The RAGES Rag JANUARY 2015, Issue 63

The newsletter of the Rail Action Group, East of Scotland, bringing members up-to-date with progress on improvements to local rail services.

RESTON AND EAST LINTON STATIONS UPDATE

be en issued by Trans port Station Plans on Track a real commitme nt from the Scotland:- Scottish Government and ScotRail. “New train stations for East Linton Scotland's railways are a driver for In November, in a letter to our and Reston are a step closer after can bring jobs, investment and new chairman, Keith Brown MSP, services for the stops were written into study and social opportunities for Minster for Transport, said that he the next ScotRail franchise [let to communities. Our Scottish Stations had "agreed in the ScotRail Abellio]. A two-hourly service between these services and Fund is now franchise contract to provide a Edinburgh and Berwick with timing for awaiting further details from the two-hourly service between stops at East Linton and Reston is part South East Scotland Regional Edinburgh and Berwick-upon of the new planned timetable, which Transport Partnership (SEStran) Tweed that will call at Reston and could see trains running through both and East Lothian and Scottish East Linton, recognising the stations as soon as December 2016 .” potential benefits that these Borders Mr Brown said: "This is a huge step stations could bring." (continued on p2) forward towards the realisation of

The following press release has economic regeneration and shows

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Reston & East Linton Station Updates 2. New ScotRail Franchise 3. New ECML Franchise 4. Scottish Parliament Debate 5. RailFuture Update 6. Resume of RAGES 15 th Year – September 2013 to September 2014

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hosted by East Lothian Council in jeopardise it. An interesting point (continued from p1 ) Haddington and chaired by Cllr raised during the meeting is the Michael Veitch at the end of possibility of the service starting Councils for the funding November, this excellent news was then whilst the two stations were application which will bring the discussed in more detail. As the still to be completed. new stations at East Linton and announcement had noted, the Also raised during the meeting was Reston to life” granting of monies from the the desired length of platforms. RAGES Chairman Tom Thorburn Station Investment Fund for the Whilst each station would be of a also welcomed the news. He said: two stations is dependent on minimal design to reduce costs, "This is terrific news for our area further work from the future proofing of the platforms and will be of huge benefit to a two councils and SEStran. This was essential, particularly with the whole range of people and involves the two councils funding a possibility that the North Berwick businesses, namely those wishing detailed design specification, as service may be enhanced from the to access jobs in Edinburgh, required in the Network Rail current 4-car sets to two coupled 3- students being able to commute for Governance for Railway car sets. their tertiary education at QMU, Investment Projects (GRIP) process, It is known that Abellio have Edinburgh etc., the ability to take of the two stations to be proposed a running timetable for in the theatre and sporting undertaken by Network Rail, the the new service and the meeting fixtures, and tourist access to our cost of which is both unexpected wished to see sight of this. The areas from other parts of the and considerable. Initial Minister's announcement declared country. It must be noted that we indications suggest that a two hour service, but gave no could not have achieved this great confirmation of any award of details of early morning or later win for our area without the help central funding will not be evening times nor if all the existing and support of our members, MSPs, provided until the cost of the stations would be included as stops Councillors, SEStran and East station development work is as recommended in the MVA Lothian and Scottish Borders known. studies. Councils. Given the level of investment The councils noted that work had The RAGES Committee are involved in the design process, the started on assessing the required extremely grateful to Transport Councils are seeking reassurance infrastructure works outwith the Minister Keith Brown and and commitment from the Scottish two stations. Government that funding will be Transport Scotland for agreeing to At a full council meeting in available, and are also seeking this new local rail service, with re- Haddington on 18th December, clarity around the timing of any opened stations at Reston and East East Lothian Councillors discussed confirmation of funding Linton a major step closer." the station. They agreed to seek particularly if the timescales which The station plans which were council support and agreement to have been set out are to be included in the first of the two fund the development costs achievable. council's joint reports into a local necessary to fully design the new rail service from Edinburgh to In addition, the two councils are station for further consideration, in concerned about this additional Berwick published in May 2004 are line with the GRIP process. design cost and wish to receive shown on P3. These both show Scottish Borders Council has from the Minister reassurance that that the stations will not be in the confirmed that it has an allocation the promised funding will still be same location as before. within the proposed Capital Plan available at the end of the process. which will contribute to the design Whilst the Minister's announced process for the new station facility Local Rail Meeting target date of December 2016 is at Reston. unchanged, this addition Network

At the r egular local rail meeting Rail specific ation work may (continued on p3) Page 2 of 8

(continued from p2 )

East Linton Station – Proposed Location Reston Station – Proposed Location

New ScotRail Franchise Confirmed

worth up to £6 billion, are measures the priced option part of the bid for Abellio ScotRail to make train travel more attractive this local service and that along across the board. with the Councils' excellent bid for It was announced in October that - There will be a break clause for the funding from the Scottish the ScotRail franchise has been franchise after 5 years. Government's Station Investment awarded to Abellio who are owned For passengers - Fund and the several studies done by Netherland Railways and • free wifi on all trains over the past few years, the already have three UK rail • new approach to cycling with Minister for Transport will be franchises: Northern Rail; more than 3,500 parking spaces and persuaded to approve this project. Merseyrail; and Greater Anglia. bike-hire at a number of stations.

There is a six-month take-over • 23% more carriages across the Summary of What to Expect from familiarisation period with the network, the New Franchise new franchise starting on 1 April • reduced fares for jobseekers ,

2015. • high-speed intercity diesel trains , - Overall new trains, revamped Having had good relationships with over a third more seats, stations and a huge range of other with First Group, RAGES now looks • advance fares of £5 between any benefits will overhaul the ScotRail forward to engaging with Abellio two Scottish cities , franchise. to further our aims for East • Great Scenic Railway scheme - Abellio will invest millions in Lothian and Berwickshire. bringing more tourists to the north, providing an improved service and Most of all is the local service the south west and the Borders, superior facilities for passengers between Edinburgh and Berwick • major shopping developments at and a better deal for staff. with re-opened stations at East the stations at Aberdeen and - Included in the new franchise, Linton and Reston. It is hoped Inverness . Page 3 of 8 (continued on P4)

(continued from P3) For staff – New ECML Franchise Announced • a commitment to earnings of at least the living wage for all staff and subcontractors, New East Coast Main Line Leeds reduced by 14 minutes, and from London to Edinburgh by 13 • at least 100 apprenticeships, Franchise Awarded to • guarantee of no compulsory minute s redundancies throughout the life of InterCity Railways • a £140 million investment the contract, package to improve trains and stations. • rail staff pensions and travel Inter City Railways , a consortium The full press release from the DfT rights protected, of Stagecoach and Virgin , is the can be seen at • introduction of guaranteed trade successful bidder with the let being https://www.gov.uk/government/ne union representation on every for eight years from 1st March 2015. ws/more-seats-more-services-and- franchise Board meeting. Rail journeys between London and new-trains-for-east-coast-passengers In addition, trains will have more Edinburgh will be transformed by The interactive map in the above site space for prams and wheelchairs more seats, more services and new shows what improvements that will and there will be rigorous new trains after the government be seen during the franchise for each service quality control measures announced its intention to award individual station. ensuring cleaner trains and the new East Coast franchise to Inter For Edinburgh , the benefits are: improved right-time measures. City Railways, a consortium of • 4 additional trains to and from There will be later services for Stagecoach and Virgin, today (27 London from May 2016 concerts and events and improved November 2014). • from introducing open plan integration with bus, ferry and air The new deal will include a host of ticketing making staff more visible timetables, alongside a £520,000 extra benefits for passengers: at stations from 2018 Station Travel Planning ‘Plus’ • 23 new services from London to • regular journey times of 4 hours programme and a Journey key destinations , with 75 more from 2020 Companion app with door-to-door station calls a day • upgraded train interiors travel info, to ensure passengers • plans for new direct links to introduced between 2015 and 2017 can get straight from A-B. Huddersfield, Sunderland, • a station now served by new high Every single Scottish station will Middlesbrough, Dewsbury and speed IEP trains from 2020 have CCTV and passengers will Thornaby providing: enjoy improved waiting facilities at • proposals for more trains to more reliable services 40 stations, extra retail facilities at London from Bradford, more seats up to 50 stations, and hundreds of Edinburgh, Harrogate, Leeds, more luggage space new car parking spaces. Lincoln, Newcastle, Shipley, faster journey times In the Transport Scotland press Stirling, and York improved wi-fi and mobile release, Mr Keith Brown, the then • 3,100 extra seats for the morning Photo: Barrie Forrest coverage Minister for Transport, concluded: peak time by 2020 Dunbar will see the following "These exciting plans mean that our • across the entire train fleet benefits: railways will continue to be innovative, there will be 12,200 additional • upgraded train interiors passenger-led and a hugely important seats – a 50% increase introduced between 2015 and 2017 driver in Scotland’s long-term success • 65 state of the art Intercity • a station now served by new high and sustainability. This is a contract Express trains brought into speed IEP trains from 2020 that will benefit the whole of Scotland ." passenger service from 2018, providing: totalling 500 new carriages • journey times from London to (continued on P5) Page 4 of 8

(continued from P4) since at least the time of the Eureka privileged to be given the more reliable services timetable of 2010. opportunity to lead this major new more seats Although the transfer of the franchise. I’ve travelled on East more luggage space administration of the Dunbar Coast on many occasions over the faster journey times station from East Coast to ScotRail years and have seen first-hand the improved wi-fi and mobile was a requirement of the franchise level of pride the team have and coverage bid, the press release did not the focus on delivering a great Whilst Berwick-upon-Tweed mention this. service for customers. benefits from: The head of the new company “Over 20 million journeys are made • introducing open plan ticketing which will take over responsibility every year on this franchise which making staff more visible at stations for running rail services on the East connects some of the UK’s most from 2018 Coast mainline next year has been important cities and it plays a key • additional cycle parking spaces announced by Stagecoach and role in the local communities it from July 2017 Virgin. serves. There are some really • upgraded train interiors David Horne, who was Managing innovative plans for the future introduced between 2015 and 2017 Director of Stagecoach-owned East which will see investment in our • a station now served by new high Midlands Trains, has been people, in delivering more for our speed IEP trains from 2020 appointed to play a leading part in customers and will provide better providing: the mobilisation and transition support for our local communities. more reliable services arrangements for the new InterCity “I’m really excited about the future more seats East Coast franchise 2015. for Virgin Trains East Coast and I’m more luggage space Speaking on his appointment, looking forward to meeting the faster journey times David Horne said: “I feel very team and getting started on the improved wi-fi and mobile next phase of the journey.” coverage. Invitations to tender (ITT) had been Scottish Parliament Debate issued to three bidders in early April 2014: East Coast Trains Ltd (FirstGroup plc); Keolis/Eurostar East Coast Limited (Keolis (UK) Limited and Eurostar International Limited); and Inter City Railways Limited (Stagecoach Transport Holdings Limited and Virgin Holdings Limited). At the regular local rail meeting hosted by East Lothian Council in Haddington and chaired by Cllr Michael Veitch at the end of November, the meeting noted that the new East Coast Main Line franchise had been let and that the Department for Transport's press release said there were to be four extra trains between Edinburgh and London, but no word of extra stops at Dunbar as RAGES has requested Page 5 of 8

recommends that this local service courteous people one could ever do with the reopened stations should be Parliamentary Debate business with, but their group’s taken forward to the next stage; acronym is not for no reason. On 27th November there was a praises what it considers the tireless For years they have raged against the members’ business debate, in the work of the local campaigners, Barrie argument that it is not possible to name of Jim Hume, on being one Forrest and Tom Thorburn, and all reinstate services to their step closer to trains at Reston and their volunteer colleagues from the communities, they have raged East Linton. Jim Hume is one of Rail Action Group East of Scotland against the argument that there are the four MSPs who have supplied (RAGES ), in driving forward this rail not enough train movements to cross-party support for our aims. transport vision for south-east enable services to be reinstated and The motion debated was: That the Scotland, and notes the collaborative they have raged against the Parliament welcomes the Scottish funding bid to the Scottish Stations argument that significantly Government’s agreement in the Fund by Scottish Borders Council, underestimated potential passenger ScotRail franchise contract to East Lothian Council and the South numbers on reinstated services. provide a two-hourly service East Scotland Regional Transport They have won every one of those between Edinburgh and Berwick- Partnership. arguments. upon-Tweed that will call at At the end of his seven minutes, Jim and: "My message to the new Reston and East Linton stations; Hume said: "It is not an minister is this: make no mistake, further welcomes the Scottish overstatement to say that today’s RAGES will stay on the case and will Government’s commitment to debate marks a seminal moment for not rest — and nor will we — until having the service operational by rail travel in the south of Scotland. the victory is complete and literally December 2016; notes what it As work continues apace on the on track." considers the socioeconomic Waverley line, the east is now In finalising his reply, the [new] benefits that this will tantalisingly within touching Minister for Transport and Islands, undoubtedly bring to the Scottish distance of train services at Reston Derek Mackay, said: "The final Borders and East Lothian, a view and East Linton. element that is still to be put in place that was echoed in the 2011 "I pay tribute to RAGES members for is the capital funding for the stations. report that was commissioned by leading on this important local issue. We recognise the importance of Network Rail, The Value of They have been an impressive infrastructure to sustaining our Station Investment, which machine behind the campaign. They economy, providing access to suggested that stations can have a have kept up the momentum year opportunities and bringing our significant impact on the towns after year, and I am sure that MSPs communities closer together. and cities that they serve by from across the chamber will agree The investments that we have acting as regional gateways, that it is they who deserve the credit delivered or are in the midst of attracting businesses and helping for bringing rail services back to constructing and those for which we to stimulate economic growth; Reston and East Linton." have detailed plans confirm our further notes that the Scottish Following on, the following MSPs commitment to improving Scotland’s Government’s document, Rail spoke in support: infrastructure. That commitment is 2014 – Public Consultation, states . Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP) backed by our £30 million Scottish that “new stations assist with a . Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) stations fund, which was announced number of strategic aims such as . Alex Johnstone (North East in June 2012 as part of Scottish stimulating sustainable economic Scotland) (Con) ministers’ high-level output growth or encouraging modal . Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) specification. The fund is designed shift”; recognises the joint In particular, Iain Gray commented: to lever in third-party funding to feasibility study launched in "They [the stalwarts of RAGES ] are provide new and improved stations, December 2013, which some of the politest and most (continued on P7) Page 6 of 8

(continued from P6) and it gives East Lothian Council and Railfuture Update Scottish Borders Council the opportunity to achieve additional Hope for Haddington Rail? . open 23 short feeder lines, e.g. funding for the stations just as it was designed to do. Edinburgh South Suburban In November, Railfuture Scotland "The bid is current under . build five new lines, e.g. St Andrews advised in a press release which consideration and a decision will be and revealed their top 50 proposals for made once Network Rail has . re-lay eleven former lines, e.g. new stations on the existing rail completed the scope and design Haddington branch network. They were calling on the work for each of those stations. I Government to: Longer term proposals include a look forward to seeing that further 44 stations on the existing . double its proposed rate of progressed as soon as possible." network plus a series of major line electrification Some of the RAGES members were re-openings. present in the public gallery and the . accelerate the capacity at, among Allison Cosgrove, the RAGES photograph shows them outside the others, the Portobello junction secretary, is chair of Railfuture Parliament after the debate. Scotland. RESUME OF RAGES 15 TH YEAR - SEPT 2013 TO SEPT 2014 Our long awaited STAG2 into the area. It is to be hoped that when the professionally written and surely it Local Service between Edinburgh successful bidder is announced cannot fail to impress The Minister and Berwick, with re-opened shortly, they will come up trumps and Transport Scotland. The ‘Group’ Stations at East Linton and Reston with our requirements. The East are also very appreciative of the by transport consultants MVA was Coast Franchise renewal on the significant proportion of the two released in December. This report other hand, saw us meet with only new Station capital costs be put up was officially launched at the one of the three bidders, namely by the Councils. The establishment Scottish Parliament and most First Group under the banner of of the East Lothian Community Rail importantly, showed a positive ‘East Coast Trains Ltd’. This meeting Partnership more recently has been case to achieve our Aims. The was very productive. Sadly the other welcomed by the ‘Group’. This CRP committee were pleasantly two bidders Keolis/Eurostar East will aid independently the growth of surprised when the ScotRail Coast Ltd and Inter City Railways visitors and ultimately passenger Franchise Draft Invitation to Ltd , did not respond to our requests numbers by Rail to our Stations in Tender document was published to meet with them. It was East Lothian. Dialogue continues with a ‘priced option’ to cover the particularly pleasing when we between ourselves and the Train ‘Local Service and re-opened attended the Scottish Parliament Operating Companies that serve our Stations’ within it. Both of the Cross Party Group on Rail meeting to area as and when the need arises to above were much appreciated for be informed by Transport Minister, iron out or discuss problems. all our efforts in bringing these to Keith Brown MSP that of the £30m Meetings continue with SEStran and fruition. With the ScotRail Stations Fund, the bid for East again these have been hosted by Franchise up for renewal, we met Linton and Reston Stations funding, Councillor Veitch at East Lothian with all five of the bidders namely: submitted by East Lothian and Council. Attendances at these - Abellio; Arriva; First Group; Scottish Borders Councils and meetings by ourselves and the MTR and National Express . These SESTran was the only bid to be politicians you will agree have were very useful meetings for us, lodged. It has to be said that the proved to be very worthwhile given and more importantly to inform above Bid Document has been very the fantastic achievements above. the bidders of our needs in this

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RAGES works to

• Improve the rail service between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed. • Have East Linton and Reston stations re-opened for active use. • Improve the level of service to North Berwick. • Consider the implications with regard to car parking and bicycle storage at stations between Waverley and Berwick-upon-Tweed. • Keep under scrutiny the standards of passenger facilities at stations between Waverley and Berwick upon Tweed, including North Berwick, and to draw the attention of the relevant bodies to shortcomings which arise. • Re-open the branch line from Longniddry to Haddington. • The group, being environmentally minded, will actively strive to encourage rail travel within its geographical area. RAGES needs your support RAGES (Rail Action Group, East of Scotland) is the rail users campaign group for the area between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed, including the North Berwick service. Our aim is to persuade the Government, both at national and local level, train operators and Network Rail to improve the level of service to stations in our area and to seriously consider re-opening key stations such as East Linton, Reston and Haddington. Please join us to lend your support. Membership will give you a say in how we influence the rail companies to improve local train services. Additionally you will get up-to-date information on significant changes in rail matters, and a regular newsletter. The annual subscription is £4 for individual membership or £10 for corporate membership, such as community councils and organisations, and is renewable on 1 st April each year. Please send your completed form with your remittance (made payable to Rail Action Group, East of Scotland) to: Mr R J Darling Membership Secretary (RAGES) 5 Somnerfield Crescent Haddington EH41 3RW I enclose my first RAGES membership fee of £4 / £10*. (* Delete as applicable)

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