire not available. in the position of looking and railway to go down to the Merseyrail the potential for rail to support Cambridgeshire’s trains and other service improvements Midland main line and we support the call Do assure your friends from me after a smelly baby enthusiasts keep platforms and find the right growth. It concludes that “no additional services promised by Abellio. from Midlands Connect for the wires to go that long journeys have been no whose nappy needs track of when the one. This time our scannable are required for the high peak hour between tickets were manually checked n n The benefits of community rail up at least to Nottingham and Toton, so problem all the time the children changing immediately cheapest Advance Cambridge and Ipswich to meet 2033 demand’. that half the MML services could be fully have been with me, though I do – regardless of what tickets are released for Merseyrail, but again the Newmarket has a similar population to Ely but The guest speaker at the Railfuture East electric and HS2-compatible services could for journeys on monitors gave clear information Midlands AGM on 23 March at Mansfield find that it is sensible to make facilities may or may not a fraction of the passenger numbers because of run from Leicester to Leeds. sure that they each have an iPad be available! That said, a particular date. This regarding train times and Central Library was Paul Webster, platform numbers. its sparse rail service. A half-hourly service from for the trip. I am impressed by the should not be the object of the operations manager at the Association of n nLeicester-Burton fly-through The frequent service on Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds to Cambridge standard of station toilets, which exercise. Communuty Rail Parnerships. ACoRP also It is prudent to reserve seats Merseyrail made the journey would see passenger numbers soar. The railway The Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line I have always found to be clean A journey in detail towards Newmarket and Chippenham Junction had supports station adoption groups. Indeed, for the journey if you can. The back from Birkenhead Hamilton have produced a “fly through” video of and well kept. “redundancy” stripped out when it was singled in the Friends of Radcliffe Station, coordinated only time I came unstuck on Looking at a recent journey as Square very easy. We reached the line (search: Youtube reopen Ivanho), an example, I took the children the 1980s, leaving only a mile-long passing loop by Railfuture East Midlands committee illustrating the potential of the line to serve a train journey was travelling Fares are a vexed question, their Lime Street in plenty of time to at Dullingham. The current proposal is for just 3.5 member Phil Thomas, received an award home from London with my variety and different prices from Crewe to Birkenhead for catch the train back to Crewe. many towns and large villages as well as an evening event. I bought the miles of extra track, in 2043. Any future timetable earlier this year for their work over the past providing access to the National Forest. son on a crowded train with no soon giving rise to confusion, Again the train was on time, but will not work without restoration of double track all 15 months in transforming the station into seats available. That is when especially if you are not a tickets just before we travelled, with fewer people travelling on the way to Newmarket. Double track is needed now, a really attractive location. Paul Webster’s n nFond memories of Jim Wade emergency rations come in frequent passenger. There are so since we would not have gone if it later in the evening. not in 25 years time. Even if such upgrades were talk ranged widely over the variety of ways useful, unless you are one of the many things to consider in the there had been heavy rain. The More exotic railways People from civic and community tickets cost £32.80 for the three delayed for a short time, they will be absolutely that partnerships and adoption groups organisations in Corby, along with family few brave people who manage fares “system” that it is possible I was very wary of taking essential for East West Rail. The EWR consortium bring benefits not just to rail travellers, to squeeze through to the buffet to miss essential information. It of us and although there was a and friends, gathered at Corby station queue in the booking office, we the children on the London has just published its Eastern Section Prospectus but to whole communities. We have a on Saturday 27 April for the unveiling of car. We normally take our own is also easy to miss a cheap offer, Underground, but in fact it which shows that a direct rail link between Ipswich, couple of partnerships in our area, but the refreshments with us, partly or inadvertently use a ticket on still had plenty of time to get a bench in memory of Jim Wade, a loyal down to the right platform. This was no problem. My daughter Norwich and Oxford would unlock £17.5 billion potential is far greater, something for the member of Railfuture, who died last year. because we are not on the train a train for which it is not valid. Helena in particular absolutely for the region’s economy. The consortium “will branch to consider also in the context of was the first time we had used Jim was a leading figure in the successful the new style, scannable tickets, loved it, especially the tunnels. work together to ensure that the Eastern Section the commitment to supporting community Taking the children on a campaign to reopen the line to Corby and (example inset above). The is ‘Central Section ready’. The enhanced operation rail in the new East Midlands franchise. heritage railway can definitely he is fondly remembered by all who knew children enjoyed scanning them of services between Ipswich and Cambridge and If anyone would like to adopt their local be recommended as a fun him. The bench is a lasting memorial to a but it did take a couple of goes Norwich and Cambridge will be crucial to the station or have a CRP on their local line, the remarkable and popular man. experience for all concerned, successful operation of Central Section services first point of call should be ACoRP. for them to work. especially when the railway west of Cambridge.” n nFreestyle railway discussion On the platform, the monitors n nStop more trains at Narborough offers carriages with open www.eastwestrail.org.uk/eastern-section-prospectus/ Our next “free-form railway conversation” clearly displayed the train platforms like those on the Friends of Narborough Station note that where we can discuss railway matters information, and staff were on Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. n nClearing the way to Ed Sheeran concerts passenger numbers from the station have without the constraints of an agenda hand to help with enquiries. The I think that the smaller size of Railfuture East Anglia has welcomed the Network doubled since 2007, and have put forward will be held at the Canalhouse near train was quite busy with people narrow gauge railways helps to Rail decision to keep lines open for the Ed Sheeran proposals to CrossCountry Trains to relieve Nottingham station on 13 August, from going to Liverpool for a night make them friendlier for small concerts in Ipswich during August bank holiday the resulting overcrowding. Rather than 12.00 noon. All members are welcome. out, and also people travelling to children, while a great attraction weekend, and Greater Anglia’s plan for extra trains. increasing the number of trains, which ENGLAND: As well as being a magnificent space, the bustle Liverpool John Lennon Airport for me is the station cafe at www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia would exacerbate delays at the village’s www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Midlands+Branch and the sheer extent of York station makes it an exciting place to catch flights, but we found Llanfair – and its ladies serving Twitter: @RailfutureEA level crossing, the Friends have compiled Twitter: @RailfutureEMids for children to experience a group of three seats all right. proper cakes! 4 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ The new Cambodia-Thailand rail link at Poipot/Arayaprathet was inaugurated in April railwatch July 2019 5 Rail is a winner in the environmental stakes . . . but it can do even better With all the current concern exponentially, as more people the massive investment that is about climate change and use the railways, especially in going into motor vehicle and pollution, there is a great the case of modal shift. aerospace research. Hopefully opportunity for rail to take top Railfuture argues therefore that the lessons have been learnt prize for the environment. we need to invest in our rail regarding electrification in

We know it makes sense, but can Picture: SCANIA system with a view to doubling Britain. The Railway Industry we make the case for rail even its capacity. This may be too Association is confident that more sustainable? bold for some, but for others electrification costs can be cut by It is clear that campaigning for it is a relatively cheap way of between a third and a half. That Picture: NETWORK RAIL railway development needs addressing these wider issues. is justification for an incremental electrification programme. determination, focus and Crossrail in London won stamina. It also needs to be political backing because it A rolling programme of informed. offered a big increase in capacity, electrification requires dedicated We are gradually moving the not simply because it offered geographically based teams perception of Railfuture from major improvements to many moving steadily outwards from a bunch of earnest dreamers journeys. our urban areas, as is taking to an organisation people are Climate change and place in Scotland. increasingly turning to for advice NO LONGER A FANTASY: The first trials of electrified environment issues have A key priority should be a on railway development issues, motorways for road haulage are taking place in Sweden and in resurfaced as if we as Railfuture Golden Spike ceremony (or including reopening proposals, Germany. Nils-Gunnar Vågstedt, who is responsible for Scania’s campaigners were not aware of golden electrification mast improved services and a better research into electrification, said: “The potential fuel savings them. We are. ceremony) half way through offer to the passenger and the through electrification are considerable and the technology can Careful here though, before we Standedge Tunnel, between freight customer. become a cornerstone for fossil-free road transport services.” lose our ability to campaign by Manchester and Leeds. There is actually nothing wrong informed engagement. The first How does HS2 fit into this with being a dreamer. This can question is just how good rail thinking? As originally be a strength, not a weakness, is when compared with other conceived as a point-to- providing we can engage modes. The answer is generally point high speed operation, and communicate rational good but rail can do much unfortunately not very well. LABOUR INTENSIVE: Great Western electrification under way at Bristol Parkway in October 2018 arguments. better. If HS2 develops as now The issue is how to put our Rail does not seem to grasp the generally accepted, and as talking about a BR-style research Somerset Council would have arguments and whether opportunity of producing an Railfuture has consistently department with the brightest been successful in gaining funds More info stakeholders, politicians and energy-efficient, emission-free campaigned for, into a properly engineers from all sectors, to provide a new link from integrated electrified boost to including rail, in the context of Portishead and Pill into Bristol? Search the Railfuture website industry players will listen. Our this are to be anything other rail system. to transfer this money stream system resilience and capacity, it the Williams Review? I fear not. for articles on: reputation is important. than populist fluff, there need Just look at the electrification The campaign aim was to largesse to the passenger and fares a lot better. I say this because we are to be properly thought-out freight customer and into more and bimode fiasco in Britain, a We have our work cut out. make a strong business and UN and Climate Change People actually generally yet again at a time of great proposals to deliver on such investment in environmentally legacy burden for many years. Network Rail acknowledges, for environmental case and to report briefing – Article 1809 uncertainty, politically and slogans. friendly system capacity. Putting rail in pole position instance, that HS2 is the most like railways, hence our present it effectively in dialogue cost-effective way of providing frustration that there is such with government. Williams Review – 1820 also in a railway context, The age of the sound bite or Our railways do well, much and keeping it there is a key given populist government, or a third pair of tracks on the poor performance. Our role tweet reduces us all to the level better in fact, particularly issue for Railfuture. The current Ashington should be not far Electric alternatives – 1825 would-be government policies core West Coast main line from is to ensure stakeholders and of the dumbest as we see daily when wider benefits such as rail industry structure is not behind, and nor should the designed to divert our attention. addressing this. London to Tamworth (where politicians have the tools to Borders extension to Carlisle. Money for Portishead – 1826 in the United States, which is the economy, social inclusion HS2 joins the West Coast main make reasoned arguments, Setting up the Williams review actually now in the process of and environmental issues Railfuture campaigns for a All our branches have their Check the Railway is in this category, following the line). particularly in making the case attempting to close down its are properly quantified and bigger, better railway in Britain, for electrification, more capacity priorities for electrification, Industry Association for its series of timetable fiascos in 2018 entire Amtrak long-distance included. and the railways must address, HS2 is significantly cheaper capacity schemes and and far less disruptive than and new lines. Electrification Cost Challenge which could have been fixed. passenger operation. There are traps here of course, and indeed capitalise on, the reopenings. Please join in with A no-holds-barred, root-and- “sudden” awareness amongst attempting to widen the existing With an increasing focus them and make Railfuture’s report The irony is complete when you in that a little-used railway West Coast route. on devolution, the target branch review is a much better contributes much lower levels politicians, if not the rest of us voice increasingly credible to a know that this is the year when audience is much bigger, so The RSSB for its Options idea politically, if not for the rail of these wider benefits, so the who knew all along. HS2 does not however come wider audience. Amtrak actually covered its Railfuture’s branch structure is for Traction Energy industry and its customers. fact that passenger journeys in We must present evidence out so well further north, operational costs, which include well equipped to do this. Who o Ian Brown CBE FCILT is Britain by rail have doubled of how and why railways particularly with the north-east Decarbonisation report This has the massive bonus of track access. would have thought North Railfuture policy director buying time, over a year in this in the last 15 years is very can address environmental leg as our branches know. More Nobody is suggesting closing pertinent. Actually it is more concerns. To do this we need campaigning work needed here. case. This is even better when the British system down Serpell- than pertinent: if properly to be informed. Where we Making the case for people are appointed, with some style. Some people and foreign Even air transport wants to go electric by 2040 recognised, it should be game are well-informed is that electrification is Railfuture’s key exceptions, who do not know governments are making far too much about the rail industry. changing. Our view in Railfuture electrification is a major part battle ground in response to the The air transport industry is rapidly trying much money out of the current is that these arguments of the argument. Electrification Fresh thinking – forget about environmental challenge. We are to come to terms with its high levels of system to allow this. are gaining traction in that provides more capacity, hence all the crazy ideas already not Luddites yearning for a past pollution. But the growth in air travel is A key, but unlikely, outcome of the wider benefits increase more of these benefits, and inflicted on the rail industry and world. We want to campaign more than outpacing progress towards the Williams review should be quite dramatically, if not it allows rail to keep up with hapless passengers. Amnesia effectively and positively to more fuel-efficient planes. or corporate amnesia, is now ensure rail can play a significant The economics of air travel will continue Picture: easyJet an advantage, particularly with role in providing a sustainable The road network could be electric by 2040 transport system for the future to dictate a move to more efficient planes politicians. and the aerospace industry is investing Some people predict that the British road network will be for our children and grand- Just about everybody is jumping in research in a big way. Within Britain, completely electric within 20 years. The rail network will not. children. The time window for on the bandwagon, pursuing doing this is uncomfortably Railfuture’s response is to campaign their own self interest. I hear the cry regarding particulates from the tyres of road vehicles, but even this will be addressed. short. for a railway that meets air competition, Cries of “putting the passenger The efforts by the road and as it increasingly does – for example – at the heart of the operation”, The rail industry is doing almost nothing to bolster rail as on London to Glasgow and Edinburgh the choice in environmental terms, while the automotive aerospace industries to establish ring out from the trade unions better environmental credentials journeys. The new Eurostar service to and politicians alike. The industry is investing billions of pounds to improve road’s Amsterdam has demonstrated that if the reputation. are creditable, albeit done insincerity is deafening and as for commercial reasons. The right rail product is there people will use it hollow as the Channel Tunnel. Road vehicles now at Tier 4 emissions standards are efforts of the rail industry in – in droves: You can read the article about 20 YEAR PLAN: easyJet has announced that it sees If there were substance in this improving faster than rail. It is claimed that Tier 4 compliant this regard, with an altogether Eurostar to Amsterdam by searching the the development of electric planes for commercial we should be celebrating. There diesel engines significantly reduce emissions of particulate different short-term horizon, are Railfuture website for Article 1818. use within 20 years clearly is not. If demands like matter and oxides of nitrogen to near zero levels. however lamentable. Is anybody 6 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ You can join the Railfuture lottery at www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery railwatch July 2019 7 Your views Home truths Electric trains According to our local paper, All too often we hear of the the Government has given its South getting preferential backing to the creation of three treatment when it comes to “garden towns” and up to 18,500 railway development. So I was new homes in Essex to the west interested to read (Railwatch of Braintree and the north of 159) that there are now five Uttlesford. There is no mention electrified links between of any railway infrastructure to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Picture: MERSEYTRAVEL serve these new homes. ANGLIA Picture: GREATER Of course, north of the border, Another article in the same Scotland has its own Parliament newspaper mentions that a fighting for its interests. The bid has been placed by Essex very fact that there are no County Council to secure electric trains running between £229 million to upgrade the A12 Manchester and Sheffield, trunk road. Again, no mention of Manchester and Leeds and any improvements to the Greater Leeds or Sheffield shows Anglia rail line which runs that the North of England practically parallel to the A12. loses out through not having Is it not time that the powers a single voice of its own. For that be recognised that moving Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds goods and people by rail is have a population in excess much better for the environment of Edinburgh, with Leeds only than by road and that improving 40,000 behind Glasgow. roads only encourages more So really we do need some vehicles to use them, resulting in kind of devolved Northern congestion becoming just as bad Powerhouse to fight for a better in a few years’ time. deal for the North’s railways. Roger A Smith, Station Road, Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard CROSS-BORDER PROGRESS (left to right): Network Rail project manager Karla Telford, Witham, Essex CM8 2FP Avenue, Grimsby DN31 2JP Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry, the MP for Liverpool Riverside Dame Louise [email protected] Ellman, Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates, the Metro Mayor Impressive Parkway PARTY TO CELEBRATE STATION’S 175 YEARS: (left to right) Network Rail’s Kate Snowden, of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, Network Rail scheme sponsor Adeola Dada and Climate alarm Cllr Louise Gittins, the deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council As a resident of the city of Greater Anglia engineering director Martin Beable, station adopter Robert Fletcher, Alex Worcester I was delighted to Burghart MP, Cllr Paul Jeater (at the back), Lord Petre, Cllr Sheila Murphy, Andy Savage of I am getting used to ever- read two letters in Railwatch the Railway Heritage Trust, Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell and Steve Wills increasing climate alarmism North Wales breakthrough after 40 years 159 referring to Worcestershire but the letter from Arnold Parkway. Station is ‘a taste of the kingdom of heaven’ Pacey (Railwatch 159) takes A new Chester-Liverpool Lime Street train will be more services into Wales, with some the biscuit. The idea that the service started in May over the reopened running to Cardiff via Shrewsbury and to We residents are looking forward Train operator Greater Anglia staged a party the Eastern Counties Railway to run through his minuscule mass of coal burned Halton Curve, the culmination of a 30-year Llandudno. It is expected the new service to the opening as not only will it in May to celebrate the 175th anniversary of land. However he insisted that the station was on heritage railways will make campaign by the North Cheshire Rail Users will remove the need for 170,000 road provide improved connectivity Ingatestone station. built in a style to mirror his Tudor home. any measurable difference to the Group. journeys helping reduce demand on key to Cheltenham and Gloucester One of the guests, the Bishop of Chelmsford, The current Lord Petre said: “We locals greatly climate is laughable. routes such as the M56 and A55. south-westwards but also to The hourly service at Chester, Helsby, described the station as a taste of the kingdom of value our railway station and the succession of Rex Hora, Erleigh Court Gardens, Frodsham, Runcorn, Liverpool South Birmingham and Nottingham, James Price, chief executive for Transport heaven. friendly and helpful staff who, over many years, Earley, Reading RG6 1EJ Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street was for Wales, said: “I would like to pay tribute plus allowing thousands of have run it – a tradition that Steve Wills and his [email protected] made possible by the reinstatement of the to all those individuals and groups who residents of the new homes “Even though I only travel from Ingatestone team continue excellently to maintain. 2.5 kilometre curve near Frodsham at a cost have lobbied tirelessly for services along constructed on the east side of station to London once or twice a week, the staff Reopening potential of £14.5 million. the Halton Curve as well as our partners in the city to access train services at the station know me by name,” said the Right “I feel particularly honoured to be included in the Network Rail, Welsh Government and the by travelling to a station without Reverend Stephen Cottrell. “They are unfailingly celebrations as, by all accounts, relations between I have a great interest in The service will improve journeys to Department for Transport.” the need to brave the same courteous, helpful, diplomatic and friendly. my great-great-great-grandfather, who provided rail development as a way Liverpool John Lennon Airport thanks to a distance on congested roads “I can think of few other places where the the land on which the station stands, and the to counter climate change. bus link from Liverpool South Parkway. Reopening the Halton Curve was one of the into the city centre. customer service is of such a high standard. Who Great Eastern Railway company were not of the This requires a long-term There will also be new direct services from proposals in Railfuture Wales’ On Track for would have thought it? You get a taste of the warmest.” electrification plan and not Wrexham General to Liverpool Lime street. The 21st Century - A Development Plan for Comments have been made the Railways of Wales and the Borders. about the lack of a second kingdom of heaven at the ticket office of a railway Presentations were made to two of the station on/off policies of UK The curve has allowed the first direct platform but these overlook the station.” Another guest, Lord John Petre, the 18th team, Steve Wills and Dave Moody, with musical governments which lose skills rail service to run from North Wales into You can read the plan by searching for challenges and cost of putting baron, the lord lieutenant of Essex, lives at nearby entertainment provided by Anglo European and raise costs. Just compare Liverpool for over 40 years. In future, there “display1368” on the Railfuture website. Ingatestone Hall. The station opened in 1844, just the one platform at the top School students, many of whom use the station on UK and German practice. after Lord William Petre, the 11th baron, allowed their journeys to and from school. of a very high steep Victorian I also have a great interest in embankment. the use of rail transport in urban Glasgow. In Edinburgh there provides a very negative aspect served by rail. The same applies areas to reduce the use of cars. are opportunities to serve Leith of public transport. to nearby Gloucester, which has To create the single platform has bus stops and a bus lane already delivered, as part of £3 million for this footbridge give In Japan, a rail service can and many council estates, using A few buses go past the two one city station and few stations required considerable the impression that it will consist immediately outside its entrance, its rail investment strategy, former Caledonian Railway enlargement of the embankment operate efficiently over different main Exeter stations but facilities in the county as a whole. The of rare earth minerals. with the central bus station five a completely new build routes which have not been Forest of Dean area has not one and substantial shoring up of minutes walk away. The city and Bromsgrove station, Parkway lines run by different companies are poor in bad weather. The new parkway station, with built on. national rail station. that embankment to meet 21st the county councils recognise nearing completion and has but with drivers and guards Exeter has a population of over 500 car parking spaces, changing at appropriate James Whitworth, Old School, century standards at a significant the need to improve our Grade now in March started the rebuild Burravoe, Yell, Shetlands ZE2 9BA 100,000 but Plymouth, which is Hereford, Shrewsbury and cost. will more than double the total 1-listed Shrub Hill station and of Kidderminster station, all stations, as is done with most Chester each have only one number of parking spaces at Tokyo underground lines and is three times the size of Exeter, If funds had been available for have a master plan for the three stations with bus and taxi Bus-rail links offers poor public transport station, while there are only four all stations in Worcestershire station and its surrounding area, connectivity immediately at the proposed for additional trains to stations in the entire county of a second platform, local feeling Haneda Airport Tokyo. coordination with the bus station is that this would be better and has built-in foundations but it will require significant station as well as car parking. I agree with Philip Bisatt Hereford. for a tier above ground level miles from the rail station and a spent building a bridge from the investment and drive to come to This means super companies (Railwatch 159) that the UK The results of the Beeching cuts if demand increases as your I am in no way an employee lack of suburban rail stations. planned car park, on the land fruition. like Thameslink: Great Northern, needs a coordinated approach are endless. correspondents suggest will of the county council or any Railfuture should compare cities acquired by Wychavon District We are fortunate to have a company involved in these Southern are not needed. Why to rail and bus services. J Evered, Goyland Close, Howey, happen. of similar size and assess their Council opposite Pershore county council in Worcestershire projects. I am just a proud is this not considered? The good rail system in Exeter Llandrindod Wells LD1 5RB station, across the track to its Connectivity between modes of which recognises the Worcester man. I can also identify two new is let down by the lack of bus public transport offerings. current single platform. Quotes travel are essential and the city contribution rail makes to Colin Major potential rail routes across connections. The main bus Worcester will soon have three More letters: Page 18 to date from contractors of centre Foregate Street station the economy and which has [email protected] London and several across station is miles away which stations but no suburbs are 8 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ The Danish high speed line from Copenhagen to Ringsted opened in May railwatch July 2019 9 Severnside Wessex Hope for local stops on EC main line [email protected] [email protected] A long-running campaign to n n£32m cash found for MetroWest n n Portsmouth AGM reintroduce local trains on the On 8 April Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed that Guest speakers at our well-attended East Coast main line from just the Government would close the £32 million gap in funding for AGM in Portsmouth on 6 April were south of the Scottish border to MetroWest Phase 1. The scheme, which includes reopening of Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morpeth has been given a boost. the Bristol-Portishead line to passengers, has been delayed by Morgan and Railfuture director Ian Funding has been secured by a substantial increase in cost estimates. Although the alarming Brown. Opening the proceedings, the South East Northumberland price tag of over £145 million quoted two years ago had been Mr Morgan assured us that that he Rail User Group for a feasibility revised to £116 million, following a decision to scale back the is a regular and enthusiastic rail user study into running trains initial Portishead service to hourly, a significant shortfall in and does not own a car. His main between Berwick-upon-Tweed the necessary finance remained. Mr Grayling’s announcement gripes were the slow journey time and Morpeth, which is 18 miles means that North Somerset Council, which is jointly promoting by train from Portsmouth to London from Newcastle upon Tyne. the project with the West of England Combined Authority, and the rather dowdy appearance of NON-CAR OWNER: Portsmouth can proceed with its application for a development consent stations in Portsmouth. However, he South MP Stephen Morgan The group wants to see the order which is required before construction works can begin. is determined to make improvements existing Newcastle to Morpeth His decision vindicates the pragmatic approach of the two through his membership of the All their appearance on the network service extended to Berwick, authorities and rail campaigners who are determined to see Party Parliamentary Group covering and wonder if Portsmouth line users with an hourly local service that the scheme moves forward without further delay. the South Western franchise area. in particular will regard them as an each way calling at Pegswood, Earlier, David Carter, the director of infrastructure for the West The MP listened with interest improvement over the much-maligned Widdrington, Acklington, of England Combined Authority, said he was working with throughout Ian Brown’s presentation, class 450 suburban stock. Alnmouth and Chathill, plus the Network Rail to consider whether MetroWest 1 should be which focused on the Williams Review SWR managers must be as frustrated eventual reopening of former extended to Westbury, and MetroWest 2 to Gloucester, partly and what needs to be done to restore as we all are by the continued lack of stations, including Belford and Adapted pictures: CLIVE NICHOLSON and STEVE as a way of saving money on creating new turnback facilities. public confidence in Britain’s railways. a decision from the Department for Beal. He also stayed for the question and Transport on the company’s “preferred The first step is to clarify if there n nBetter north-south rail links needed answer session, taking copious notes option” for securing the future of the is enough capacity on the line, At the Railfuture Severnside AGM in Dilton Marsh on 6 April, about local issues ranging from Island Line. It is a miracle our 80-year- which is currently used by inter- Graham Ellis gave a presentation entitled Rail Developments substitute bus services to the need for old electric units still rattle along in the city trains. across wider Wiltshire. Referring to Great Western Railway’s better connectivity with Exeter and the salt-laden air between Ryde Pier Head The study will look at what PICTURE POSER: Could local trains soon be running over Berwick’s Royal Border Bridge? This photo montage December 2019 timetable, he contrasted the transformation South West. and Shanklin. infrastructure changes might shows a Northern train superimposed on the bridge. At present, there is no local rail service over the bridge of east-west services linking the South West and London with The hot topic for debate at the AGM n nThe Swanage connection be needed, and will include an the minimal improvement to north-south services through the was the deterioration in CrossCountry appraisal of likely demand and other stakeholders over the county. The remarkably successful TransWilts route, (Salisbury- services to the South. Overcrowding South Western Railway is providing next couple of months. We will a summer-Saturday service to Corfe possible costs for the proposed Westbury-Trowbridge-Chippenham-Swindon) which connects on the four- and five-car Voyager units stations. bring our significant experience all the areas of Wiltshire proposed for major housing growth, seems to be getting worse, and there Castle (over the heritage Swanage of feasibility studies and new would be “rewarded” with the loss of one train each way. He was a suggestion that this could be Railway) again this year. It is extending The funding for the study service appraisal to the project believes the London-centric attitude of central government alleviated by using some of the IC125 its Waterloo-Salisbury-Weymouth is being provided jointly and will build on our experience to be a major factor in the specification of train timings and trains displaced from Great Western. diesel service to Corfe Castle. This year by Northern Railway and of a similar project looking at the train will also shuttle between Northumberland County frequencies. The service level commitment document for Members recalled the many direct local services between Berwick Picture: STEVE MILER next December’s GWR timetable made almost no mention of services that used to run from the Corfe and Poole, giving a useful Council, with a small and Edinburgh”. Dennis Fancett, connections. Midlands and North, arguing that connection on to the Swanage branch contribution from SENRUG. chair of SENRUG, said the Graham said that smaller Wiltshire stations such as Dilton Portsmouth should once again be a from the Southampton direction. At the time of going to press, group had started its “North of Marsh and Pewsey had acquired “curious and perverse services CrossCountry destination. Sadly, the Swanage Railway is still Railfuture was considering Morpeth” campaign in 2016. experiencing delays in bringing with oddball trains” which were the legacy of meeting service an application from “Some people think we are a n nExtra seats and options heritage diesel units back into service SENRUG for a grant from the level commitments at the lowest cost. He estimated that single campaign group as we Additional “congestion busting” trains for the next stage of its “Project Railfuture Fighting Fund to 9,000 people lived within the catchment of Dilton Marsh are perhaps best known for our on the South Western Railway network Wareham”, the restoration of services support SENRUG’s financial station, yet currently it had no Monday to Friday southbound efforts in restoring the rail link from the May timetable change are running out on to the main line. contribution to the feasibility train between 07.04 and 10.12, the latter involving a long to Ashington,” he said. wait at Warminster for onward travel. A far better approach very welcome, as are the new journey However, UK Railtours will be running study. opportunities offered by weekend Sunday specials from London Waterloo “We have also worked tirelessly TODAY’S REALITY: One of the current two Northern services per day to would be to analyse potential usage and plan services which Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Chathill, as it passes Alnmouth encouraged more through journeys, for example, hourly trains via Salisbury to Weymouth and to Swanage calling at Woking and cabinet member for economy to secure improved train between Swindon and Southampton, although he admitted from Salisbury to Reading. On main Basingstoke on successive Sundays at Northumberland County services at Morpeth and are this would require more infrastructure on the Melksham line. line services, an internal refresh of the from 28 July at “inexpensive” fares. The Council, said: “The council additionally focusing very hard A two-hourly frequency on this route was feasible already and class 444 units has enabled additional train will be formed of the distinctive supports the aspiration to see a on Cramlington. This campaign this was something Railfuture and TravelWatch SouthWest seating to be provided in second London Transport red-liveried 4TC rail service developed through however is designed to help should press for. An hourly Exeter-Paddington semi-fast class, good news for passengers set, topped and tailed by class 73 the north of the county. This has those living north of Morpeth, as service, which Railfuture has called for in GW franchise used to standing in peak hours. With locomotives. the potential to help revitalise well as overcoming the six-hour Picture: LNER consultations, would enable better connections at Westbury refurbishment of the class 442 Wessex www.railfuture.org.uk/Wessex+Branch communities and better exploit gap in the timetable that any for Pewsey passengers and serve the proposed Devizes Electrics currently stalled, we await Twitter @RailfutureWessx our tourism and leisure sectors. Morpeth resident wishing to Parkway station. travel north to Berwick currently “I know this project is strongly faces. n nRail service link to heritage line backed by county councillor colleagues in Berwick, “Some of the capacity on the On 17 April West Somerset Railway announced that a trial GWR Bamburgh, Alnwick and East Coast main line should be seasonal service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard would Warkworth. reserved for local services for begin in June. This follows a successful bid by the heritage local people. “We are grateful to SENRUG railway company to GWR’s customer and communities “While this study is just a first improvement fund. The shuttle service will be marketed as for putting this proposal step in what could be a very the Exmoor Gateway. The dates and times of operation were forward and have been happy long road towards a service not known at the time of writing (early May) but the award to contribute financially to make starting, it will provide critical has been welcomed by both rail companies, Minehead Rail sure we gather the information AZUMA: The new Hitachi-built train, left, alongside its BR-built initial information, allowing Link Group and Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane. MRLG needed to identify if this idea predecessor at London King’s Cross. The Azumas will provide the authorities to evaluate the has offered to help promote the experimental service by can be developed further.” inter-city services on the East Coast main line from August next step, and feed in to the next distributing flyers and timetables to local businesses and International transport franchise renewal.” on GWR local trains in the Bristol-Exeter corridor. Railfuture consultancy SYSTRA will Berwick. SENRUG’s Dennis together as a community, we can Severnside chair John Hassall supported the new service in his manage the study. Project SENRUG’s funding application Fancett added: “We are grateful finally reach the position where May election campaign for the new Somerset West & Taunton manager James Jackson said: received support from 10 for Ms Trevelyan’s support and north Northumberland has a Council. He now holds the Cotford St Luke & Oake seat for the “We are delighted to have parish councils and community interest and of course to each fit-for-purpose local rail service. Liberal Democrats. won the contract for this study or station adoption groups person or group that took the We urge those who support our www.railfuture.org.uk/Severnside Branch and look forward to working along the line as well as from trouble to write to us. We hope objectives to add their voice to Twitter @RailfutureSSide SUNDAY SPECIAL: UK Railtours plan to use the class 4TC to Swanage closely with SENRUG and the Ann-Marie Trevelyan, MP for that, by continuing to work ours by joining SENRUG.” 10 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ The East West Rail inquiry closed on 30 April. Inspector’s report awaited railwatch July 2019 11 RAILFUTURE AGM IN CARDIFF 2019 RAILFUTURE AGM IN CARDIFF 2019 Some fantastic successes Poverty of expectation Railfuture president Christian carried out by Keith Williams Professor Mark Barry told Wolmar reassured the AGM will not recommend Railfuture’s Cardiff AGM that audience that it had been a renationalisation of the he had been promoting the idea good year for Railfuture. railway. of a properly integrated public transport system for South Wales

There had been some “The review is not going Picture: PETER TRAVIS fantastic successes such as the to go against what Chris for years. go-ahead for the reopening to Grayling wants,” he said. Now, nine years after he wrote Portishead. “Mr Grayling will remain his first report into the scheme, Picture: PETER TRAVIS He said there should be a Transport Secretary while the Metro is happening. symbolic pat on the back Theresa May remains Prime In fact though, “we have been for all those people who Minister.” Christian admitted having this conversation for 80 campaign tirelessly for years he was slightly taken in by years”. with little sign of reward. Crossrail. He added: “By 1910, South Suddenly things happen He said: “I was going to their Wales had a comprehensive rail after it seems they have offices a year ago and was network. It was all there but we meandered along for ages told everything was going smashed it all up to create a road without any progress. OK.” The average age of the rail fleet will drop from 25 years to seven network. For the past 50 years, Professor Mark Barry He also had some words of years by 2023, thanks to new trains for Transport for Wales transport provision has been all But he reassured Railfuture most people lived close to the praise for Railwatch: “What about cars. members that Crossrail will rail network that was initially a good magazine it is. An have a tremendous positive “About 80% of people commute provided to transport coal. excellent production. impact. Goodbye to Pacers by car, compared to only 4% by Now it can be used more “It is very important for an “It is not just a Tube line. It Railfuture president Christian Wolmar congratulates Ariadne rail.” “Lovely” Pacers, which have part of the early stages of intensively for passengers. organisation like Railfuture has 200-metre long stations, He said: “We need some fiscal provided many of the train implementing plans for to have such is air conditioned disincentives to cars. We do not He reminded the audience that services in South Wales, are a magazine. and is very a South Wales Metro, “a Campaigner of the Year want the same number of electric the appalling child poverty on their way out. massive project”. statistics in the Valleys are also You cannot impressive. Railfuture’s Ariadne Tampion confident of the power of art cars as we have diesel and petrol do everything repeated in some parts of Cardiff “But the problems The entire fleet will be Mr Lea said that having trains was named Campaigner of the even though some people are cars now. We need better public online. itself. with Crossrail replaced by 2024, with half the with batteries should make Year at the AGM in Cardiff. suspicious of it. transport.” “Publishing new trains being assembled in it possible to operate largely Once the Metro ideas are will make it more Ariadne impressed the judges Receiving the award, Railfuture But currently a big new hospital Railwatch is difficult to make Newport. electric trains, but without is being built near Newport, implemented, however, with the Railfuture East East Midlands chair Ariadne well worth the case for HS2 rebuilding 55 bridges to completely remote from public people will be shocked by That was the confident Midlands Inter-City Kitty paid tribute to the team behind doing and it is and Crossrail 2. provide extra clearance for transport. the improvement that can be message for the future from campaign which called for the campaign, particularly East also a tangible overhead line equipment. achieved by 2023. “Once it opens, guest speaker Colin Lea, improvements on the North Midlands secretary Steve Jones. There are more than 10,000 benefit of being But then people will ask: “Is that however, there commercial and customer This approach may also have Staffordshire line between She added: “No individual can new houses being approved for a member of enough? Surely we can do so will be enormous experience director, Transport implications for electrification Derby and Crewe via Stoke-on- construction in north Cardiff. Railfuture.” do things without a great team.” much more.” pressure for us to for Wales Rail. projects throughout the rest Trent, which currently carries The climate change emergency But he said have more of the Currently Wales has some of the United Kingdom. only local stopping services. means that we should be He said the new light rail-metro the the rail same.” very crowded trains because A single-coach railcar frequently building houses next to rail lines, vehicle is the pivotal vehicle for He said the investment industry itself Christian Wolmar He said that in the last franchise was based proves inadequate for the needs so there is proper access to good the future. is in a mess. in rail was to stimulate the North, there on “no growth”. In fact there of local people. public transport. South Wales is not the only place economic regeneration. “It is a bit like Manchester is enormous resentment has been substantial growth. trying to tackle the problems of This was essential because Railfuture East Midlands is But people making decisions United, with a lot of good against this rail investment in campaigning for the line to be about new houses are not cars. Public transport is being players but it does not quite London. The new plans should lead in Valleys communities to the average age of trains given an inter-city style service. considering public transport. developed and promoted along jell. Everything is in a state like Penrhiwceiber there is with cycling in Barcelona, for “Now that Crossrail looks dropping to seven years by Ariadne was presented with Mr Barry, who is professor of flux. shocking 50% child poverty. example. like costing an extra £2 2023. an engraved glass paperweight of practice in connectivity at “We are soon going to billion, it is seen as another The average train fare in Cardiff University, said that Once a good public transport Not all the extra trains will and a voucher by Railfuture see big changes, probably slap in the face. Wales is £4.50 and Transport rail infrastructure is still the system is created, there will be new. Turbostars will be president Christian Wolmar. with franchises becoming “But overall, it is an exciting for Wales is determined responsibility of the Department be opportunities for travel transferred from East Anglia. The judges were impressed that management contracts. time for the railways.” to keep fares as low as Ariadne’s team commissioned for Transport in London and that into the Valleys. The industrial The Inter-City Kitty campaign “There will be even more big He said: “There is always New trimode trains, built by possible, but the railway is designer Laura Buckland to there is massive historic under- archaeology attractions of the artwork designed by Laura changes if we get a Labour something to write about in Stadler, will allow a through already dependent on “heavy come up with artwork for the investment. One of the benefits Valleys could also be used to Buckland government.” my RAIL magazine column. service across Cardiff, as subsidies”. campaign. Ariadne said she was of the Valleys geography is that stimulate tourism. Christian warned: “If Boris In a way, it would be good if Johnson becomes leader of it was slightly less exciting Railfuture must be more pro-active in promoting rail-based alternatives to combat problems of climate change Election results the Conservative party, he and uncertain.” will have scrapping High In his concluding remarks, A motion calling for Railfuture reopenings, and for higher quality organisations which share our Railfuture delivers because we have an input into the planning of The results of the election Speed Two in his manifesto. Christian lamented that to be more proactive on rail freight provision, inter-city objectives and ethos, and who can talk to the industry. We new homes.” for members of the HS2 is undoubtedly now in everything done on the climate change was proposed passenger and international rail campaign positively for rail. cannot afford to be just a protest Railfuture member Julian Railfuture board were danger.” railway is always so very by Ian McDonald and passed services to reduce the demand for “The planet really cannot wait organisation. Langston called for walking announced at the AGM. much longer for effective policies “Currently business cases do not and cycling to be given more Christian, who has been expensive. unanimously: destructive road-based solutions The results were as follows: sceptical about HS2, added: “Railfuture should be even more and short haul flights. to slow and reverse the damage, mention climate change so we recognition by Railfuture. “We “But there are a lot of with the UK playing its part in this need to quantify environmental should be more concerned with “If they said they would stop pro-active in promoting rail- “More frequent use of the media ELECTED opportunities for us to press role. Railfuture should be able to benefits,” he said. making it easier to carry bikes on at Old Oak Common HS2 for developments on the based alternatives for transport is needed to get our persuasive Allison Cosgrove 324 might be salvaged. show that it is playing its part too, “We need to double the capacity trains,” he said. railways so good luck for the over more polluting modes, message across. More direct at this time of vastly increased of the network and if we do, we A second motion from Nigel Roger Blake 301 “But if HS2 is scrapped, we next year,” he said. such as motorway and major approaches should be made to public awareness of the dire get big benefits which can be Perkins with amendments from Chris Hyomes 292 must fight for that money to Christian reminded the by-pass construction and airport politicians at all levels, seeking problems we face.” quantified.” the board was also passed be spent on rail, especially in Cardiff audience that expansion. their support. Meaningful policies Commenting on the proposal Freight group head Peter unanimously, calling for a William Whiting 289 the north of England.” Network Rail chief executive “This should involve campaigning and actions in pursuit of these Railfuture policy director Ian Wakefield said: “Millions of new review of Railfuture’s processes Graham Ellis 277 He predicted that the Andrew Haines is a for even greater investment in objectives should be demanded Brown said that rail is a solution to homes are being built. All new for recruitment, selection, and Government-sponsored railwayman through and the railways, including further as soon as possible, and we should climate change and pollution but houses should be near a rail dismissal of members of Railfuture NOT ELECTED rail review currently being through – and is Welsh. substantial electrification and line work more closely with other it does not win business cases. station and train operators should groups. Trevor Garrod 139

12 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ 99% of Northern businesses support HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail plan railwatch July 2019 13 Thames Valley North East THE CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL FREIGHT [email protected] [email protected] Newcastle-Morpeth route to be added to n n n n North East Round Robin and Hadrian’s Wall City and county planning for Oxford Batteries for the Metro Country Line Ranger tickets. Granting this is, British Steel is critical for rail freight The guest speaker at Railfuture Thames Valley’s The surprisingly lengthy process of obtaining apparently, difficult as it requires Northern to The financial crisis at British AGM in Oxford on 23 April was Oxford city 42 new trains for the Tyne & Wear Metro was obtain agreement from other operators. Steel’s Scunthorpe plant could councillor Alex Hollingsworth, the executive explained by Neil Blagburn of NEXUS to the have big implications for rail member for planning and transport. He explained Railway Division of the Institute of Mechanical n nStart on Horden (for Peterlee) freight and the entire rail that planning comes first in his brief, because Engineers in Newcastle in May. Work started in May on the new industry. the city council is the planning authority, while The present average failure rate of trains is £10.55 million station for Horden, near the county council is responsible for transport. once every 6,000 kilometres but the new Peterlee. The first stage is a 139-space car British Steel produces a wide However, he and county councillor Yvonne fleet is expected to provide more resilience. park and bus stops. Work will then start on range of products for the rail

Constance, the county council cabinet member for The new trains will all have on-board energy the station, which will have two 100-metre industry, including the rail itself Picture: BRITISH STEEL transport, agree on many things, and there is close storage to permit up to 45 minutes’ running platforms connected by an accessible and steel sleepers. cooperation between city and county. on battery if the overhead power fails. footbridge. The station is expected to It manufactures electrical The city was closely involved with the planning At a later stage, they could be fitted with open next spring, with hourly services to conductor rails, as well as switch application for rebuilding the Oxford-Bicester battery power to take trains 16 kilometres Middlesbrough and Newcastle which are points and crossovers. line, and Network Rail was surprised that they beyond electrified territory, an important expected to attract 70,000 passengers a year. The company has supplied had to take into account so many planning issues consideration as Nexus planners noise-suppression rail, called affecting local residents. Cllr Hollingsworth said it want to add extra lines and SilentTrack, to the Rhine was difficult to talk to Network Rail which seemed services. One target is the line in Germany and with to operate a closed shop. Chiltern Railways and Leamside line. Trains could increasing concern about noise Great Western Railway were more willing to have branch off south from Pelaw to from railways, the company open discussions with the council. The three main Washington New Town, on to has exported SilentTrack to outstanding issues are rebuilding Oxford station, South Hylton, continuing via France, Sweden, the Czech electrification and the Botley Road bridge. Sunderland, Seaburn and Boldon. Republic, Italy, Norway, China, Two thirds of journeys in central Oxford are by A major element in the Switzerland and Singapore. sustainable means: bus, cycle and walking, but replacement process concerns Picture: NETWORK RAIL the majority of journeys in the suburbs and the South Gosforth depot which In March, British Steel won a surrounding villages are by car. is almost 100 years old and needs contract to supply rails for track renewal projects in Catalonia, Only 5% of commuters into Oxford arrive by train. complete replacement, but on the same site. So a satellite depot Spain, and is reported to have Cllr Hollingsworth would like to see more cross- landed another rail contract for is proposed for Howdon-on-Tyne, Government made a firm dioxide than road haulage, Ireland by 30%. The nine trains town bus services avoiding the city centre. SNCF, the French national rail which will be able to cope with commitment to HS2 and to the which is one reason why a week in each direction are In the subsequent discussion, Cllr Holllingsworth network. was asked for his views on trams for Oxford. He 10 Metro trains, including the reinstatement of the ‘cancelled’ the National Infrastructure operated in conjunction with thought that it was worth consideration, and new 60-metre-long units. Driver Large amounts of British Steel’s main line electrification schemes, Commission has recommended Iarnród Éireann. products are also delivered by he dismissed such fanciful ideas as monorails, training will also take place at it would have a beneficial that the Government supports The original container link was rail. cable cars or tunnels beneath Oxford High Street. Howdon. impact. The steel products freight by rail. mainly to serve the soft drinks He agrees with Railfuture’s view that housing Nexus has had seven expressions It was reported in late May that required for such infrastructure factory near Ballina but new schemes include base plates, Investment development should be concentrated around of interest for the franchise to Network Rail had increased its business has been won from run the Metro, of which five HORDEN CEREMONY: (from left) Ray Browning, British Steel orders, with the aim overhead line masts and Maggie Simpson, director public transport hubs. There can be a trade- Anna Weeks, Jonjo Ward, sponsor for Network Rail, medical, retail and brewing off between city/district council development have pre-qualified. Three will of helping keep the company signal posts which are made in general of the Rail Freight Durham County councillors Simon Henig (with the industries in the area. planning and rail infrastructure. Planning provision be chosen for the best and afloat. Scunthorpe.” Group, said: “We are pleased spade) and Carl Marshall with Stuart Timmiss of the for the Grenoble Road development in the South final offer stage, scheduled for British Steel, which went into that the commission has set The increase in rail traffic is county council Oxfordshire local plan strengthens the case for June and July. After vetting by insolvency earlier in May, Rubbish decision out a pathway for government partly because of the increasing reopening the Cowley line, and plans for an the Department for Transport, support in decarbonisation of costs of road haulage and lorry n nNewcastle-Stockton quick link supplies 100,000 tonnes of steel Work started in May on building additional 700 houses at Hanborough strengthens a contract will be awarded in December. At to Network Rail each year – 95% Covanta’s waste incinerator near rail freight. congestion at Dublin port. the case for upgrading its station. least two years will then elapse before a new The North East of England has some of the of Britain’s rail track. Stewartby, Bedfordshire. Sadly “With battery and hydrogen The lower carbon footprint of train appears, though mock-up versions will earliest railways in Britain, if not the world. lorries will be bringing rubbish technologies in their infancy rail transport is also encouraging n nDidcot-Oxford 175th anniversary go on display on Tyneside, to give the public The most famous stretch, as illustrated by A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We will continue to do to the Rookery South plant from on the rail network, and the customers to switch traffic from Railfuture Thames Valley will have a stand at the a chance to see and comment on them. Railfuture’s 2019 summer conference, links whatever we can to support a 60-mile radius. extent of electrification still the roads. main event of the 175th Anniversary celebrations Whoever wins the contract will have to sign Darlington with Stockton, 11 miles to its British Steel. limited, the industry cannot be on Saturday 15 June, where we hope to recruit a 35-year maintenance agreement. So, even east. Each of these towns is about the same Even though the £450 million new incinerator is close to the expected to deliver the necessary Scotland new members. The main celebrations will be held on the most optimistic time-scale, it will be distance from Newcastle upon Tyne, the “We are confident that we investment without the backing Bedford-Bletchley rail line, Plans are being drawn up in Grandpont recreation ground, close to the four years before a new fleet takes over from regional capital – 36 miles. remain able to carry out critical of Government. site of the 1844 Oxford station. There will also be the existing trains, two of which have been Trains from Newcastle run quite frequently work on the railway in the planners ignored appeals from to boost the amount of rail earmarked for preservation as heritage units. to Darlington, and take between 28 and 33 coming months and beyond. rail campaigners to ensure that it “This recommendation gives freight on Scotland’s railways, events at Radley, Culham and Appleford, and at a way forward to provide the Seven others are likely to find new roles, some minutes. For Stockton, however, despite its Longer term we have plans in should be rail-connected. following a 0.5% increase last the Great Western Railway Centre at Didcot. The certainty that the rail freight as novelty restaurants. having nearly twice the resident population, place so that we can continue The incinerator will be in year. booking office at Culham, the original station sector needs, and a framework survivor, will be open to the public on the Saturday the usual time by train, via Sunderland and to deliver the reliable railway operation by 2022 and is The aim is to increase speeds n nBetter connections to North East millions of people depend on to oversee delivery.” and Sunday. Hartlepool, varies from 62 to 70 minutes. The expected to run 24 hours a day, and improve reliability. Morpeth benefits from an additional weekday journey length is 42 miles, rather than 36. The every day.” converting more than 500,000 The commission’s report has n n Vivarail trains on Bedford-Bletchley northbound CrossCountry service in the new freight-only line, via Ferryhill and Stillington, The Railway Industry tonnes of non-recyclable waste three main conclusions, namely There are over 600 freight trains The first three Vivarail class 230 diesel-electric timetable. A Penzance-Edinburgh service is more direct and shorter. Freight trains are Association said: “RIA stands each year into electricity. that surface freight can and must running on Great Britain’s units are now working on the Bletchley-Bedford calls there at 18.49, with a 20.09 arrival at timed to do the journey from Newcastle to by British Steel in these difficult It will create 60,000 tonnes of ash be decarbonised by 2050, that network every day, with around Marston Vale line. Three-car trains being built Edinburgh. With the exception of a three-hour Stockton in 53 minutes, much faster than the times.” and metal waste a year, which there must be better land use 50 in Scotland. gap between 08.56 and 11.51 (plus some planning for freight, and that for the Wrexham-Bidston line are diesel/battery roundabout passenger service. But switching to European will be recycled or used for Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance weekend anomalies) an inter-city service now government and the industry hybrids, with four diesel engines under the middle This is the kind of statistic that should suppliers could massively aggregates. managing director, said: “We car and two batteries under each driving/motor calls at Morpeth in each direction every two be borne in mind when politicians and must work together to create a increase costs for Network Rail. Campaign group Bedfordshire are committed to making rail car. The latest development is a fast-charging hours, an objective for which the South East local councillors boast about a “Northern “new status for freight”, raising Against Covanta Incinerator is freight as fast and reliable as it system with 3rd and 4th rail pickups. A battery Northumberland Rail User Group has long Powerhouse”, and when Transport for Durham-based logistics firm awareness of freight within still fighting to stop the facility, can be, and are investing in our bank at the station can charge itself slowly from campaigned. the North waxes lyrical about how much Hargreaves Services manages Government departments. with its case due at the Court of infrastructure to make switching the grid and dump all the necessary power back On a more local level, most Morpeth- it intends to do to improve rail links in the transport of raw materials Appeal in July. on to the train in about seven minutes for a full Newcastle services are now extended to general. Meanwhile, Railfuture North East to Scunthorpe from the Ireland from road to rail as easy as recharge, enough for a range of 60 miles. Apart Carlisle – another example of successful has produced a brochure illustrating in Immingham bulk terminal on The campaign’s Nicola Ryan- There is good news on the rail possible for customers.” from the Marston Vale line, what other services in campaigning – and SENRUG is grateful to cartographic detail which rail links can and the Humber, loads it into the Raine said she was worried freight front from Ireland. Christopher Snelling of the our area would be suitable for D-Train operation? Northern for listening to complaints that should be restored and/or improved. Copies furnaces and moves finished about how the tonnes of waste Freight Transport Association product into British Steel’s The Dublin-based company The Thames Valley branches, perhaps, or a arose when such trains were found to miss will be available at the Darlington conference ash would be taken away from International Warehousing and said: “Rail freight brings many Hanborough-Cowley shuttle? each other by a maddening one minute at and at various other public events. warehouses. It warned that the site. benefits and its use should be 170 jobs could be at risk. One Transport has announced it is www.railfuture.org.uk/Thames Valley Branch Newcastle. To capitalise on the through www.railfuture.org.uk/North East Branch Rail freight transport generates incentivised, not discouraged by rail campaigner said: “If the increasing rail services from Twitter @RailfutureTV service to Carlisle, SENRUG is asking for the Twitter @RailfutureNEast around six times less carbon Dublin to Ballina in the west of punitive taxation.” 14 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk railwatch July 2019 15 Cymru Wales Yorkshire [email protected] Integrated rail-air ticketing n nStorm Gareth blocks line By Dennis Fancett airlines seem more willing to The service from Llandudno to [email protected] think out of the box about how Blaenau Ffestiniog remains suspended Among other activities, to get customers to where they because of extensive damage to Picture: @LIZZYBANKS Railfuture’s European Passenger really need to go, and their the track by Storm Gareth in March. Group compares how the lateral thinking is not confined Although it has always rained a lot in rail industry works in Britain to train add-ons either. with what happens in Europe, North Wales, the rail industry must My daughter recently spent a brace itself to cope with the effect of with a view to seeing what we can learn from our European year working in Al Qatief in climate change because otherwise Saudi Arabia. KLM offers direct line closures could well become neighbours about how to improve services. “flights” from nearby Al Khobar annual events. to Amsterdam but passengers Network Rail and Natural Resources In many areas, Britain appears check in at a town centre Wales will need to future-proof this to be ahead of the rest of Europe. minicab office with the first leg a line rather than merely repairing it Even though competition is far short taxi ride across the border more advanced in the UK than every time. Rail replacement bus AIRPORT EXUPERY Picture: LYON-SAINT bridge to Bahrain airport! services are in operation and these our European neighbours, this n n n n does not mean our rail industry What potential is there in are abstracting passengers from the LNER ticket backs Tour de Yorkshire Support for Skipton-Colne Britain for train-air integration? local bus services, which are now is less integrated. Sheffield cyclist Lizzy Banks, pictured above, A Facebook poll has found that 90% of GOOD PUBLICITY: A Stadler tram train with a passenger jet Liverpool, York, Hull and Leeds threatened with service reductions or beat international competition to win the LNER- respondents support the plan to reopen the An example is Delay Repay, and two TGV trains which serve Lyon-Saint Exupery airport via Manchester Airport seem complete withdrawal. sponsored Queen of the Mountain title on day one rail line from Skipton to Colne which is being where compensation for the obvious, while airlines serving The services between Llandudno of May’s Tour de Yorkshire. The overall winner of promoted by the Skipton and East Lancashire Rail entire journey can be claimed Lyon sets a European example Gatwick could offer Brighton and Llandudno Junction worked the Queen of the Mountain title was Spanish rider Action Partnership. SELRAP was also entered into even if it involved two or Tram trains connect Lyon-Saint Exupery airport with the city and Guildford destinations. by the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch Margarita Garcia. The Great British Transport Competition organised more operators but only one centre station of Lyon Part-Dieu 14 miles away. Stansted could provide air-rail train have also been withdrawn and by the Taxpayers Alliance. SELRAP came first for rail operator’s train was late, n nAzumas launch on Yorkshire Day tickets to Cambridge and with passengers advised to use local bus projects and second overall. although recent lobbying The Rhonexpress tram trains leave the airport every Crossrail, Canary Wharf via services, which is not popular with New Hitachi-built Azuma trains will be introduced by the European Passengers 15 minutes, seven days a week from 04.25 to midnight, and Heathrow becomes a possibility. travellers to and from Llandudno. The on the East Coast main line to coincide with n nFarewell to Reg French Federation, to which Railfuture also link into Lyon’s metro network. The £100 million tram Readers may however spot closure follows long periods of bus Yorkshire Day, 1 August, LNER has announced. A stalwart member of the Selby and District Rail is affiliated, may result in train project was completed in 2010 and involved building a drawbacks. Liverpool has substitution in the winter because of Some Azumas worked London-Leeds trains in Users Group, Reginald French, died peacefully in a significant leap forward five-mile link to the city’s existing T3 tram line. its own airport so why serve a shortage of trains. This has adversely May but technical problems delayed a faster roll- May after a long illness. Railfuture Yorkshire’s Nina for passenger rights being France’s first high speed line opened in 1981, linking Paris Liverpool via Manchester? affected tourism. It is planned that out elsewhere. New direct London-Harrogate Smith said Reg was respected by the rail industry. enshrined into EU legislation. to Lyon. By 1994, the Paris-Marseilles high speed line Canary Wharf is already served the Llandudno Junction to Llanrwst services are expected to begin in December, He had an infectious smile and was a warm, One area where our European connected directly to Lyon airport. by London City airport, so section will reopen first in time for the following successful lobbying by the Harrogate approachable, intelligent, committed man who did colleagues are clearly ahead is why promote a routing via National Eisteddfod in August. Line Supporters Group. Harrogate is already his very best for his community. She added: “He in combined rail-air ticketing. Plans are also under way to link the airport with the TER Heathrow? Lyon and Strasbourg enjoying extra Northern services from Leeds with will be greatly missed.” By this, I do not just mean your (regional rail) network by next year and to create a freight n nFuture Development have airports of their own too. the introduction of the May timetable. Plans to airline selling you a train ticket depot at the airport linked to other hubs on France’s high speed freight network. Railfuture submitted evidence to the increase services to four trains per hour are on hold www.railfuture.org.uk/Yorkshire+Branch to the airport. We are talking It is because regional airports inquiry into The Future Development pending construction of platform 0 at Leeds. Twitter: @RailfutureYorks about airlines considering Another proposal to build a 170-mile long high speed cannot offer direct flights of Transport for Wales, carried out cities and towns that people line from Lyon airport to Turin has also been approved everywhere but by exploiting by the Welsh Assembly’s economy, [email protected] want to travel to and where and was expected to be completed in 2023, but the Italian rail connections they can it is not practical to serve that government is now divided and is threatening to cancel the compete with larger airports. infrastructure and skills committee. n n North West This followed a series of workshops Risky crossings blamed for hold-ups city by direct flights, offering a £8 billion project. However, more than 30,000 people took to There are already enlightened last year attended by Railfuture The promised two trains per hour service on the combined air-rail ticket from an the streets of Turin in November in support of building the travelled to Blackburn, Hellifield, Carnforth policies in Britain. Train operator members. Chester-Manchester line has still to materialise, airport they do serve. new line. TransPennine Express offers and Preston before returning to London. It is 18 months late. The Mid Cheshire Rail Users “airport advance” tickets Railfuture is mentioned in the report remarkable to think that Blackpool used to attract The advantages of this may not Association has heard reports that Network Rail from Manchester Airport – which was published in May and 30 or 40 excursion trains every weekend, starting be obvious to those living in gives a six-hour stop-over, as Part-Dieu Gare SNCF. The will not allow Northern to run additional passenger competitively priced advance calls for improved governance by the at Easter and running through to the end of the London, which has good flight well as a terminal change at “flight” brings you right to trains on the line because of the “increased risk tickets allowing you to catch Welsh Government of the activities of Illuminations. Now you are lucky to see two or connections to most European Heathrow, making the journey the city centre! The Air France at level crossings”. MCRUA is trying to clarify capitals and a reasonable the next train if the flight is Transport for Wales. This indicates that three a year. How times have changed. take all day. That is longer than journey from Newcastle to the expansion of TfW activities should whether the claim has any validity. Northern’s selection of European regional flying to New York. Strasbourg is another example delayed. That is a good start, be put on hold to enable a period of contract with the Department for Transport n nMayor backs plan for Leigh station cities. of where your second hop will but integrated train-plane-train includes a commitment to two trains an hour A second option offered on tickets could be offered more consolidation. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, But for those living outside websites such as ebookers is to be by train, direct from Aeroport on the Mid Cheshire Line, and hourly trains on London, while regional airports Charles de Gaulle station. widely. n nTfW explained Sundays, starting in December 2017. MCRUA has wants to see a new rail station introduced in fly via Amsterdam Schiphol. Leigh. He told a recent Mayor’s Question Time might have direct flights to some This is going from one extreme Such train add-ons are not Railfuture’s European Passenger The workings of Transport for Wales raised the issue with local MPs Esther McVey and European capitals, the chances Group is already lobbying Mike Amesbury at face-to-face meetings and session that before any more development to the other with just 40 minutes limited merely to domestic were explained by its corporate is permitted in Leigh, better public transport of a direct flight from your local hops. Returning from a recent train operators, and we need service director Geoff Ogden at a encouraged members who live along the Mid between arrival and departure. infrastructure is needed and that opening a new airport to a particular regional European Passengers Federation to convince airlines and train lecture in Cardiff in May. Cheshire Line to contact their MPs to demand that It is offered as a connection, station at Kenyon Junction is the best short-term airport on the continent are slim. meeting, I sat next to someone companies of the commercial He explained the proposed the promised train service is delivered. but Schengen rules require on the plane who was travelling advantage of joint tickets. programme for introducing new option. Mr Burnham said he was ready to make Germany however offers an the passenger to go through n nFare increases challenged from Zurich to Ghent. He services and improving stations this a reality if it was wanted. He added: “This area add-on rail ticket from any immigration formalities at European air-rail ticket travelled by air to Amsterdam and how they fit into the Welsh MCRUA have contacted train operator Northern needs to be reconnected to the railway network.” German airport to each of its Schiphol. Experienced travellers initiatives seem to come from 5,600 rail stations via Deutsche Schiphol and then by train Government’s economic action plan. after noting a big increase in through fares to might think that is cutting things the airlines rather than the n nFlex trains miss May timetable from the Netherlands to the He also explained how TfW used the Metrolink tram system. The through fares to Bahn. Several European airlines rail industry. You can buy a The class 769 Flex trains (with auxiliary diesel a bit too fine. Belgian city of Ghent, on a single transport modelling to analyse the “Metrolink City” changing at Altrincham on to go further by promoting routes ticket including a train journey engines fitted to former Thameslink trains), The third option looks favourite. benefits from different types of Metrolink were previously similar to the fares to to selected regional cities which integrated ticket sold by KLM. from an airline, but to my they either do not serve at all It is with Air France via Paris transport. Manchester via Stockport. Now anytime fares to which Northern has been planning to introduce While passing the time in the knowledge you cannot buy a Metrolink Zones 1 to 4 (the equivalent of Metrolink for nearly a year, failed to enter service in May. or to which they have a limited Charles de Gaulle. Closer departures lounge at Zurich ticket including a flight from n n60% increase in passengers City) are £3 more than the fare via Stockport. Northern and Porterbrook have hinted that the service, by including a train leg inspection reveals that the Paris- airport, I had already noticed a train company. Rail and air Passenger numbers at Welsh stations trains may be ready for the December timetable from an airport they do serve. Lyon section is not a flight, but a airport departure screens can play complementary roles n nSteam returns to Blackpool have increased by 60% since 2004. change. It is thought one of the potential routes Consider the journey from direct high-speed train from the showing the gate number in European travel but the two Cardiff Central station is the busiest, Members of Blackpool and Fylde Rail Users for the trains could be the current Wigan-Alderley Newcastle to Lyon, which I airport station to Lyon. for some outgoing flights as modes need to be integrated and accounting for 25% of all passengers Association were pleased to see a steam engine at Edge route, which was introduced as a through needed to make recently. There Further examination reveals “Bahnhof”. In fact, they were seamless. in Wales, according to statistics issued Blackpool North for the first time for several years route (via Bolton, Manchester and Stockport) last is a direct flight from London that there are two airport codes not flights. Passengers are n Dennis Fancett is a member of by the Welsh Government. on Saturday 13 April with a charter organised by year. Most of the route is now electrified. Heathrow to Lyon. So one for Lyon which has only one directed to the airport station for Railfuture’s European Passenger www.railfuturewales.org.uk the Railway Touring Company, which originated www.railfuture.org.uk/North West Branch option is to fly from Newcastle airport! LYS is Saint Exupery travel to various cities, including Group which is a sub-committee of Twitter @RailfutureWales in London. The train, with 45690 Leander, also Twitter @RailfutureNWest via Heathrow. This however Airport whereas XYD is Budapest in Hungary. European the Passenger Services Group 16 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railwatch www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Please remember Railfuture in your will: www.railfuture.org.uk/legacies railwatch July 2019 17 Your views Strategic reopenings I was interested to read in New trains on way as ‘Norwich in 90’ service launched Railwatch 159 that “Rail The fastest ever train service customer experience and closely with rail user groups, Meliha Duymaz, Network reopenings boost the economy”. between Norwich and London cutting journey times. local businesses, and MPs, I Rail Anglia’s route managing It is true that expanding our rail started in May – cutting the “Norfolk and Suffolk is one of am delighted to see these new director, said: “Delivering these network will bring huge social journey time to just 90 minutes. the fastest growing regions in services getting underway. faster services for passengers and environmental benefits and The event was “the start of the the country and it needs high “The new ‘Norwich in 90’ and into the new timetable has been I am pleased the clamour for a real joint effort, and along Picture: GREATER ANGLIA Picture: GREATER transformation of rail services” quality rail infrastructure to ‘Ipswich in 60’ services are reopenings is increasing. It is in East Anglia, with four extra support growth and to help with Greater Anglia, we know relevant now that Parliament has another major achievement services between Norwich, businesses compete in global for the taskforce and featured that Norwich in 90 will provide declared a climate emergency Ipswich and London. markets. better journeys for the people which largely results from carbon in our original rail investment The fastest journey time “The LEP strongly believes prospectus to the Government who live and work in the dioxide emissions from road region as well as supporting the transport and aviation. between London and Ipswich investing and transforming for the Greater Anglia is now 55 minutes. our railways is essential franchise. local economy. One consequence is poor air today and also in decades to “Recent performance on the quality, particularly in urban Businesses and politicians “These new services build in East Anglia have been come ensuring we remain on the Great Eastern main route has been some of the best areas. competitive and attractive as a calling for faster journey times line’s other recent successes, in years, and together we’re The Government should create business location.” between Norfolk, Suffolk and including the launch of Delay working on various initiatives a network development fund London for 10 years. Further improvements are to make journeys better for as soon as possible to break Repay 15, passenger refunds They backed an East Anglian expected with the delivery of a for late running services over everyone.” the perpetual bottleneck for fleet of new trains. reopenings and new lines. For Rail Prospectus and also joined 15 minutes, and the securing of The new services shave 12 years, reopenings and new lines the Great Eastern Main Line Greater Anglia managing more than £1 billion funding minutes off the fastest journey have been delayed which then Taskforce. director Jamie Burles said: “We for new Greater Anglia trains between Norwich and London. causes increased costs. Chris Starkie, chief executive are replacing all of our existing due to come into service within The new trains should allow of New Anglia Local Enterprise trains with brand new state-of- a matter of weeks.” more journey times to be cut. The Campaign for Better the-art modern trains.” Transport has identified at Partnership, said: “This is a great milestone following a Priti Patel, MP for Witham, ISSN 0267-5943 www.railwatch.org.uk least 30 rail lines that should CLASS 90 at Liverpool Street: (front row, left to right) Greater Anglia managing director Jamie be reopened, but its list omits long period of negotiations and said: “Having established Burles, Witham MP Priti Patel, Ipswich MP Sandy Martin (in red tie), Network Rail Anglia route campaigning. It is a huge step the Great Eastern Main Line railwatch quite a few others which I managing director Meliha Duymaz and Jo Churchill, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket is edited by Ray King, 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU reckon should also be top forward in improving Taskforce in 2013 and worked Tel: 020 8985 8548 [email protected] priority, including Lewes- Printed by Print-Out, High Street, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4JD Uckfield, Guildford-Horsham, be terminated at Toton South Amsterdam as I have recently ticket office will credit you the surveys before introducing new of travel does emit less carbon Tel: 01223 232709. Railfuture members receive ­Railwatch free. Horsham-Shoreham, Bedford- Junction, allowing trains from made this journey, albeit using balance. Hopefully agreement stopping patterns and SNCF to emissions per passenger Railwatch abides by the National Union of Journalists’ code of conduct. Northampton and Nottingham and Sheffield to Thalys both ways between can be reached with the Dutch press for an increase in Lille’s kilometre than air. During Non-members can subscribe online at www.railfuture.org.uk/shop or by March-Spalding. use the new line. Leeds and Brussels and Amsterdam. government soon for passport use. the past 30 years many ferry sending £12 (cheque payable to Railfuture) to: Alan Cocker, 11 Derwent Theses lines are strategic links Newcastle could continue to be We purchased through tickets checks to be undertaken in the John Davis, Fairmead Avenue, companies have done their best Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QR. which would have a wide impact served from King’s Cross. Netherlands, though the British Harpenden AL5 5UD to discourage or even ban foot from Oxford on the Eurostar Copy deadlines: For the next issue, published in September/October, beyond their destinations and government seems to have other [email protected] passengers from using their The new HS2 station at website, but the train allocation please email ­material as early as possible to [email protected] are in areas of rapid housing pressing international issues at ferries, such as DFDS from Birmingham should have at least between Oxford and London Late copy: Monday 26 August. Emergency late news: Up to Friday growth. the moment. East West speed Dover to Dunkerque. two through platforms to allow was not ideal and another time I 6 September. Postal address: 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU. Simon Barber, Fitzherbert House, trains to proceed to New Street. Dr James Hutton, Bertie Road, would investigate buying these Cumnor, Oxford OX2 9PS Born in Bedford, I was pleased Too many ferry terminals also Kingsmead, Richmond, Surrey J M Berry, Prescot Road, Aughton, separately. have no bus links to the nearest Advertising: Full page: £190. Half page: £95. Quarter page: £45. [email protected] to see in Railwatch 159 that East Small ads are free to members. Otherwise: 30p per word. TW10 6HT Ormskirk, Lancashire West Rail is progressing, even rail station. As the United Nations [email protected] [email protected] We certainly found the journey relatively painless. I would Eurostar potential to the extent that options for panel of scientists continues Please report any problems with the delivery or condition of your copy of Toton’s HS2 role Eurostar journey suggest anyone planning to use the line to Cambridge are being to remind us that we need to Railwatch to [email protected] or to the E9 7HU address above. the Eurostar service looks at Further to the London- considered. I hope that none of reduce our carbon footprint Railfuture With the future of HS2 being I enjoyed reading the article in the advice on www.seat61.com Amsterdam rail/air comparison the options involving a Bedford drastically in the next 15 years, is independent and voluntary. Railfuture Ltd is a not-for-profit company questioned, perhaps it should Railwatch 159 about Eurostar to about choice of seat, changing in the April issue. To me, South station are chosen. It now is a good time to encourage limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No 05011634. train in Brussels, etc. the advantages of using rail would make any journey from a reversal of this trend. ­Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, outbound are also that the Bedford unnecessarily difficult. The train from Amsterdam back There are some good examples North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only). All other minimum check-in is much The idea of the route being of integrated rail/sea/rail links correspondence to 24 Chedworth Place, Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND to Brussels was delayed near shorter than for air (including Antwerp. Thalys got in touch operated by diesels is also and through ticketing from General inquiries: [email protected] Join as it does two boring hours of depressing. The route needs the UK to Ireland and the Get four copies of Railwatch magazine a year, early-bird with Eurostar and the train back endlessly glancing at departure Media enquiries discount for our annual national conference to London was held for to be upgraded and electrified Netherlands. Bruce Williamson Email: [email protected] boards) and that you go to the to allow for through trains from and the chance to help improve Britain’s railways 10 minutes to give everyone city centre, not to a remote There are also some bad ones, Tel: 0117 9272954 Mobile: 07759 557389 time to transfer. A big “thank Plymouth and Swansea to Great such as the lack of buses to YOU CAN JOIN AT www.railfuture.org.uk/join airport followed by a transfer to Yarmouth and Ipswich. With the you” to Eurostar for that. another form of transport. connect Portsmouth city centre Membership £20 per year. Joint: £22. Under n Individual £20 per year present rate of progress, will any and Newport (Isle of Wight) 26: £14. User groups, community and parish n Joint £22 As was mentioned in the However the current time- of that happen in my lifetime? article, the staff at St Pancras with the Wightlink Portsmouth- councils: £25. Businesses: £35 n Under 26 £14 wasting inconvenience of the That’s why Greta Thunberg has Fishbourne ferry. n Rail user groups, community and parish councils £25 International are very helpful but change on the return could lead You can join using PayPal via www.railfuture.org.uk or by post, please a valid reason to protest. It takes Although legislation might be n Businesses £35 the waiting area seems to get to an imbalance in take-up: I ­contact Railfuture Membership, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold so long for rail improvements to required, Railfuture might wish to very crowded. Is there any room have friends who use rail out happen. We need swift action to DN38 6JH. Email: [email protected] for expansion if there are more but air back. So if only to avoid make a start by campaigning for Name ...... expand the rail network – yes to all ferry companies serving the services through the Channel empty seats one way, it needs combat climate change but also Tunnel? sorting! UK to: Renewals and other membership queries: Address ...... to provide a real alternative to Use PayPal on the website or send a cheque to If travellers are spending any Some of my friends will use 1. Always accept foot car journeys. Railfuture Renewals, 24 Chedworth Place, ­Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. Eurostar only to connect with passengers...... Postcode ...... time in the Netherlands, I would P J Odell, Kimberley 8300 Email: [email protected] recommend buying an OVchip TGV journeys beyond Paris if all South Africa 2. Provide suitable bus Email ...... card at Amsterdam or Rotterdam that is required is a change at Ferry appeal connections and through Elections Board elections held annually. Nomination forms can be station. This can be used for Lille or which (Marseilles direct) ticketing to/from all sailings to the obtained from www.railfuture.org.uk/Elections Send to Railfuture, 1 Queens Road, Barnetby le Wold DN38 6JH all Dutch public transport, avoids the inconvenience of a Journey times by sea are nearest rail station and/or town. Many other useful contact details can be found on the Cheques payable to Railfuture. Email: [email protected] Who’s Who and if there is any credit left Paris change. I think we should unlikely ever to be attractive Nigel Perkins, Towergate, Brighton ­Railfuture website: www.railfuture.org.uk at the end of your journey the push Eurostar to do public compared to air, but this method [email protected] 18 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ European Rail Timetable available at http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu railwatch July 2019 19 Scotland Roll on with rail electrification [email protected] By Stephen Waring Four rail user groups along the Calder Valley line, supported by Railfuture’s North West and Yorkshire branches, launched EWEN ALASTAIR Picture: the Electric Railway Charter last year, as a way of promoting a sustainable railway and good growth. With the fight against the Picture: MARTSON VALE CRP VALE Picture: MARTSON climate emergency at its heart, the charter calls for a rolling programme of railway electrification as recommended by the Northern Electrification Task Force in its March 2015 report Northern Sparks. Commissioned by then Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and chaired by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones (now a transport minister), the task force brought together MPs, local authorities, the Department for Transport and Network Rail. In the report’s foreword Mr Jones wrote: “We have worked on the premise that all the lines of the North would be BLETCHLEY FLYER: Vivarail’s class 230 with, left to right, Stephen Sleight, Marston Vale electrified, it is only a question community rail partnership officer; Sam Jessup, Sam Jessup Design; Steve Mortimer, MVCRP of when.” chairman; Jodie Colclough, Central Bedfordshire Council; Alisha Miller, 230 Artist; Vicky Cropper, Inspiring words! The task force London Northwestern head of stakeholder and community; Phil Warner, Bedford to Bletchley Rail recommended 12 routes across Users Association; Melanie MacLeod, Bedford Borough Council and Alice Gillman, Vivarail northern England for an initial five-year plan. Top-ranked was the strategic Calder Valley GLASGOW CROSS: Two steam engines cross a little-used rail campaigners have criticised the tunnelling option as a Viva! A solution to the diesel train shortage railway bridge on day 6 of the Great Britain XII tour (Edinburgh- “beguiling fantasy”. The commission, chaired by Professor Line – Leeds to Manchester and The Bedford-Bletchley Marston Vale Line is clean, with an automatic engine shut down when Preston via the routes through Stranraer). Railfuture believes this existing link could be David Begg, advocates investing £10 billion over 20 years to the first route in the country to benefit from the trains are at stations. Bradford, Brighouse and developed quickly and cheaply to form a crucial part of a improve Glasgow’s transport systems by extending the metro, Vivarail’s “new” diesel train. Hebden Bridge. Stephen Sleight, Marston Vale Community Rail Glasgow Crossrail, linking the separate rail networks north and including a link to the airport. Instead of Glasgow Cross it Partnership Officer, said “The trains are ideal south of the river Clyde. But a recent Glasgow City Connectivity suggests excavating a tunnel between Shieldhall and Cowlairs, Electrification via Huddersfield The class 230s were formerly all-electric London Underground District Line trains but have had for the line and cater for our growing number of Commission report has perversely resisted the Glasgow Cross a challenging and expensive undertaking. But it argues that – the TransPennine Route passengers, currently at a 10-year high”. route and is suggesting a £5 billion tunnelling alternative rail can provide an answer for “left behind” areas, whose only Upgrade – was assumed. diesel generators fitted. Alisha Miller, the artist, said: “It’s been a linking lines through Central and Queen Street stations. Some options are infrequent buses Then in July 2017 Transport Their interiors have been redesigned in consultation with the Marston Vale Community wonderful experience working along the nRail n Action Group, East of Scotland South Suburban rail line around Murrayfield during the school holidays as good weather Secretary Chris Grayling picturesque Marston Vale Line.” cancelled other planned Rail Partnership. Features include an accessible Spring was heralded by the appearance of has also been suggested. In addition Network encouraged people to head to St Andrews for electrification projects. toilet, dedicated space for cycles, buggies Vivarail, headed by former Chiltern railways Network Rail staff at Reston and East Linton. At Rail has finished consulting on a masterplan the day, nearly all by car. How much easier it and pushchairs, information panels on local managing director Adrian Shooter, has also for Waverley station, proposing an extensive would have been if a train was available! With the scope of the the latest meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s attractions, and USB charging points at every developed other variants of the train. Rail Cross Party Group, Transport Minister passenger circulation level above the tracks. TransPennine upgrade still to Several constraints exist to redevelopment. Contacts: be confirmed, campaigners in seat. Each unit also has a piece of unique Five class 230s with batteries and a diesel engine Michael Matheson confirmed that the two themed artwork designed by artist Alisha have been ordered by Transport for Wales for use stations would finally open, although it could Waverley is listed, as is the main station Rail Action Group, East of Scotland (RAGES): Rochdale, Calderdale (around building. This building also has within it www.rages.org.uk/ Halifax) and Bradford were Miller, including one featuring local brickyard on the Wrexham-Bidston Borderlands line, the be as late as 2024, eight years after the original chimneys. The D Trains are quiet, green and Conwy Valley and Chester-Crewe lines. opening date. A spokesperson for RAGES said: “I supporting structures for the busy North Beattock Station Action Group: angry. What about the Northern Bridge. Sparks programme? will believe it when I see it.” RAGES is committed www.beattockstationactiongroup.org.uk/ to do everything possible to ensure that Reston Frustrated by lack of progress, n nLevenmouth rail campaign St Andrews Rail Link campaign (StARLink): through global benefits as rail decarbonises, so will electric a rolling programme could cut and East Linton appear on the railway map as www.starlink-campaign.org.uk/ we drew up the charter, and are The railway is still a major option in the plays its full part in creating railways. Let us be inspired by electrification costs by up to soon as possible. facebook.com/StARLinkCampaign building support. Calderdale a non-polluting, zero-carbon teenage activist Greta Thunberg 50%, says the Railway Industry appraisal process but Transport Scotland insists n n LevenMouth Rail Campaign: Council launched a petition for transport system. and roll out real sustainable Association in its Electrification Beattock station action group on a “robust” business case before supporting electrification of our line. Alternative fuels such as transport. Coast Challenge report. 450 people attended a drop-in session at it, apparently hinting that more buses would www.lmrc-action.org.uk/ be just as good. The same argument has been facebook.com/LevenmouthRail/ A rolling programme will hydrogen may have their More info and links at: n Moffat as part of the Scottish transport maintain skills, learning lessons place if genuinely sustainable. https://electriccharter.wordpress. The RSSB (the Rail Safety appraisal process. The town should be a place used for 20 years and the extra buses have Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG): as teams move from project to But strategic routes must com/ and Standards Board) has for families to live rather than just a large failed to make any difference to Levenmouth’s www.capitalrail.org.uk/ www.calderdale.gov.uk/electricvalley investigated alternatives to project. be fully electric. The first retirement village, and a station at Beattock was connectivity. Publication of the business case Newburgh Train Station campaign: n electrification. Railfuture’s Gapped electrification schemes recommendation in an Institute The charter’s four founding seen as the best way to achieve this. assessment is eagerly awaited. http://newburghtrainstation.org.uk/ of Mechanical Engineers report rail user groups are Support the analysis of alternatives at www. are short-sighted. Diesel railfuture.org.uk/article1825 n nEdinburgh second tram line approved n nStARLink (St Andrews Rail Link) Forth Rail Link (Dunfermline-Kincardine-Alloa): bimodes are overweight, on prospects for hydrogen Oldham-Rochdale-Manches- The first part of STAG 1, the ‘Case for Change’ www.forthraillink.com making them inherently trains was that the government ter line, Upper Calder Valley n The House of Commons Completing Edinburgh’s first tram line from of the St Andrews Sustainable Transport facebook.com/forthraillink/ inefficient, more complex should rethink cancellation of Renaissance Sustainable Trans- transport committee, headed the current city centre terminus at York Place electrification and start a rolling port Group, Halifax & District to Newhaven has been approved by the city study, including surveys for residents and Thornhill Station Action Group: than pure electrics, and more by MP Lilian Greenwood, is [email protected] expensive to buy and maintain. programme. Rail Action Group and Bradford currently carrying out an inquiry council. There is talk of also completing the potential visitors and consultations with major Costs of electrification are The Intergovernmental Panel on Rail Users Group. called Trains fit for the Future north tram loop from Roseburn to Newhaven, stakeholders, is nearly complete. The first Bonnybridge Railway Campaign: paid back through operational Climate Change has given us a n Better project planning, using which will examine claims for mostly on old rail trackbed, and a further line results should be available in weeks. Parts of http://bonnybridgerailway.scot savings in the long term – and carbon deadline. As electricity best practice and implementing alternative fuels. going up the Bridges. Running trams on to the the road network around town ground to a halt www.facebook.com/bonnybridgerailway 20 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Join Railfuture online at www.railfuture.org.uk/join railwatch July 2019 21 London & South East £32m go-ahead for Portishead reopening [email protected] By Dave Chillistone go ahead, for the projected n nNew station for flat-pack fans In Railwatch 159, there was an profitability is the seed-corn The Lea Valley’s new Meridian Water station opened article entitled: Why are we still for other much-needed railway in June but with only a skeleton peak-hours service. waiting for Portishead railway? improvements in the wider Passengers will have to wait until 9 September for a At the time of publication there Bristol area. proper all-day/every-day half-hourly service to start. was a £32 million shortfall The funding jigsaw is complex. Meridian Water is a replacement for Angel Road station in the funding jigsaw which Approximately £84 million has Picture: BRISTOL LIVE Picture: BRISTOL which has now closed. Railfuture can claim some credit Picture: NETWORK RAIL could be filled only by central been allocated to the project by for the new station after our Fighting Fund funded government. the West of England Combined the 2012 report Lea Valley Rail – better access to jobs Authority, North Somerset and homes, which backed the case for more capacity Good news! Two weeks after Railwatch Council, Bristol City Council, and connectivity in the Lea Valley. The first fruits of was published, reports came through that the Bath & NE Somerset Council that were apparent three years ago with the opening Government had agreed to and South Gloucestershire of the new Lea Bridge station. The new stations at provide the “missing” £31.9 Council and it is the subject of Meridian Water and Lea Bridge are served by trains million. inter-council agreements. from Stratford to Bishops Stortford and are a big step This is very good news, not The Government, having towards Railfuture’s aim of a bigger, better railway in promised the “missing” £31.9 the Lea Valley. IKEA, a short walk from Meridian Water, is only for the long-overdue reinstatement of the “no million, is surely most unlikely one of the most popular destinations in the Lea Valley. to withdraw it. It is against this You can download the Lea Valley Rail report from the brainer” Portishead railway, but also for other, similar railway complex funding backdrop that Railfuture website by searching for DL505. reopenings elsewhere. tens of thousands of people n nAccess funds – lucky for some Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Nigel Ashton (the pre- expect their politicians to ensure It seems that the Government election leader of North Somerset Council) and Tim Bowles the funding jigsaw remains The campaign continues to get more stations has at last realised that (Metro Mayor for the West of England Combined Authority) secure, to press on with the made accessible by bidding for funding from the unbridled growth in many discussing plans for reinstating the Portishead railway. This reinstatement, and thus start to Government’s Access for All programme, which OPENING DAY: Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, centre, flanked by deputy areas of the country requires meeting took place on the old twin-track permanent way reduce pollution and the carbon provided good news in April for 73 stations throughout mayor of London for transport Heidi Alexander, left and Meliha Duymaz,right, an imaginative approach near Quays Avenue, looking towards Portishead town centre, footprint within the wider the country. Campaigners were surprised by some Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, and other guests at the to solving the transport roughly where the entrance to Portishead station will be Bristol area. opening of Meridian Water station on 3 June. Meridian Water is at the heart of infrastructure, congestion and of the decisions. Crowborough was chosen, while By the time this article is East Grinstead which has four times the number of a £6 billion development of the area being led by Enfield Council which will pollution problems that result. cases, outline designs and DCO application to the Planning published, North Somerset passengers, lost out. Other notable omissions were see 10,000 new homes and the creation of thousands of jobs. Martin Moran of In summary, over-reliance on Greater Anglia (with the red lanyard) said that the station will provide the area roads, and their fostering of funding plans, which would Inspectorate also has to be Council may well have met Barking, where a major station redevelopment is then trigger a release of central approved by North Somerset before the end of June to planned, and Dorking Deepdene, the North Downs line with better rail options, especially after September. single-occupancy vehicles, has to stop. government funding for the rail Council (the sponsor) and, of discuss and approve the DCO station. Deepdene is expected to benefit next year from infrastructure aspects. course, there was an upheaval application. an extra Gatwick-Reading service, which may in future Should we expect the Not exactly this model, but in the political landscape at the Does all this mean the be extended to Oxford, using tri-mode ex-Thameslink Devon and Cornwall Government to provide the in effect a variant of the local elections on 2 May. reinstatement of the Bristol- trains. Railfuture is leading a small working group to total funding for railway [email protected] historic goods shed is retained and found reinstatement schemes? proposed model, has now been It is hoped that the previous Portishead railway is a “done develop a Dorking Transport Hub. new use within any development, as has exercised for the Portishead deal”? A further £20 million is up for grabs in what the DfT n nOkehampton summer service No. Local authorities, area wide political acceptance that been the case at Horrabridge. reinstatement. the Portishead railway must calls its Access for All Mid-Tier Programme which is This summer sees the return of the Exeter- authorities, local enterprise The populations of Portishead, be reinstated will transition expected to be launched soon. One possible candidate Okehampton Sunday rail service. The first n nDawlish sea wall partnerships and developers Does this now mean work on Pill, Portbury and the Gordano into the new political order in is Reedham, Surrey, which needs its former step-free train from Exeter leaves St. Davids station Work began in June on a £30 million all have a part to play in Portishead reopening can begin villages can only hope so. Time establishing the needs, strong immediately? Unfortunately North Somerset, such that the street-to-platform 1 (London bound) access restored. at 09.04, with the last return train from scheme to protect the railway at Dawlish will tell and further updates on Okehampton at 17.56. The service runs from storm damage. It involves raising business cases, and of course not. development order application the progress of the Portishead n nPassengers to gain from £15m fund until 8 September and consists of four the five-metre sea wall to 7.5 metres, near identifying funding. A development consent order will be given the go-ahead. reinstatement will appear in Govia Thameslink Railway has launched a passenger return workings. Also running on summer Kennaway Tunnel and with a wave return The article in Railwatch 159 is required. The Planning The West of England Combined future issues of Railwatch. benefit fund with a £15 million “penalty fine” which Sundays, with the support of the Devon design, in an attempt to avoid a repeat of set out a proposed funding Inspectorate process may Authority and the involved n Dave Chillistone is a committee Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said should be Cornwall Rail Partnership, are some bus the line blockage during storms in 2014. model, based upon locally well take 18 months before councils still want and need member of Portishead Railway invested in the GTR network as compensation for last services from Okehampton station through Network Rail says the sea level is expected identified needs, business contracts can be placed. The the railway reinstatement to Group year’s disruption. Railfuture is pleased to see that ideas to Gunnislake on the Tamar Valley line to to rise by 0.8m over the next 100 years. Plymouth. we presented to former rail minister Paul Maynard two n nPlymouth-Penzance boost years ago are being taken forward by GTR’s passenger European Passenger Group Infrastructure Group Access for All – but not yet n nSt Ives branch Great Western has announced a doubling benefit fund. Railfuture will continue to suggest By Ian Brown Two new car parks have been built at St of the service between Plymouth and By Roger Blake By Paul Abell suitable ways to ensure that each GTR-managed station [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Erth station as part of the park-and-ride rail Penzance from May this year. The new Railfuture’s European Passenger Group receives attention. service to St Ives. To cater for the increased trains will provide a half-hourly service for Railfuture’s Infrastructure and Networks The Department for Transport announced has established direct links with Eurostar Group concentrates on network capacity on 4 April which 73 stations were to benefit n nMonthly update from Railfuture number of passengers using St Erth station, most of the day. GWR managing director the bay platform used by St Ives trains has Mark Hopwood said: “These new, routine and an effective liaison with the European and connectivity, line and station from the £300 million of Access for All London and South East branch members, and been widened and the track realigned. The half-hourly services will have a significant Passenger Federation. reopenings, route modernisation, funding previously announced. others, can subscribe free to our monthly two-page electrification, high speed rail, route service on the branch is being altered to impact for those who travel in Devon and The “Go and Compare” campaign has been The improvements should be completed e-newsletter inter-railse. It usefully fills the gap between give Carbis Bay a half-hourly, rather than Cornwall and the communities we serve, quite popular with members and indeed protection and safeguarding, light rail and issues of the quarterly eight-page railse, sent to branch metro development. by March 2024. A word of caution here: 46 hourly, service throughout the day. Lelant and they will pave the way for mainline non-members using the Railfuture website. stations were additions to the programme, members with each Railwatch. Both newsletters can be Saltings platform will remain open and improvements between London and Devon We want to encourage as many people as You can find out more on the Railfuture but 27 of the 73 stations were actually viewed or downloaded from the branch website. served by two trains a day each way. There and Cornwall to come later in the year.” The possible to view Railfuture as a source of website pages Missing Links and New carried over from the earlier control period. https://www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East will be more frequent stops at Lelant. increase in services follows a £30 million informed material. Stations. Least busy of the 46 winners this year is Twitter: @RailfutureLSE n n signalling upgrade carried out by Network Many cities in Europe and in the US have Our main activities are identifying and Moretonhampstead Rail between Plymouth and Penzance. been covered and now the attention has ensuring responses to consultations and Tenby, with 123,000 passengers, leaving There is increasing concern about climate The modernisation included 21 additional turned on to comparing how rail compares calls for evidence, publicising Railfuture Chinley with 120,000 passengers hoping to change and the need to reduce car usage. signals along the Cornish main line as well Railwatch welcomes articles and pictures with other modes. We intend to look at how policies on national rail infrastructure and be added to the list if work at any of the 46 As a result, some long-closed railway as upgrades to seven level crossings. stations cannot be carried out. from rail users and rail user groups lines, such as that to Moretonhampstead, mobility impaired passengers are catered for networks. n nBodmin connections plan by rail and other modes, looking for value As long as the present five-year cycle of Send your material to: The Editor, 4 Christchurch may be considered viable for the future. We also aim to support Railfuture branches Square, London E9 7HU Consequently Railfuture has commented A cash award of £54,000 for a feasibility for money ways to campaign for a fully and user groups with campaigns such Network Rail control periods governs accessible railway in Britain. Email: [email protected] on proposals for 40 houses on the former study into providing a second station on as Ashington Blyth and Tyne, Bristol project planning of railway infrastructure, station site, saying that space should be left the heritage Bodmin and Wenford railway campaigners for better access are going to be Please use email if possible but include your postal Eurostar has had a difficult time this year MetroWest, TransPennine and Wisbech address. Postal and email addresses may be published for a single track line and platform which has been granted by Great Western Railway, with some high profile breakdowns and reopening, as well as evaluating bids for frustrated for the next couple of years, but unless writers ask for them to be excluded. in the meantime could be used as an open with the aim of improving connections well-publicised queues in Paris for customs help from Railfuture’s Fighting Fund, such it is worth remembering that there are signs green space. We also suggested that the with the main line at Bodmin Parkway. checks. as Scotland’s StARLink campaign. that the cycle may be made more flexible. 22 railwatch July 2019 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture rail users conference at Bristol Parkway 21 September 2019 railwatch July 2019 23 Picture: DAVID HARBY HARBY Picture: DAVID

LINK TO SHEFFIELD: Gainsborough residents welcome Northern’s first weekday train at the start of the summer timetable After 26 years, the railway is back! By David Harby and is expected to boost the for improvements. However, Lincolnshire Community Rail [email protected] economy of the town, allowing Northern’s introduction of a new Partnership and especially its The town crier of Gainsborough, people to get to jobs, schools hourly all-stations Sheffield- chairman, Barry Coward. Lincolnshire, along with many and colleges while allowing Retford service enabled the of its residents, turned out to The result was a partnership visitors to sample the shops in Lincoln-Sheffield-Leeds service between the CRP, West Lindsey welcome a humble two-car Gainsborough. to be speeded up by removing Pacer train in May. District Council, Lincolnshire The big advantage at stops at less-used stations. County Council and train It was a momentous occasion – Gainsborough is that Marshall’s Campaigners noticed that the operator Northern. the first weekday train to serve Yard shopping centre is layover time at Retford was Now the partners will need to Gainsborough Central station immediately adjacent to Central sufficient for the service to be market the service, build up for 26 years. station. At the same time, extended to Gainsborough passenger numbers and be ready For all that time, residents have Gainsborough residents will be Central and that this had some with a good business case for an had to make do with three able to get to Sheffield’s giant operational advantages. So the extension beyond Gainsborough Saturday-only trains between Meadowhall shopping centre. campaign for the extension when the current franchise ends. Sheffield and Cleethorpes. Trains depart Gainsborough started in earnest. The new Lincoln-Sheffield-Leeds Monday-Friday trains were not Central hourly, calling at all Campaigners including service is now a genuine inter- for them. With the start of the stations between Retford and Railfuture came together to urban service. Journey times summer timetable and after a Sheffield. convince Northern that the have improved by around nine long battle by rail campaigners, This is a tremendous leap extension was possible and minutes, with more potential there are now 13 trains every forward for Gainsborough, would have financial benefits. journey time reductions to come day, from Monday to Saturday. yet for years the prospect of Key to this was extensive when new class 195 trains arrive The new weekday service links major change had seemed lobbying and drawing and some timetable issues have Gainsborough to Sheffield, remote, despite campaigners together of support by the been resolved. via Retford and Worksop, using every opportunity to ask North Nottinghamshire and This success demonstrates an important lesson for campaigners. Be flexible, look Every passenger matters to Railfuture for opportunities you might not Railfuture’s Annual National Conference is include Mark Hopwood, Great Western Railway expect to arise and if they do launched in September, replacing our previously managing director, Lorna Brown-Owens who is arise, be ready to exploit them. organised summer and autumn conferences. Network Rail’s access and inclusion manager, One of those moments came in In future, we will be holding one larger CrossCountry Trains communications manager 2014 when it was announced conference each year in an accessible location Richard Gibson, Mark Cleland of the British that the town’s 20,000 covering national, rather than local, issues. Transport Police and Jon Harris, the integrated population would double in 20 transport and accessibility manager for West years. Entitled Every Passenger Matters, the conference will concentrate on inclusion and accessibility Midlands Trains. ISSN 0267-5943 for passengers using the rail network. There will be a workshop session during the day 60 It will take place on Saturday 21 September and lunch and refreshments will be provided. 2019 from 10.00 to 16.30 at St Michael’s Centre, Online bookings can be made by visiting www. North Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8P. railfuture.org.uk/conferences using your credit/ The venue is a few minutes’ walk from Bristol debit card or PayPal account using PayPal’s Parkway station. CrossCountry Trains have payment service. Book before 31 July 2019 for £20 very kindly sponsored the venue. Speakers will per person, thereafter £25. 9 770267 594000