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Rail Issues Update

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Rail Issues Update Briefing Paper to the Energy and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Commission 4th March 2014 Rail Issues Update Briefing Paper of the City Regeneration and Policy Manager 1. Purpose of the Briefing Note This report is an interim position statement on rail issues following the rail themed meeting of this commission with rail industry representatives in June 2013. Rail industry representatives have been invited to attend this commission to answer questions and give further updates. 2. Rail Issues for Consideration 2.1. Electrification 2.1.1. First Hull Trains (FHT) have submitted a proposal to the Government in which they would raise the funding to deliver electrification of the route between the East Coast Main Line (North of Doncaster) through to Hull via Selby. This could potentially bring electrification forward to 2016/17 (The Government currently does not plan to electrify this section until some unspecified time after 2019). FHT‟s proposal appears to depend on the Government releasing the funding to „buy-back‟ the completed electric infrastructure. Exactly how much (and when) the Government agree to pay is critical to FHT‟s fund raising and to any request for public funding support. FHT have requested a grant from the LEP (Local Growth fund) and a loan (Public Works Loan Board) from the LEP / Council towards the total scheme cost which is believed to be around £94m 2.1.2. The Council, business leaders and MP‟s have been lobbying ministers for early scheme funding and they have agreed to meet a delegation from the City and the East Riding on the 25th February (verbal update to be given). Meanwhile on the 13th December the Secretary of State for Transport announced the setting up of a joint task force to explore “where electrification should next be delivered in the north of England”. This group is to provide Government with recommendations in 12 months time. It is hoped that the work of this group will in no way delay or prejudice a decision of FHT‟s proposal for private funded delivery but this has not yet been confirmed. Representations have been made to try to get a seat on the task force to represent the interests of Hull and East Riding. 2.2. Rail Franchise Renewals 2.2.1. The current Department for Transport (DfT) proposed start dates for new franchises affecting this area are: East Coast - April 2015 Northern - April 2016 Trans-Pennine - April 2016 The short list of bidders has been announced for the East Coast Franchise they are: East Coast Trains (First Group) Keolis / Eurostar Inter City Railways (Stagecoach / Virgin) 2.2.2. First Hull Trains which is an „Open Access Operator‟ (not part of a franchise) needs to renew its „Track Access Agreement‟ in 2016. It is anticipated that if successful, their electrification proposal will help to cement a more favourable (longer term) agreement which will in turn allow FHT to order new more reliable electric rolling stock. 2.3. High Speed Rail (HS2) 2.3.1. The Government has deposited a hybrid bill with Parliament for phase One (London to Birmingham) and has recently consulted on routes north of Birmingham (Phase 2). The routes currently proposed will be of little direct use to passengers travelling from Hull with the nearest access points likely to be at Meadow Hall (Sheffield), Leeds or York. These could give time savings for trips to Birmingham (low demand from Hull) but are not likely to be as quick or convenient as the existing direct services to London from the City. Once completed (2032) HS2 will potentially relieve the pressure on the existing East Coast Main Line releasing spare paths for additional services between this area and the Capital. The response from this region has repeatedly been that our priority must be to improve the East / West Trans- Pennine link (early electrification) so that we will be better placed to access HS2 and to take advantage of the spare capacity released on the ECML. Letters to this effect have already been sent from the City Leadership Board and the Humber Local Authorities / LEP. 2.4. Rail Devolution 2.4.1. The proposal put forward, led by the Northern PTE‟s (Manchester, West and South Yorkshire) under the name “Rail North” to take over the running of a new joint Northern and Trans-Pennine Franchise from the DfT has not been fully accepted by the Government. A more gradual partnership approach to devolution is currently being followed whereby the DfT and Rail North will jointly develop the new franchises which will be let separately by the DfT with the possibility of a „take-over‟ by Rail North at a later date after 2016. This more cautious approach has been generally welcomed by non PTE Local Authorities as the likely level of influence and representation within a new „Rail North‟ administration has always been a subject of concern. One area of particular interest is the Government‟s suggestion that there may now be some scope for „re-mapping‟ the franchises. This could give the opportunity to switch Hull / Sheffield and Hull / York services from the current Northern “commuter type” services to higher quality, faster Trans- Pennine “express type” services. 2.5. Rail Freight 2.5.1. As part of a £100m investment in Biomass handling in the Humber Ports the Spencer Group has built a major new loading silo in East Hull to load wood pellets onto rail for transport to Drax Power Station. It is anticipated that biomass transport will in future increase as coal volumes are likely to decrease. It is anticipated that any minor track infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate full size „deep sea‟ shipping containers (to provide W10 / 12 clearance) will be carried out at the same time and within the proposed electrification project budget. 2.6. Rail Infrastructure 2.6.1. The Goole to Doncaster line re-opened in July 2013 after being closed for 5 months due to a land slip at Hatfield colliery. Works which were due to take place on the Selby Swing Bridge at the same time were postponed due to pressure from Local Authorities and MP‟s. These delayed works are now due to take place with the Hull to Selby line being closed between 26th July and 7th September 2014 (Discussions with operators about alternative arrangements are underway). Works to strengthen the embankment along the Humber west of the Humber Bridge are ongoing and a number of bridge strengthening‟s and replacements have taken place over the last year including Spring Bank West which was completed over the Christmas period after being delayed significantly. 2.7. Flood Risk 2.7.1. During the recent „tidal surge‟ flooding of the 5th December 2013 there was some minor flooding of the rail route west of the City (mostly around Hessle). Network Rail closed the line as a precaution but following an inspection on the 6th the line was found to be undamaged and was re-opened. This closure left many people seriously inconvenienced and many complaints have been aired about the inadequacy of alternative arrangements (buses) provided by the operators for travel between Hull and Selby / Goole. The route between Hull and Scarborough was kept running with some timetable disruption. 2.8. Paragon Interchange 2.8.1. Progress on the development of a cycle hub at Paragon Interchange was reported to this commission in December 2013. Progress on delivery of a new information desk on the concourse was also reported separately at this commission in January 2014. Mark Jones City Regeneration and Policy Manager Contact Officer: Mike Ibbotson Telephone No. 616336 Background Documents: None 14th February 2014 .
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