The RAGES Rag JANUARY 2015, Issue 63
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The RAGES Rag JANUARY 2015, Issue 63 (left: Class 380 on North Berwick line) The newsletter of the Rail Action Group, East of Scotland, bringing members up-to-date with progress on improvements to local rail services. Follow us on Twitter @RailActionGrpES www.facebook.com/RailActionGroup 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 Page 1 of 8 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.