Published by RAILFUTURE – campaigning for a bigger, better railway No 163 £3 April 2020

To Preston & To Blackburn To Calder Valley, Bradford &

Rochdale Bolton Salford Salford To Southport Victoria Stalybridge & Kirkby Crescent Central To Hudders eld

Graphic: ELLIE KING Wigan WINDSOR & Leeds To Liverpool LINK ORDSALL Eccles CHORD TRAFFORD Manchester PARK Piccadilly To Widnes CASTLEFIELD CORRIDOR Had eld & Liverpool Warrington Deansgate Oxford Road HS2

Stockport To Hope Valley & Sheeld To Chester & North Wales Manchester Airport To Stoke, Crewe & London To Crewe & London To Crewe & London To Crewe

Pinchpoint in Manchester

Our picture shows platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly as the sun sets on a cold, January day. Platform 14 is one of only two through platforms at Piccadilly and is part of the Castlefield Corridor (shown in the map above). About 40,000 passengers use the two platforms each day and there is now a team of 12 staff to manage the crowds on just those two platforms. But the trains are congested too. The key to unlocking congestion in Manchester and throughout the North of England is the Castlefield Corridor. See pages 2, 3 and 5 PINCHPOINT RAILFUTURE CAMPAIGNER Railwatch contents is an unfinished job 2 Chris Page OF THE YEAR 2020 Parts of the Northern Hub rail 3 Unfinished Northern Hub project have been built, but MANCHESTER we are still waiting for several 4 East Anglia, PAGE one picture Further to the inaugural We will require a infrastructure interventions, award at the AGM written statement of 5 Manchester’s way forward dependent on Government Rail passengers wait for their in Cardiff 2019 and no more than 500 decisions, to complete the trains on platforms 13 and 14 in recognition of words identifying task. The much-publicised

6-7 Unloved CrossCountry ABELL Picture: PAUL as dusk falls at Manchester the dedication and how the nominee problems of train operator Piccadilly. These platforms are achievements of has contributed to 8-9 Your views Northern were inextricably at the heart of the congestion Railfuture volunteers, Railfuture’s mission linked to the failure to problems for much of northern we will be presenting to be the number one 10 Severnside and Wessex complete the Northern Hub. England because long-distance STEPHEN WARING examines the award for advocate for rail users 11 Accessible trains and buses and local services rely on the Campaigner of the and the rail industry how this lengthy saga rolled two-track Castlefield Corridor. Year at the AGM and how they have out – while passengers stood 12 42 Steps are a barrier on platforms throughout the started to deal with in on enhanced Railfuture’s North waiting patiently for real the problem by opening the Saturday 27 June 2020. campaigning for a 13 Travelling with a guide dog improvements. Windsor Link in 1988. The Ordsall bigger, better railway. The award will be 14 Thames Valley, North East Chord followed in 2017. presented after the n Nominations may be Both projects allowed more formal business is made by any Railfuture 15 Rail freight campaign On a December Sunday in 2017, trains to run through the city, concluded and will member Arriva-owned Northern ran be followed by lunch the first trains over the newly rather than stopping in terminal n The nominee must be 16 Wales and North West and an opportunity to installed Ordsall Chord, which platforms. Trains go through to a member of Railfuture Manchester Airport, Liverpool, . 17 Scotland allowed some Leeds-Calder n All Railfuture North Wales, Wigan, Southport, So, do you know Valley-Manchester trains to be members are eligible to 18 Railway Haters Bolton, Blackpool, the Lakes, the someone who has extended to Oxford Road station. north-east England and Scotland. contributed to the be nominated Close to the university, Oxford n Midland Cinderella TIGHT SPOT: Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station with a TransPennine Express train from but progress has stalled. success of Railfuture You may nominate Road is a good drop-off for Manchester Airport to Edinburgh. Platforms 1-12 are in the terminus part of the station. Platforms Manchester’s share of HS2 will or someone who has yourself 19 Ron Cotton farewell workplaces and education, 13 and 14 carry all the through trains, including these TPE trains from Manchester Airport to not now arrive until at least 2035, raised the profile of n The deadline for as well as for attractions and Scotland, as well as local services. Plans for new platforms 15 and 16 (which would have been after originally being scheduled Railfuture on key nominations to be 20 Peak District reopening onward connections. built to the left of the line shown in our picture) have been on hold since 2016 issues? for 2032. There is talk of an HS2/ received is 30 April 21 West Midlands, Yorkshire We were told in the autumn Northern Powerhouse tunnel Perhaps they work 2020 of 2019 that Northern was and Works Act enquiry was 13 trains an hour are the most They also agree that Transport from the airport to Piccadilly. behind the scenes, For further details or Devon and Cornwall no longer allowed to fulfil its franchise commitment complete, and the project was that can be run with the present Secretary Grant Shapps was With or without HS2, the helping their local to submit a nomination to continue ths service. By ready to go. For some reason, infrastructure. Almost certainly correct to replace Arriva with problems of the Castlefield branch? please email 22 London and South East contrast, TransPennine Express the Department for Transport that means timetable cuts are state ownership. Corridor remain. Read pages 3 Membership Director, Whoever they are, if is permitted to run twice-hourly refused to publish the TWA likely in the short term in an and 5 to find out why the grand 23 Christian Wolmar But the external problems remain you think they deserve Wendy Thorne: round Ordsall from North East report, and the plans to solve effort to improve reliability. plan started by British Rail was to be resolved – and not just recognition we would wendy.thorne@ 24 Revolutionary times England to the airport. the congestion problems have not completed. In January, Transport for the in Manchester. A single new like to hear about them. railfuture.org.uk been “pending” for the past four North’s board requested the How can this be fair to the many years. platform at Leeds is going to take passengers from the Calder Secretary of State to agree the another year to complete. The extra platforms are needed TWA order and start detailed Valley who want to travel The time for “assessing options” Chair’s column: A flood of decisions at last – and more to come through to Oxford Road? because so many trains now pass planning on Piccadilly and through. Oxford Road. is surely done. Capacity and There have been plenty of Government assesses franchise Colne and Matlock-Buxton. Instead of promised new electrification projects essential opportunities for Railfuture to bids means that bidders win Funding for Hoo, Levenmouth services, since the botched With frequent trains, there is TfN also backed other options for green growth must go ahead. exercise influence lately, with if they quote a low price and and has already May 2018 timetable, we suffer insufficient time for the trains around Manchester including Dare we hope for a positive to stop to allow passengers on Government decisions on rail assume that everything will go been announced. continuing train delays and junction improvements (such announcement by the time this and off, before another train is as possible coming thick and fast. according to plan. When it does HS2 is an essential part of cancellations. Frustrated Railwatch is published? queueing up to come into the at Ordsall Lane), development We, especially our media rep not, it is the passenger who doubling rail capacity in Britain so passengers are finding other platform. of “three quick wins”, and The Government should require Bruce Williamson, have been suffers. Railfuture welcomed the that more people can travel by rail ways to travel. assessment of options for freight train and track operators to busy with radio, TV and press Government announcement of rather than road or air, reducing The North West electrification The timetable is inevitably funding for “Reversing Beeching”, disrupted because minor to avoid Castlefield. work as one, distribute resources appearances about those carbon emissions. scheme was announced in 2009. equitably, cooperate with but £500 million will be enough delays can cause widespread Meanwhile, train operators decisions. There will probably be a slow One year later, the Manchester to reopen only about 25 miles of chaos – and it seems unlikely continue to struggle with regional bodies such as Transport The media have sought us out start while contractor costs are Hub Study of February 2010 railway at today’s typical Network that solutions such as digital delays to services caused by the for the North and restore broken because we give an honest, reviewed, but any descoping begat the Northern Hub which Rail costings. signalling can possibly prove a congested infrastructure. Delays promises. realistic but challenging point of must not reduce HS2’s ability to became the “Great North Rail magical solution. to TPE trains have a knock-on Top priority must be a timetable view. We aim to get our policy The Government funding should release capacity on existing main Project”. be used in part as seed capital to The aim is to run at least effect on Northern’s ability to that works. position out quickly through line routes. The Ordsall Chord, which helped our website, and have received prove the viability of potential 15 trains an hour along the run trains on time. References: While the green light for HS2 is to join up Manchester’s divided Castlefield Corridor, between feedback from the media that schemes and draw in more Northern, along with the rest of TfN Board Meeting, 8 funding from elsewhere, so that great news, it will do nothing Railfuture chair Chris Page network, was given Treasury Piccadilly and Deansgate, the articles and press releases the railway, lacked back-up plans January 2020, item 5 https:// a pipeline of projects can be for passengers now, so we also approval in 2011-12, with including the still-to-be- there are easy to read, in terms carbon future. Railfuture’s 2030 to deal with late delivery of transportforthenorth.com/ established. call on the Government and massive support from regional delivered Calder Valley service. that the public can understand. rail companies to sort out the Manifesto (see Railfuture website) leaders. electrification projects, which led wp-content/uploads/Item-5- I encourage members to check To use the Government funding sets out the 10 key topics which The situation is exacerbated by to the May 2018 chaos, followed problems which are causing Theoretically it heralded Central-Manchester-Report.pdf our website to find the public efficiently, a streamlined approval poor reliability and customer must be addressed to achieve passenger trains having to wait by the late delivery of new statements made by Railfuture. and implementation process this. marvellous new connectivity while one freight train an hour rolling stock. Castlefield Congested satisfaction. This does not throughout the Northern Infrastructure Report, is required, not constrained by lumbers through on its way to or When new trains did start The railways must focus on necessarily mean spending There is another big decision still network. September 2019 https:// current procedures. from . running on the Calder Valley performance. The Northern lots of money, just getting to come from the Government, cdn.networkrail.co.uk/ But Ordsall was less than half route in October, months of franchise made the headlines, but In the short term it is existing timetabling, rostering, staff terms the outcome of the Williams Network Rail carried out an wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ several other operators are also freight lines such as Ashington, review. Railfuture will be looking the Hub. By 2014, Network investigation into how the delays and cancellations were and conditions, customer service, Castlefield-Corridor-congested- suffering performance problems, Blyth and Tyne, Wisbech, ticketing and the introduction of for more devolution and for Rail’s plan for two additional desired timetable could be blamed on staff shortages infrastructure-report.pdf often for reasons outside their and Cowley which should be new and cascaded trains right. In franchises or concessions to be through platforms at Manchester reliably accommodated. Its and “depot problems”. Many n control which can be traced reopened to passengers. Our addition to HS2, the Government awarded on the basis of past Piccadilly and an enlarged Congested Infrastructure Report passengers and campaigners Stephen Waring is chair of back to past poor government longer term recommendations must invest in our existing performance, not just on the Oxford Road station was seen as was published in September agree that Northern ran out, not HADRAG, the Halifax & District decision making. The way that the include Skelmersdale, Skipton- railways to achieve a zero- premium payment. the “single option”. 2019 and concluded that it was only of money but of external Rail Action Group, a co-founder of By early 2016, a Transport not realistic. The report said that factors to blame for its problems. the Electric Railway Charter. 2 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture AGM 27 June 2020: Birmingham Quaker Meeting House B4 6AF railwatch April 2020 3 East Anglia East Midlands [email protected] New tunnel and/or new platforms nTop of the list to reverse the Beeching cuts On 1 March, DB Arriva- Road to match the provision of 15 Following the Government’s expressed desire to reverse run Northern was stripped and 16 at Piccadilly. some of the Beeching cuts, Railfuture East Anglia has of its franchise following Possible freight alternatives the decision in January by stepped up its No 1 reopening campaign, the Wisbech- Even worse, the report mentions March line. Reopening would produce more than £4 in Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The decision came that Castlefield Junction handles benefits for every £1 spent, so the Government could 30 train movements per hour, the confidently push ahead with it immediately. Local councils after train punctuality in the Manchester area slumped. ABELL Pictures: PAUL line occupancy problem being continue to make progress but the pace is glacial, with five exacerbated lengthy container years having passed since the benefits were calculated in Passengers were waiting not Picture: GEOFFREY ROBINSON Picture: GEOFFREY just for trains – but for new trains which take longer to go a Network Rail GRIP (Governance for Railway Investment through than passenger trains. Projects) study. A sensible step would be to give the go- platforms. Railfuture vice- ahead for Wisbech alongside work to increase capacity at president PAUL ABELL gives Diverting the freight trains to Ely so a Wisbech-Ely train service could run. some background to the leave Trafford Park westbound appalling punctuality, and what along the Warrington Central In January it was confirmed that East West Rail will caused it. line and over new connections reinstate a Bedford-Cambridge railway on a new alignment to the West Coast main line serving Tempsford, St Neots and Cambourne. East West was considered in the original Rail will also call at the proposed new station at Cambridge It all seemed so easy in 2010. Manchester Hub study. But South (serving the huge biomedical campus and hospital Option 2 of Network Rail’s DIESEL DIVERSION: A diesel unit at Kettering North junction en neither of the two possible routes at Addenbrooke’s) which will provide connections for Manchester Hub Rail Study route to London St Pancras, re-routed when the was considered (via Padgate and London King’s Cross, Liverpool Street and other formed the basis of a series closed for a series of upgrades between Peterborough and London King’s NORTHERN HUB BOTTLENECK: A Northern train leaves Oxford Dallam, or via Glazebrook and destinations. of projects that would greatly Cross in January. In the foreground are the new 25kV masts which will Road station en route to Piccadilly on the Castlefield Corridor Kenyon) was felt to be worthy of improve train services across Railfuture East Anglia is also keen to see reopening of provide an electric train service from London St Pancras to Corby later this Congested Infrastructure Report. commendable honesty it admits further investigation at that time. the 20-mile Cambridge-Haverhill line which closed in the the North of England. In fact, year. The revamped inter-city timetable on the main line will however cause This was published in September that there are too many trains Railfuture’s Blueprint for the 1960s. Haverhill’s population has since grown six-fold from to reflect the wide geographical problems for a large number of passengers. Sadly the inter-city services will and will be followed by a second timetabled for the existing North could be the basis for a 5,000 to 30,000, with people reluctantly commuting to spread of the improvements the remain dependent on diesels after the Government shelved electrification report “for publication in Spring infrastructure. reconsideration of these routes. Cambridge by car or bus. plans for London to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield in 2017. Railfuture is project was soon renamed the Northern Hub. 2020” which will give options to In particular Oxford Road On a smaller scale, there are ongoing plans to reopen campaigning to get the electrification scheme reinstated alleviate the capacity constraints More tracks? Ten years later, reliability of the station sees 93% occupation, the station at Soham together with the restoration of the identified in the first report. with only four minutes in every In 2010, four-tracking the Newmarket West Curve. [email protected] terminal has enough capacity to handle train services has collapsed, Castlefield Corridor by building 16 freight trains daily and is served by according to On Time statistics for The delays caused by this hour available for recovering The extension of the Ely to King’s Lynn line north to a new viaduct to the south of nDownside of timetable changes a spur off the freight-only line through January. Yet the Northern Hub congestion on the Castlefield from delays. Hunstanton has strong support with Norfolk County the existing one was ruled out Castle Donington. Railfuture would like was supposed to cater for an Corridor have repercussions for This compares with the Council which is currently carrying out a study. Also in Railfuture East Midlands is already looking of further investigation by the to see this line reopened for passengers, expected increase in rail traffic. train services across much of Norfolk, an imaginative group wants to link the successful forward to December when there will be international standard of 85% Manchester Hub study. For one for a Birmingham-Nottingham service, What has gone wrong? . Greater Anglia Norwich-Sheringham line to the heritage substantial changes to the East Midlands occupation for suburban services thing, the area round Castlefield stopping at a reopened Castle Donington Older readers may remember North Norfolk Railway to Holt and then via Fakenham to Railway timetable. We coordinated our One product of the Northern (not the mixture of class 1, 2 Junction is complicated by response to the changes with Railfuture station, which would be 30 minutes faster Hub was the Ordsall Chord, that the Northern Hub has now and 4 trains at Oxford Road). It Roman archaeological remains. join the Mid-Norfolk Railway to create the Norfolk Orbital than the existing route through Derby. been running for more time than Railway. Lincolnshire and other Railfuture which means direct trains from assumes that trains can arrive at branches. While welcoming some faster Manchester Airport to Yorkshire it took for the Americans to put a a station platform two minutes Will a tunnel do any better? nQuestions for CrossCountry man on the moon. nCambridge South station urgently required journeys and earlier morning and later do not have to reverse at after the previous train has left Mancunians have seen a evening services on the Midland main We welcomed David Jones of Manchester Piccadilly. Manchester Oxford Road the platform. The Northern succession of proposals for a Network Rail Anglia held a series of public consultation line, we are concerned about how new CrossCountry Trains as guest speaker at However they have to travel September’s Castlefield report Hub envisages an increase in rail tunnel under the city centre meetings in January for the proposed Cambridge South train services to Corby will be separated the Railfuture East Midlands meeting in over the years. The next tunnel station. Railfuture East Anglia met Network Rail to discuss along the Castlefield Corridor, is worth reading in full. With platform capacity at Oxford from the inter-city trains to Nottingham January. We enjoyed a candid discussion a two-track section on viaducts proposal is contained in the priorities for the station, which will serve Addenbrooke’s and Sheffield, which are scheduled to on a wide range of issues, including fares Transport Hospital, the biomedical campus and huge new housing from the through platforms at run non-stop between St Pancras and (especially the split-ticketing issue) and Manchester Airport-Blackpool North The trains listed left pass Strategy 2040. developments. We called for good facilities for both Piccadilly (13 and 14), through through Castlefield Corridor Kettering. The present proposals will force CrossCountry’s “advance purchase on the Oxford Road and Deansgate Manchester Airport- This tunnel is regarded as a commuters and hospital patients travelling by train. passengers from Derby and Sheffield day” system. It was encouraging to hear westbound in just one week- stations to Castlefield Junction. Liverpool Lime Street long-term option to be delivered Greater Cambridge Partnership estimates that by the to change trains twice to travel to that train operators are collaborating day hour Platforms 13 and 14 at Piccadilly Below: Manchester Piccadilly from the mid-2030s. The 2020- time the station opens in 2025, there will be an estimated Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton or Luton more to the benefit of passengers. Crewe-Trafford Park freight 2025 Draft Delivery Plan for the 67,500 daily trips to the hospital and the campus. More Airport Parkway. This would make rail are such an obvious bottleneck Platform 14 indicator board that the Northern Hub provided Alderley Edge-Southport Transport Strategy includes the than 46,000 are predicted to travel by car “if current travel travel less attractive so we have presented development of options for a patterns continue”. suggestions to ease those problems. for two new through platforms Crewe-Liverpool Lime Street (15 and 16) to be built at metro tunnel. Whether a tunnel Professor Helen Valentine of Anglia Ruskin University Manchester Airport-Edinburgh Piccadilly, south of 13 and 14, on could also accommodate the wide said the partnership must secure a new rail station near n400,000 have their ‘cake’ a viaduct over Fairfield Street. Hazel Grove-Blackpool North range of trains currently using 13 Addenbrooke’s as a priority. She said: “It is truly scary for Railfuture members joined other Railfuture and North West Manchester Airport-Newcastle and 14 at Piccadilly is unlikely. that part of Cambridge with huge volumes of traffic. It campaigners in January to celebrate the District Council have backed CRIL (the But such an improvement in would be a disaster without the station.” 50th anniversary of the reopening of Campaign to Reopen the Leicester-Burton the resilience of the railway Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street But what might be done? network is not reflected when The partnership’s transport director Peter Blake said Narborough station, which now boasts Ivanhoe Line in forming a community Manchester Piccadilly-Llandudno In Birmingham, both the Snow the numbers are crunched in the new station will improve conditions for people and 400,000 passengers a year. A special interest company with the legal status to Hill and New Street lines tunnel the benefit-cost-ratio “machine” Manchester Airport- businesses nearby. The station will have four platforms. birthday cake was shared by Friends of conduct a feasibility study on behalf of under the city centre, while which is used to judge whether Barrow-in-Furness The future East West Rail line will provide links to Bedford, Narborough Station and representatives stakeholders. Meetings of the feasibility Liverpool has a host of tunnels, the project is worthy enough to , Bicester and Oxford, while an upgraded from Blaby District Council, Narborough study committee were held in December Manchester Airport-Redcar Central both in use and dormant, dating go ahead or not. line via Newmarket will provide trains to Bury St Edmunds, Parish Council and . and January, with the district council back to the days of the Liverpool Ipswich and Norwich. King’s Lynn, Ely, Stansted Airport, The station reopened just two years after providing a meeting room free of charge. The application for the necessary and Manchester Railway. Is it Bishop’s Stortford, Royston, Stevenage, London, Gatwick its closure in the Beeching cuts. FoNS The online retailer Amazon is “interested” Transport & Works Act Order has too much to ask that Manchester Airport and Brighton will all be accessible by rail. volunteers continue to keep the station in the reopening plan, which is also been sitting in the Department The Government’s Operator of Last Resort should also have a double-track looking good. Other communities along for Transport since 2015. main line tunnel under the city To accommodate extra train services the line from supported by the county council, the Leicester-Hinckley line, such as Blaby, The works should have been The Department for Transport has a company called DfT OLR centre, a very positive relief to the Cambridge station through Cambridge South will be according to the Leicester Mercury. The Holdings Ltd, where OLR stands for Operator of Last Resort. Croft, and Elmesthorpe, want to see more multinational company said it could completed in 2018. Castlefield Corridor? four-tracked, with a flyover at the junction where King’s stations reopened. Believe it or not, Companies House records show that a company Cross and Liverpool Street trains diverge at Shepreth benefit staff at its Coalville warehouse Even if the Order is eventually previously known as DFT OLR3 Limited was renamed Northern Such a link could be used for which is close to the railway. Freight trains granted, there will be a fight services between London and branch junction. This section of track is already the busiest nFreight gateway to passengers Trains Limited on 29 Jan 2020 but the “special resolution to in East Anglia with 10 trains an hour each way off peak. continue to operate on the route, however to get funding for the project, change the name of the company was agreed and passed by the towns such as Bolton (population Freight trains started running into the East East West Rail will bring another seven trains an hour each no passengers have been carried on the especially since Manchester is members” on 24 October 2019. Then there is DFT OLR4 Limited, 128,000) and Rochdale (pop. Midlands Gateway logistics park (near way. line since the Beeching cuts in 1964. neither in Scotland nor Greater which is recorded at Companies House as changing its name 108,000) in the same way as such Kegworth and close to East Midlands www.railfuture.org.uk/ London. Instead we have had from Transpennine Express Limited on 20 March 2019, following services are enjoyed by www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia Airport) in January, with two trains a day East+Midlands+Branch another report from Network a special resolution passed on 5 March 2019. (pop. 75,000) and Skipton (pop. Twitter: @RailfutureEA from Felixstowe docks in Suffolk. The new Twitter: @RailfutureEMids Rail, the Castlefield Corridor 15,000) east of the Pennines. 4 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ You can join the Railfuture lottery at www.railfuture.org.uk/lottery railwatch April 2020 5 Overcrowded and unloved – but Cross Country could be an inter-city solution Critical eyes were turned massively both in terms of Railfuture believes that XC fared better. Railfuture does not on CrossCountry when capacity and quality from the routes play a key role in advocate abolishing XC but the airline appealed to franchise remapping away from providing sustainable transport question remains whether some the Government in January XC. in Britain and that such routes or all elements of XC would fare for a loan to “subsidise” its Remapped into XC were should be revitalised with better being transferred to other unprofitable domestic routes. increased capacity. The new operators, particularly those who

Pictures: RAILWATCH Pictures: the Cardiff-Nottingham and People asked why the railways Birmingham-Stansted services. franchise for XC should rise operate over large parts of the XC were unable to provide These have continued to be to this opportunity just as network. reasonably priced domestic operated by overcrowded three- TransPennine did. travel opportunities rather than For example, - car diesel multiple trains. There We must acknowledge though Edinburgh could revert to LNER. “forcing” people to choose is no evidence that passengers that the average journey length polluting air travel. Edinburgh-Bristol could transfer have benefited from these on XC is around 60 miles. But to LNER, South West Railways CrossCountry is already at services being awarded to XC. there are many short journeys and Great Western. a crossroads and Railfuture The remaining XC services have being made on XC and there policy director Ian Brown may be better ways of providing Railfuture members who use this continued largely unchanged service are acutely aware that examines its past and possible and are operated by four-car and for growth for such journeys, Birmingham New Street is not a future, as the Government five-car Voyager diesel trains. particularly around large cities. natural break for the XC service announced in February that it Maybe XC could concentrate was extending the franchise A few InterCity 125s are SHARING THE STATION: A CrossCountry Super Voyager train for pattern in terms of the number on providing an integrated Paignton, left, at Bristol Parkway in September 2019 with a Great until October this year. hanging on and providing some of passenger journeys and the of XC’s services. The result service in conjunction with Western local diesel train for Great Malvern, right other inter-city operators, which operational constraints at the is overcrowding over long station. By Ian Brown distances throughout the week would require co-ordination in a inter-city network. Alternatively, are not avoidable though, and no incentive whatsoever to national inter-city timetable. we could consider abolishing suggesting that the best way to But XC could be viewed as The CrossCountry (XC) franchise the XC franchise. The level of reduce them is to increase train an opportunity, with some was awarded to Arriva as long provide cheaper fares. There are essentially two ways subsidy provided to XC is high, capacity and expand the income restructuring, to provide an ago as July 2007. Running four-car diesel trains of achieving this. It could be planned properly in conjunction particularly the network charge from ticket sales. Where routes integrated inter-city service for NO ROOM FOR BIKES: Two cyclists are ordered not to board from Aberdeen to Penzance It started in the November with other operators to provide given the high route mileage have been transferred away Britain. Railfuture will campaign a CrossCountry Turbostar train at March, Cambridgeshire, in does not suggest any realinterest of that year with a series Britain with a comprehensive it runs on. Many of these costs from XC, they have generally for this. of service swaps between September 2017. The train is bound for Stansted Airport in providing a long distance different franchises, which were regional service. However, it implemented in the December provides an opportunity to national timetable change. continue to charge high fares. Rail franchise mirrors motorway network Now XC is again being Over the years the extremities of considered for a degree of the XC network have gradually By Mark Parry extra nine million fares collected satisfaction rate, but that is from seat reservation system. Some “franchise remapping” and it is been eroded. Railfuture members expressed are going to. It turns out that £1 those who choose to travel on passengers buy a ticket on probably worth considering just Gatwick and Brighton are no their disappointment with million per week is going back CrossCountry. the day of travel after the train how well these changes have longer served. CrossCountry Trains when Alex to the Department for Transport. Several Railfuture members who has set off, and make a seat Alex pointed out that some fares fared in terms of investment in Where XC has extended it has Bray, its stakeholder liaison travelled to the branch meeting reservation. Passengers who are not as low as they might be to service development. generally redeployed a static manager, addressed Railfuture chose the longer journey back have sat in such seats when avoid further overcrowding. The Birmingham-Scotland level of resources to increase Yorkshire’s September meeting in to Leeds on Northern. I doubt the screen said “available” are services via the West Coast main frequency over the core route. Sheffield. The CrossCountry network mirrors we would be in the 86% of confused when challenged by the motorway network so it satisfied customers, claimed the new customer and this can line were transferred from the This has actually alleviated CrossCountry is the only franchise operates in competition with cars, by CrossCountry. This is mainly lead to confrontations. This then Virgin CrossCountry to overcrowding, particularly that neither serves London West Coast. nor operates any stations, coaches and also with air travel. because of overcrowding and the situation is likely to get worse as between Plymouth and seat reservation system, more The service was reconfigured SQUEEZE: A CrossCountry three-car Turbostar train (centre) Birmingham and to Manchester. which reflects the nature of the CrossCountry’s central functions CrossCountry is trialling same day franchise, but other negatives on which below. CrossCountry “advance” purchases. as an hourly train from heading for Stansted Airport leaves Melton Mowbray with a new “New” XC franchise take place at its headquarters in electric train, left, on its way from Derby to London were pointed out that we felt Birmingham, with local operating hopes to reduce the journey time London Euston, serving Milton between Derby and Newcastle, In a show of hands, most hauled by an old diesel loco, and a freight train, right, both This was due on 31 March 2016, could not be justified. teams around the country. The Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham but one Railfuture member members present said they were waiting to pass through the two-track station in July 2018 four years ago! The franchise trains are maintained by other International and then onwards The franchise was taken over by pointed out that because of other against seat reservations after was then extended to December companies. as before either to Glasgow Arriva in 2007 and covers the services, CrossCountry would departure. Central or Edinburgh Waverley Manchester to Glasgow- and later, with healthy growth 2019, with an invitation to tender largest area of any franchise. It for the replacement franchise The IC125s are being refurbished simply have to wait longer at In summarising, Railfuture (via Haymarket). Edinburgh. It was transferred to on the route, four-car electric operates with five IC125 trains, 58 to make them accessible for TransPennine Express. trains. The seat layout in the issued in October 2019. It has not stations for a path. Yorkshire chair Nina Smith said By 2011, some XC through Voyagers and 29 Turbostars. those with disabilities, provide CrossCountry needs to provide This was a half-hearted electrics was however based on yet been let. Alex said the situation was services were extended from It calls at 118 stations and new power outlets, wifi and new being discussed with Network much more rolling stock, end Edinburgh to Glasgow. Cinderella-style operation where working on suburban routes. Franchise remapping is back employs 1,900 people. In 2019, toilets. On the Voyagers, a driver Following the 2015 franchise on the table, but in consultation Rail and other operators. As during-travel seat reservations We know that the aim was to cut Virgin used two-car diesel the franchise was extended advisory system is being installed re-let, TransPennine recently terms is limited to reversing part well as the overcrowding issue, and consider new routes such as back mileage on the East Coast multiple units. until October 2020. This short to help use diesel more efficiently. a key complaint has been the Leeds to South Wales. introduced a new fleet of class of the changes implemented at period means the owners Arriva main line franchise. The effect By contrast, TransPennine the start of the XC franchise. CrossCountry’s of the changes was to remove saw it as a major commercial 397 electric trains. (ultimately Deutsche Bahn) and customer profile the important every-two-hours opportunity, the chance to boost There were some teething Part of the Nottingham to Cardiff the UK Government do not want tends to be older, Glasgow-Peterborough link. passenger numbers between problems but quality improved and Stansted services may well to invest money in more much- leisure travellers revert to devolved control from In 2020, the main Anglo-Scottish two of the most important and the Liverpool-Glasgow needed rolling stock. who are generally the West Midlands, where they service is operated by Avanti pairs of cities in Britain. It service was also reinstated. So Over the past 12 years passenger more affluent and are seen as underperforming, West Coast. It is well-loaded and introduced better diesel trains this route has also benefited numbers have increased from 32 more women than particularly over the 11-coach Pendolino trains on million to 41 million with very men. Birmingham to Leicester and many, but not all services. A little bit of a boost from Turbostar transfer few additional seats added. The Most customers Derby sections. 1514 EYE Cartoon: PRIVATE Some are still operated by The Government announced in February that it was providing overcrowding experienced on use the service The West Midlands area has a seriously overcrowded diesel £2.5 million to make more seats available on CrossCountry and these services has been widely only once or twice much stronger vision of the part Voyager trains on a 400 mile to improve its booking system. The extra seats are likely to reported in the rail press with a year but there are that rail can play in the West journey. This is being corrected, come when six West Midlands Railways’ three-car Turbostars many pleading with CrossCountry regular commuters Midlands as does Railfuture’s albeit about 15 years late, by transfer to East Midlands Railways and operate in future as two- to use further old IC125s now on some stretches West Midlands branch. Avanti ordering new electric cars trains. The spare coaches will transfer to CrossCountry so stabled out of use. creating pinch trains. On balance this route its two-car Turbostars can run as three-cars. CrossCountry is A further period of service Unfortunately bringing old stock points. On average, has benefited massively from also likely to make more extensive use of InterCity 125s (HSTs), stagnation is not acceptable into line with current legislation tickets are bought franchise remapping. Another especially after the 125s are refurbished with retention-tank in a world where devolved on accessibility will be costly. I 15 days in advance. route that was also “remapped” toilets and air-operated carriage doors by December this year. authorities need to provide can’t help wondering where the There is an 86% at the time was Liverpool- Like many other projects on the railways, it is running late. comprehensive public transport. 6 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Increase Railfuture’s lobbying power: Recruit a new member railwatch April 2020 7 Your views Don’t give up the line to Worcester, arguably less still provide us with clapped-out important. Pacers. I was appalled to read in Railwatch Proud 162 the letters from some people It seems silly that the important Perhaps when the transport who are not renewing their subs city of Gloucester now has a station authorities of Sheffield City to Railfuture. What miserable, with poor services. It probably Region make their mark things boast negative defeatists they are! needs a parkway station on the will improve but I am not holding Russian Railways carried They ought to know by now that main line. my breath. As is well known, 235 thousand people with individuals acting on their own to The much talked of “western mediocrity knows nothing higher reduced mobility last year. bring about change in the railways Picture: ANDREW IRVINE gateway” area on both sides of the than itself. See train door left. will get nowhere. It is only by Bristol Channel really needs the rail Peter J Gray, Sprotborough, Doncaster, To ensure assistance, acting together in an organisation bridge over the Severn at Lydney South Yorkshire DN5 8BX Pictures: RUSSIAN RAILWAYS people have to apply 24 like Railfuture that we have any to be rebuilt. This would allow hours in advance for special chance at all of seeing progress. trains on the London-South Wales HS2 ‘damage’ reserved seats. It is not true that no progress main line to avoid problems in the In response to Michael Paine’s Half-price tickets are has been made on the railways. Victorian Severn Tunnel without claim (Railwatch 162) that HS2 “will available, although there are Obviously far more should have going to Gloucester. cause tremendous environmental complex arrangements for been done, but that is not the Remember there are two road damage”, he should indicate in registering and also to book fault of Railfuture but the fault of bridges over the Severn. There what particular way and what in advance. this miserable Tory government should be two rail crossings. possible capacity-enhancing In an attempt to streamline that we have had to endure for so To improve services in an area alternatives (excluding the busy the process, people with long, whose current obsession is poorly served, inter-city trains from West Coast main line) there may special needs can now “Get Brexit done” to the exclusion both London and Birmingham be. Hereabouts, the main concern register and also buy of everything else including the should be extended to Hereford, is impact on the Chilterns, but HS2 e-tickets online. railways. Rather than quitting, supplemented by an improved would be mainly in tunnel there A lounge for people with people should stay in Railfuture local Hereford-Malvern service with and with the insatiable demand for disabilities opened last and try to put things right. some reopened stations and a new road space, the alternative could year at Moscow’s Kazansky loop at Colwall. well be a really damaging duplicate station. It is a pilot project Keith Bradshaw, Riversdale, ! Giggleswick, Settle BD24 0AW before other stations are J Evered, Goylands Close, Llandrindod also modified. Wells LD1 5RB As one of those who laboured Access for All hard to persuade successive though it is valid for travel on GWR I have been very heartened Bus priority Governments of rail’s advantages trains. during the pro-road 1960s by Railfuture’s attention to For the Railwatch 162 “End this Another facility which I have accessibility. Accessibility is so Pennine Procrastination” article, onwards, I’m pleased to see, hopefully, the current change used is to buy a day return to totally inadequate for nearly the I must ask you to pass on my destinations beyond the extent of heart, as aided by the current entire rail network that it is surely compliments to its writer Andrew of the Rover ticket, and so I have climate argument. high time every train operator was Farewell to Railfuture campaigner Linda Oldfield. I do not know whether bought day returns from Crewe to required by law to have a senior Botanist Linda Irvine, who was a reissued in paperback in 2011. Mr Oldfield is a South Yorkshire John Davis, Harpenden Liverpool (twice) and from Derby level accessibility officer. stalwart of Railfuture’s sales and She was a major contributor to resident but his informed piece [email protected] to Sheffield. On another related Sally Miles, Farquhar Street, Hertford promotion team for more than other books and was frequently encapsulates much of what is matter, there are no timetable SG13 3BW 20 years, has died aged 91. recalled to the museum for wrong with South Yorkshire’s Railwatch by email leaflets for in troubled relationship with the Linda, the daughter of a advice after she retired. Could you please tell me when the racks at Oxford station. They railways. Wrong track lesson railwayman, died in February in Her son Andrew Irvine said: I shall be able to opt to receive are kept under the counter at the I have been a member of the a convalescent home after being “My mother lived a long and I am a retired schoolmaster, never Railwatch as a pdf by email instead information desk, and you have to Railway Development Society and treated in Whittington Hospital, interesting life, achieving all that having owned a car, and have been of by post? I prefer to receive ask for them, as if they are obscene magazines. Railfuture for many years and have north London. she set out to do. a rail supporter and rail traveller everything by email and I do not enjoyed attending meetings and for well over 60 years. I have also really want to receive anything by Martin Smith, Bath Street, She lived near Arnos Grove on “The recent picture shows her reading Railwatch. with a jar of sweeties I won and observed the way that South post. Abingdon OX14 1EA London’s Piccadilly line and Yorkshire Passenger Transport My 1991 book How I Became a Train started work at the Natural which I gave to her. They soon Alan Mayes, Petersfield Mansions, Executive has bumbled along ever Cambridge CB1 1BB Third rail power Driver covers my employment as History Museum 70 years ago. disappeared!” a locomotive engineman for 18 since it was first set up. Editor’s note: Railfuture is Thank you for your usual excellent A specialist in seaweed, algae, The funeral took place on 10 years at Aberystwyth, Neasden and It seems to lack vision when it working towards making more and wide ranging Railwatch. bryophytes and lichens, she March at the Crematorium of the Crewe and is still available. comes to providing the county of our publications available was co-author of a book about New Southgate Cemetery. David Bosworth is right about I remember being reprimanded at with a transport system fit for electronically. third rail power being far better seaweeds of the British Isles A tree is to be planted in Linda’s a metropolitan area in the 21st Towyn Intermediate School in the which was published in 1977 and memory. than battery trains, which are 1940s when I looked out to see a century, and, I have to say as a Hidden rangers only needed for a very small part locomotive shunting in the yard. local resident, that South Yorkshire I completely agree with Paul of the South East network, in this compares so poorly when set Abell’s complaint that Rover and instance Hoo Junction to the Isle the new houses. Riding Sunbeams 7 cheap night rate, but now EVs The teacher told me: “There is built with the aim of extending an age that I look forward eagerly (ridingsunbeams.org) has already alongside the go-ahead areas Ranger tickets are not better of Grain. cannot only choose when to take nothing out there for you, Davies!” under the Channel to continental to every new rail development. in the north of England such demonstrated the practicality power from the supply, but also advertised. I think the problem is I have not looked at the detailed How wrong he was. Europe, in line with the vision of Sir John Abergynolwyn Davies, Plas Helyg as Nottingham and Greater of doing this. So I hope those to feed back into the network, Edward Watkin. When I returned that the different train operating statistics, but I can recall several On my third attempt to work Avenue, Penparcau, Aberystwyth, Manchester. supporting the Hoo line will push and thus provide supply at peak to Aberystwyth as a fireman, the companies are not willing to deaths of people on railways in for the railway and after being Ceredigion SY23 1QR for third rail electrification. demand. James is correct in Cambrian line was still busy with In fact, using my latest copy of publicise facilities promoted by East Kent, but none due to third interviewed by the shedmaster highlighting the need for more holiday traffic and steam engines Mothball mystery Britain’s Growing Railway, I find that other companies. rail electrocution. The marginal Regarding James Whitworth’s at Machynlleth, I started work at useful letter, the key aspect of the public transport using electric were common. the last new railway station to be The Heart of England Rover, which cost of adding third rail now Aberystwyth as an engine cleaner. I It would be interesting to know if opened in my home county was a UK power system is flexibility, as trams and trolleybuses but this I have used several times, covers would be far less than the extra was promoted to fireman and also By contrast, during a two-week there was ever a list of lines closed quarter of a century ago! shown in submissions against the still leaves the large need for pure an area extending from Oxford to cost of expensive battery-enabled worked at the former Great Central trip to Switzerland in the 1950s, around the time of Beeching that Cleve Hill Solar Farm, proposed EVs for taxis, shared transport and Alas, SYPTE seems to be in thrall Gloucester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, vehicles, as David outlines. depot at Neasden, London. electric trains were the norm. were supposed to be “mothballed” further east on Graveney marshes, distribution vehicles, as well as for to the First and Stagecoach bus Chester, Crewe, Derby, Nottingham Later I instructed Pete Waterman Despite what my teacher said, I for possible future use. In addition, the Isle of Grain has currently a haven for wildlife. those people in rural areas. Hence companies. The whole picture and Leicester, and is very good on how to fire Flying Scotsman fulfilled my ambition to work with Looking back, it seems incredibly a large disused industrial area, as the ever-increasing number of currently is one of inertia and, as value, but there is no information Flexibility is increasingly being during its period at the Llangollen fine upstanding men on steam, inept, if not tantamount to some of which could be used for EVs grows, the size of this flexible Mr Oldfield so accurately puts it, about it at Oxford station, even photovoltaic panels, as could all offered by the interconnectors Railway in 1995. diesel and electric locomotives, treason, that the lines should have “lack of ambition”. The world moves he mentions, but also by electric resource will grow rapidly, thus At Neasden there was much talk and believe me, electric traction is been closed without consideration forward while South Yorkshire vehicles and others. Hitherto reducing the need for power that we footplate staff would the best means of railway power. of future requirements. ruminates over more bloody Railwatch welcomes articles/pictures from rail users and user groups drivers of electric vehicles have supplies for high peaks. Send material to: The Editor, 4 Christchurch Square, London E9 7HU soon be going to Paris. It never I support the campaigns that I read At the time, Hereford lost its rail bus lanes and tugs its collective Email: [email protected] been able to choose only when to Chris Lowe, Hackington Road, Tyler Hill, happened, but the GCR was about in Railwatch and I am now of links to Gloucester but retained forelock to the rail companies that charge – I charge at the Economy Canterbury, Kent CT2 9NE 8 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk railwatch April 2020 9 Severnside Wessex (or replacement bus) [email protected] and others to promote improvements at the [email protected] Is your train accessible? station. The Station Hotel already provides By Graham Collett n£30m bid for trains to Cirencester live train information and has taken up my nReconnecting Ringwood 2020 was the year that all trains on the British Cotswold District Council agreed in January suggestion to promote itself as a comfortable If rail is to play its part in a sustainable transport place to enjoy a drink while waiting for trains. future, Ringwood is one of many towns that needs rail network are supposed to be accessible to to make up a shortfall of £13,000 towards people of reduced mobility. the £53,000 cost of a feasibility study into to be put back on the railway map. The Connecting reopening the Kemble-Cirencester branch as Communities report by the Association of Train We know that many stations will remain light rail. The council is also making a bid for Operating Companies (now the Rail Delivery Group) out of bounds for some people for a long

£30 million of Government funding to rebuild put reopening the 10-mile line from Brockenhurst to time but the rail industry has had years DAVIES Pictures: BILL the line. Last year Railfuture Severnside Ringwood in its top ten schemes, ranked according to ensure that all our trains are accessible. wrote to the promoters of the Cirencester to benefit/cost ratio. The current 25,000 population Sadly in 2020, many are not – because train Community Railway to give our support to in the line’s catchment area has doubled since the companies have been allowed to ignore the the scheme. Now that Kemble has an hourly line closed in 1964. A further 1,000 homes could be law “temporarily”. Cheltenham-Paddington service, a reopened built there over the next 15 years. This state of affairs is the result of a branch would offer better connectivity than n£20m ‘too high’ for Saltford large number of derogations (temporary before its closure in 1964. To mark the 50th anniversary of the closure nFlying the flag for CrossCountry exemptions) to the Disability Discrimination of Saltford station, the parish council hosted Financial difficulties at Flybe gave rise to much local Act issued by the Department for Transport Fleets of coaches were called into action when the East nRail-bus interchange at Bridgwater an event in January when chairman Chris discussion about regional air services versus the rail on New Year’s Eve. Coast main line was closed from Peterbrough to London for engineering work over a January weekend. Customer Railfuture and Friends of Bridgwater Station Warren gave a talk on the station’s history. His alternatives, most notably the CrossCountry network. Disability Discrimination Act 2005 colleague Duncan Hounsell, who represents Railfuture Wessex has consistently pointed out that information screens advised passengers not to travel by rail. have campaigned for seven years for the The DDA, as originally enacted, enabled the village on Bath & North East Somerset capacity, speed and comfort on CrossCountry trains Many passengers were bussed to the at reinstatement of bus services to and from the Secretary of State for Transport to make Council, said that persuading the West of have not significantly changed over the past 20 Bedford, above, where they could catch trains to London. It was the station, which is nearly a mile from the regulations to facilitate the accessibility of town centre bus station. A new bus stop England Partnership to include the station years, a time of increasing demand from both the not clear if any cycles or disabled people were accommodated in its vision for MetroWest in 2012 had been rail vehicles for disabled people. was promised in 2014 as part of an £800,000 leisure and business markets. It is unacceptable for the DDA requirements. The DfT issued an platform but may not be able to board the crucial. Network Rail made passive provision These regulations, made under the original upgrade of the station forecourt which was a train company to be running 20-year-old diesels “urgent warning” to train operators on 16 train without help, or vice-versa. Even if for the station but quoted a price tag of £14- DDA (1995), are called the Rail Vehicles recently completed. However, a TravelWatch on routes which are largely electrified. The existing December, giving them until 31 January to a ramp is provided, there may not be a 20 million. This was considered unrealistically Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) and SouthWest surgery held near the station on trains should be lengthened, converted to bi-mode comply with the act, or risk legal action. member of staff available and, even if they high in view of comparable reopenings required all railway rolling stock to be fully 16 December, chaired by TWSW chair and and upgraded to inter-city standard. Weight could are, the ramp may not be easy to use (see in recent years. Railfuture’s Graham Ellis accessible by 31 December 2019. On 20 December, the Office for Rail and Railfuture vice-president Chris Irwin, heard be saved by removing the tilt mechanism on some “Ramp problems” in Your Views Railwatch believes that the estimate might include a trains. All this could be achieved for a fraction of the Road launched a consultation on this issue concerns that buses were unable to use the But on that very day, derogations were issued with responses requested by 14 February, 162). stop because of insufficient turning space. high optimism bias factor and has suggested cost of bailing out a failing airline. by the DfT to cover all the non-compliant an update of the attractive campaign leaflet which was surprising given the urgency of Accessible station projects have to meet strict It is believed the specification was drawn train fleets still operating. which is now over seven years old. nBigger future for the DfT’s message. criteria to qualify for funding, which (as I up when the local bus operator was using A useful table which lists these derogations described in Railwatch 161) can come from Proposed Island Line upgrades were examined in However, in response to appeals by train 8.7 metre buses. Twelve-metre vehicles are nHourly trains will ‘rocket’ Melksham was published in the February edition of operators, on 31 January the DfT extended three main sources. now standard. Train operator Great Western January at a meeting organised by the Isle of Wight Modern Railways. Melksham Rail User Group has recently the compliance deadline until 30 April. The DfT’s Access for All fund is the most told the Bridgwater Mercury that it is “in Bus and Rail Users Group. Long periods of line produced a report on 2019 and plans for 2020 This shows that many fleets, mainly class 153 This was subject to certain conditions and well-publicised source of funds but money active discussion” with First Bus to provide closure can be expected in the autumn for gauge in one booklet. As a station friends group, it diesel units and unmodified InterCity 125s alternative accessible transport for disabled can be available from train operator a service into the station. TravelWatch is clearance at bridges (for larger rolling stock) and helps to increase awareness of train services (HSTs) are authorised to keep running until passengers being made readily available. sources: their customer and community collecting evidence to support adaptation adjusting platform heights (for level boarding). The and to keep the station clean and tidy. It December 2020. But the DDA issue has been of the forecourt to enable proper bus-rail connection with the steam railway at Smallbrook I have submitted a response to the ORR’s improvement fund or their minor works describes the current two-hourly service (a known about for years, so why did the DfT connectivity. New housing, a flourishing is being considered as a route to transport 7,000 consultation in conjunction with Railfuture funds. But the DfT is dependent on money vast improvement on two per day prior to seem to wake up to this recently? college, an enterprise zone and Hinkley tonnes of material during trackbed renewal. A new passenger group colleagues, including from the Treasury, while train operators are December 2013) as “poor but useable. An Point C power station all add to the need passing loop at Brading will bring the southbound Of course, the new trains appearing on our input from members who liaise with train often reluctant to commit funds to what are hourly frequency and better connections platform back into use. There will also be step-free tracks and those on order will already be operators. inevitably long-term projects. for a better interchange. Ways of improving would rocket passenger numbers.” bus and train services for Bridgwater were access from the main station building. Signalling DDA compliant. But you may ask why those Accessible stations The accessibility programme therefore and power supply upgrades are also part of the franchises which were re-let by DfT in the suffers from having no overall plan, with discussed at a public transport forum in the nPilning climbs back to recognition It is all very well making your journey on town in February. improvement package. past few years did not require the bidders each project – by and large – treated as a to include replacement of all non-compliant an accessible train, but what happens if the station at which you intend to start or end new one with no standard specification. nPassengers left in the lurch stock by 31 December 2019. nPriority for Stonehouse Bristol Road your journey is not itself accessible? This has meant that there are many Railfuture Wessex protested to South Western LNER, which stopped using HSTs at the Railfuture’s meeting at Stonehouse in There are over 2,500 stations in Great variations in the size and type of lifts being Railway when passengers suffered a month of start of the December timetable, seems to be November supported reopening of the town’s Britain, but only about 200 (less than 8%) put in, some of which can take bikes and reduced and disrupted services before Christmas the only operator with non-compliant stock Bristol Road station. Robert Crockford, who are currently fully accessible. A further 73 some which cannot. because of the dispute over the role of guards. We which met the end of year deadline. chaired it, said the Stroudwater conurbation, stations are expected to be made accessible A standard specification should enable cost reported a lack of bus replacements on the line via with a population of around 60,000, was the There seems little prospect of many current in the current control period 6 (April 2019 to savings. We need a much expanded and Chandler’s Ford, and stop-skipping. largest urban area in the South West without Pilning Station Group’s Olga Taylor is train operating companies – beyond what March 2024), together with the completion fully funded Access for All programme with a direct rail access to the regional capital of has already been agreed – seeking tenders for delighted that nearly four years of promoting nCheck on ‘longer trains’ promise of 24 ongoing station projects which started target of, say, 100 stations per year. Bristol. Siobhan Baillie, elected MP for Stroud the station have led to “a glimmer of hope” in new DDA-compliant stock in the near future, in CP5. n in December, spoke in support, as did MEP Railfuture Wessex is monitoring promises to increase given the fragility of many franchises. Graham Collett is vice-chair of Railfuture the Joint Local Transport Plan drawn up by Some stations are partly accessible. For Yorkshire and accessibility officer for Railfuture’s Molly Scott Cato. County Councillor Lesley the West of England Combined Authority. train lengths on the Great Western Portsmouth- So many passengers will have to either Williams encouraged people to respond to Cardiff route. Extra peak time services between example, you may be able to get on to the passenger group. “It is finally recognised that Pilning station change their journey, go by car, bus or coach the Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan 4 Basingstoke and Reading have been welcomed. (if they can) or grin and bear it. Consultation. Railfuture’s response calls for has good potential for future development,” ‘Head in the sand’ attitude of bus and train operators Rail replacement buses the station to be given top priority as part she said. The station is near one of the largest nHeritage trains take the strain The rail industry has 2000 are a real nightmare for years that they are of an extension of MetroWest to Gloucester. brownfield sites in northern Europe which is What happens when trains are replaced by had at least 10 years to because of “head in a vital link in the chain, being developed into an industrial area. Local will reintroduce a service between We reject the proposition made in the 2015 buses because of planned track closures or prepare for the Equality the sand” syndrome by and of course do get MP Jack Lopresti also backed the station’s Swanage and Wareham using heritage diesel Gloucestershire Rail Study Report that people emergency work? A recent legal ruling means Act to ensure accessible train and bus operators, quite reasonable fees for case in a Commons debate. Despite losing units for the summer, starting on 5 May. The Mid wanting to reach Bristol from the Stroud area Hants Railway is now able to run steam trains the that these are now – with limited exemptions trains and yet we ended although they have been providing buses. The could drive to Cam & Dursley station, where its footbridge in a Network Rail “upgrade” – required to be DDA compliant. given flimsy advice by the in 2016, official figures show passenger full length of its line from Alton to Alresford after up with an unacceptable best practice example the car park is normally full by 08.00. This will have a huge impact on the rail DfT and the Office of Rail numbers have gone up by 900% since 2014, completion of bridge reconstruction work which list of dispensations. The is Blackpool Transport replacement services commissioned by train operators, the Rail and Road. which, when asked to n even though the station has only two trains took most of 2019. Gloucester warms to Railfuture idea train operators. Many of these services use Delivery Group and the Train operators should supply buses for the 13 a week in one direction only! Campaign n Gloucester City Council made a helpful website: www.pilningstation.uk Southampton AGM in April coaches, most of which have steep steps with Department for Transport have taken responsibility month blockade between response to our request (Railwatch 162) for Railfuture Wessex AGM will be held in Southampton no other way of boarding. have failed to implement for vetting the vehicles Blackpool and Preston, the city’s bus and rail stations to display live nAGM at Kemble station Tavern on Saturday 18 April. Older buses (sometimes double deck it, said Stephen Brookes offered by the bus advance ordered 20 departures of each other’s services, with the MBE, the Rail Sector new Alexander Dennis Railfuture Severnside AGM is on Saturday 4 n We are now on Facebook: search “Railfuture vehicles) which are not DDA compliant companies rather than, city’s “head of place” Ian Edwards agreeing Champion for the Minister accessible vehicles, with April 2020 at the Tavern Inn at Kemble station. Wessex” are also used in some areas. There is a very as has happened, getting that a successful transport hub needed both limited supply of coaches with lifts, or of for Disabled People. The the old rubbish from the two wheelchair spaces, www.railfuture.org.uk/Severnside Branch www.railfuture.org.uk/Wessex+Branch bus and train information at both sites. The compliant vehicles of any kind at peak times, Public Service Vehicles back of the garage. Bus full audio and video Twitter @RailfutureSSide council is working with GWR, Network Rail Twitter @RailfutureWessx so most train operators will struggle to meet Accessibility Regulations operators have known screens and wifi. 10 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Please remember Railfuture in your will: www.railfuture.org.uk/legacies railwatch April 2020 11 Too typical: 42 steps that can block access to Walkden station By Andy Barlow This is the story of how political intrigue features in the saga of Meanwhile in Castleton, Rochdale: HAVE DOG, WILL TRAVEL the campaign to make Walkden station’s platforms more By Francis Salt accessible. different sides and are never the Travelling anywhere with a one which will convey one to Many will be familiar with guide dog often attracts attention platform or bridge/subway.

The 39 Steps. It is now just BARLOW ANDY Picture: and some mystification among It is only one up or one down on over a century since the initial fellow travellers. publication of John Buchan’s a rail station, so why not have famous novel, later adapted It takes years for the blind person one button and let the lift make for film by Alfred Hitchcock, to develop and learn to trust the the decision to go up or down? in which an Anglo-Scottish rail dog! Now don’t get me started about journey plays an important part I live in Castleton, in Rochdale, on-board toilet buttons. Again Picture: ALAN LOWE TfGM ALAN LOWE Picture: in the plot. with my dog Lewis and I am each type of train has its own Walkden Station, located on a frequent user of all kinds of way to open, lock and close the the Manchester-Wigan line via public transport. door on an accessible toilet. Atherton, had already been But my love of all things rail Call me an old romantic but give welcoming passengers for 27 means train and tram (Metrolink me a Pacer train any time. These years by the time Buchan’s in Greater Manchester) is my much maligned units had faults thriller was published, but preference. METROLINK: Frank and his guide dog Lewis find life easier on a but were more “blind friendly” the book and station still My journeys usually start from tram than on some trains thanks to the uniformity of the design than more up-to-date trains. share a common theme today my local station. I can walk With a Pacer, Lewis would – passengers must climb 42 the mile or so but in uncertain am familiar with Manchester boarding point and as the doors guide me to the rear door where steps to reach the platform. The weather, the bus stop is at the Victoria, my all-time favourite open, listen for the on-board a friendly “Hiya do you need campaign to provide step-free end of my street. station. announcements which will say: help?” would let me know that access at Walkden presents a tale A CHALLENGE FOR MANY: Part of the long stairway leading up to the platform from the booking I walk towards the stairs to the “This is the service to….. “ – the the guard is there to assist me. of intrigue of its own. My local station has two office at Walkden station. Note the artwork adorning the walls, commissioned by Friends of platforms and my normal train footbridge. I seldom use the lifts terminus for that service. OK, it was two steps to get on Walkden is no backwater. The Walkden Station to commemorate local history subjects arrives from the right, travelling for reasons I will mention later. The doors at the rear of each car but around to the left was a latest Office of Rail and Road hourly service. Currently only towards Manchester Victoria, The signs, which I cannot see, will line up with the boarding bench seat with lots of room for data show strong growth in and beyond. advise me, I am told: “Keep to point. I know that the priority Lewis to curl up under my legs. passenger usage despite well- an hourly service is operating but this should soon be My first challenge: “What type of the left.” seating is either around to my A guide dog can curl up quite publicised challenges during left on the same side or slightly rectified now issues with driver train is it?” As guide dogs work on the left, small. 2018-2019 with the impact of to the right on the opposite side rostering on Sundays appear to and for my safety I want to use Oh well, rant over. engineering work, industrial My possible next question: of the car, depending on which have been resolved. the hand rails, I have to go up action and the May 2018 “How many coaches?” is now side of the tram I am boarding. On a wider view of train and down on the right. timetable changes. In July this year a major boost redundant with the public Regular blind travellers will travel as a blind person, I have The station is now the busiest for the area, and potentially for address telling me two, three or The majority of passengers always stand to board the first some likes and dislikes when intermediate station on the the station, will be delivered even four coaches. understand car at the travelling by train. line with over 300,000 users – when the RHS Garden In some parts of the railway each but, as second door. Apart from the obvious, that I Bridgewater opens its doors for always, a nearly double its patronage in commuter service is formed of A word here cannot see and enjoy the passing the first time. minority 2007 when Friends of Walkden the same type of unit but up here to non- panorama, I still enjoy every Station (FOWS) was established This major tourist attraction my train could be any one, or a either do not journey, long distance or local. understand impaired by volunteers determined to is expected to bring up to half mix of, any five types of unit. passengers. Picture: LAURA JOFFRE SALFORD ONLINE Picture: LAURA my plight My favourite route, as students improve facilities and services at a million annual visitors once FLOWER POWER: Andy Barlow, chair of the Friends of Walkden This does not raise problems for or are not Please use of geography will understand, is the station. it becomes fully established. Station, left, with secretary Neil Stapleton on the platform at a sighted person. A train door is aware of their the many the between From day one step-free access Walkden Station, with its fast, Walkden. Some of the planters installed by FOWS volunteers are a train door when you can see. vacant seats Rochdale and Bradford. direct services to Manchester, visible in the background surroundings, has been a top priority for the Lewis will take me to the nearest RODGERS Picture: JIMYY but if you I know from before going blind and through services to Leeds, and a standoff group. Passengers unable to door but the mystery of my train are sitting in that this is one of the most the Calder Valley and East in favour of Daisy Hill – along access for all passengers whether on the stairs access the platform can only journey is only just beginning. a “priority” underrated scenic routes I have Lancashire, is the natural the same line in the Wigan travelling for work or leisure to ends with LEAD ON: Frank’s guide dog be provided with a taxi to the seat and travelled in Britain. Biased? Not railhead, being the closest direction and closer to Atherton use the services on offer. The interior of each type of train Lewis always Lewis at Castleton station nearest accessible station – winning. you notice a me. My familiarity with the route station at just two miles away. (the only step-free accessible Visitors to the RHS Garden could is different so finding a seat, Atherton – which is five miles Now onwards blind person, means I can usually remember station on the line). arrive by sustainable means – occupied or unoccupied means down the line in the opposite Step-free access at Walkden to the ticket please move many of the views. And in any Rail officers at Transport the train, with bus connections, I have to “gently” survey a seat direction to most rail journeys, also has strong political support barriers. What a boon to us all. or speak. There are only so many of the 16 tunnels, my view is as for Greater Manchester and with the back of my free hand. which are predominantly locally including Mayoral through ticketing and perhaps Guide dogs can use the normal new friends I wish to make on a good as anyone’s! towards Manchester. backing, and the station was campaigners such as FOWS even discounted entry, if the And the aisles on ALL trains single journey. gates but I cannot find where my Although train and tram travel featured on regional news were perplexed by the seemingly vision of FOWS and its many are too narrow to allow me to Walkden’s impressive passenger ticket or pass should be waved Now the vexed topic of buttons. are not perfect, especially at programmes when a local girl illogical decision and submitted local supporters could be “work” Lewis. growth has been boosted by to activate the gate so the helpful As mentioned above I seldom times of disruption, they are, to an increasing population in wrote to Greater Manchester a Freedom Of Information brought to fruition. I hold the handle of his harness staff usually speak to me (not the use lifts on rail journeys because (FOI) request to the DfT. The as he takes me along the aisle me, preferable to other forms of its catchment area, which is Mayor Andy Burnham and However, the fight for step- dog please) and voice-guide me of the spectre of buttons. For a travel. plagued by severe peak time obtained his support for heavily redacted response free access continues, and the until I find a seat, or a new friend through happily. start, buttons are not easy to find – finally obtained after two for the journey. Having on-train staff means that traffic congestion. making the station accessible number one priority from the My progress to the Metrolink for a blind person. to all. postponements and registration formation of the group remains On arrival at my destination, I am never alone which gives Service frequencies have been of a complaint about the delay – stop is step free, as is every stop Guide dogs are trained to find me the confidence to travel boosted after the new Northern With all these factors in its highest priority today. say Manchester Victoria, on the system, so Lewis guides lift doors but, unbelievably, gave few clues but no clear cut the fun starts. The on-board independently whenever I franchise begun, although mind, Transport for Greater explanation for the about turn. The Friends remain fully me to a boarding point, marked cannot press them or read the choose to. the full four trains per hour Manchester (TfGM) ranked committed to closing the final announcement tells me I am on the floor with tactile panels. instruction. A question, raised by MP there but not on which side or There are some stations which daytime frequency has yet to be Walkden number one in its chapter in the saga of “The 42 Here lies an advantage for me Is it really beyond the wit of man delivered. The line lacked any most recent priority list for Barbara Keeley in Parliament, Steps” sooner rather than later. which platform number I am need improvement. Whoever as to why Walkden’s bid was leaving the train from. Usually and all other passengers with in the 21st century to place a lift thought that a ramp is not a Sunday services at all until 2010 step-free access improvements, The Queen’s Award for impairments. Each tram is the call button in the same place, when, following a campaign by and a strong bid was placed not approved, was met by a there is a “The platform is on ramp unless you put a step every stock answer quoting wider DfT Voluntary Service was awarded this side, mate” or a “Do you same type as the next one. next to the lift door, and on both few feet? Westhoughton is a FOWS, a limited service was with the Department for to the group in 2015. sides of the door? introduced. The service proved Transport for the 2019-2024 criteria but no locally focused need any help?” offer from a On the downside, no prime example. such a great success that it has round of Access for All funding. explanation. www.walkdenstation.org.uk passenger. announcement is made to tell The buttons within a lift are also And public announcements at been written into the current However, in a surprise decision FOWS have ambitions for a n Andy Barlow is chair of Friends Once I know the platform me where the next tram is going. puzzling to a blind person. They stations should be a priority for franchise as a day-long half- the DfT rejected the application fully accessible station, allowing of Walkden Station number, I can continue, as I The trick here is to stand on the are placed in different places on the rail industry. 12 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Railfuture national conference: St George’s, Leeds LS1 3BR 3 October 2020 railwatch April 2020 13 Thames Valley North East THE CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL FREIGHT [email protected]

nToo long to wait for new Grove station Railfuture Thames Valley was delighted to hear at its Jet-fuelled rail freight award committee meeting in January that its campaigning may By Lee Davies be paying off. A new station at Grove should open within for long-term growth. Rail eight years, according to the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor A joint entry by Railfreight freight already provides nearly Study which was commissioned by the Oxfordshire Growth Consulting, British Airways, BP, Railfuture £2 billion of identifiable benefits Board. We welcome this but will be trying to convince the VTG, Freightliner and Network to the British economy but has authorities that we should not have to wait until 2028. Rail won the Freight and Logistics the potential to increase this to The new station is justified by massive new housing Achievement of the Year award at deliveries £90 billion in the coming decade. development planned for the area, but we believe that the this year’s National Rail Awards. That is the advice from the Rail

station must be in place before the houses are built. COUNCIL Picture: DURHAM COUNTY The team established a new Our picture shows Railwatch Freight Group, which wants Railfuture Thames Valley had a meeting with CrossCountry, service of up to 16 trains per editor Ray King delivering a Picture: MAGGIE KING the Government to ensure the which has had its franchise extended to October but needs week delivering over one million batch of Railwatch magazines planning system supports rail to replace its current rolling stock. It is suggested that 40 tonnes of jet fuel to Heathrow from the magazine distributor to terminals. new bi-mode trains could offer higher performance and airport each year. his home, using a bike and trailer. Maggie Simpson, director general solve the problem of overcrowding. We believe that the The service is estimated to Railwatch is delivered by road of the RFG, said: “The new Department for Transport should step in and ensure that have taken 100 round-trip lorry from our printer in Histon, government has an opportunity new trains are ordered. movements off the London Cambridge, to east London. to unlock significant benefits Railfuture Thames Valley will be supporting plans to double orbital . Once most of the magazines through its support for our sector the hourly Southern service to Milton Keynes so there is a The service will run for at least have been despatched by Royal and our plan sets out five priority areas which should be addressed. train every half hour. We will be joining Railfuture members 15 years and has involved Mail, Ray collects the “overs” We look forward to working with in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in their submission to investment in new terminals and which are used by Railfuture PROGRESS: Work started in January on building the new £10.5 million them to take this forward.” a public consultation. We will ask timetable planners to Horden station, south of Seaham, on the line between Hartlepool and rail wagons. members to promote Railfuture ensure the increased service does not limit the capacity for Sunderland. Contractors Storeys were expected to complete the platforms “I am delighted to see four at events throughout Britain and Cement trains roll on East West Rail services to link into Milton Keynes. in March and the footbridge and stairs in April, ready for the station to open years of hard work recognised,” by members to recruit people. GB Railfreight has agreed a seven- We are joining Railfuture East Anglia in commenting on in May. Durham County Council is confident the road approaches, cycle and said Ralph Goldney, managing Ray has used the bike and trailer plans for the proposed new Cambridge South station. East foot paths will be ready by April. Horden will serve a population of 60,000 director of Railfreight Consulting. year deal with Hanson Cement for this purpose for more than to operate trains from London West Rail will provide a useful link between the two major with hourly trains to Carlisle, Newcastle, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough “The new service will reduce 15 years. Bikes and trains are centres for medical research in Oxford and Cambridge. though Railwatch magazine is King’s Cross, Avonmouth [email protected] stations, as well as a return visit the delivery cost to the airport, the ideal way to maintain an (Bristol) and Mossend (Glasgow). Work on remodelling and resignalling at Bourne End is improve supply chain capacity delivered to members by Royal to Middlesbrough. Local businesses are environmentally friendly freight GBRf also runs an average dragging on, and the branch line to Marlow will also have to and add to the resilience within Mail, the now-privatised postal nNorthern Rail nationalisation system, although not every load nine trains a week from Ketton be closed for two weeks for track relaying. Railfuture supporting this project with special offers. the fuel supply chain. service has only a minimal rail will fit on a bike! But parcels cement works in Rutland and Thames Valley welcomes the decision of the Royal The Government decision on Northern The Line and Lyric initiative is promoting operation. Both Royal Mail and the Newcastle-Carlisle line with a singer/ “It has also substantially reduced traffic has been virtually lost Ribblesdale, near Clitheroe, Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council to lobby the Rail raises as many questions as it the rail industry have failed to songwriter at community events. the carbon footprint of the to rail. British Rail’s initiative Lancashire. One destination is Government to reopen the line from Bourne End to High answered. Railfuture North East answer the public demand for gives credit to local management for Other initiatives include a Welcome, haulage operation.” in setting up Red Star Parcels Hinkley Point C nuclear power Wycombe. High Wycombe, however, is in Buckinghamshire, in 1963 foundered when the an environmentally friendly and ensuring that virtually no services Explore pilot, focusing on Haltwhistle station. where the council has been preoccupied with transforming Environmental advantage railways were privatised. Red Star affordable option for delivering remain Pacer-operated. Even Saltburn- and Hadrian’s Wall and a project to itself into a unitary authority by April 2020. It still needs Parcels offices on rail stations small amounts of freight. Or is it “We are working to increase the Darlington-Bishop Auckland services, commemorate the evacuation of Hector Rail Group has sold GB persuading to support the rail reopening. were finally closed in 2001. Even all the Government’s fault? tonnage of material we transport Pacers until early December, are now children from Tyneside to the Haltwhistle Railfreight to Infracapital, part of by rail across the UK,” said Matt nBattle to stop expressway road operated by class 156 Sprinters. area during the Second World War. M&G. Barlow of Hanson UK. GBRf, the third largest rail Railfuture Thames Valley is concerned that Transport to help service its multi-million “This arrangement helps us to nWhy not Hitachi? n freight company in Britain, has “biblical” flooding in South Secretary Grant Shapps has refused to meet the No East Coast main line local services pound contract with British take trucks off the roads and a turnover of £200 million a year Yorkshire. Managing director Expressway Group which opposes the Oxford-Cambridge The Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen Railfuture North-East is backing Tees Gypsum, which produces plaster Steve Freeman said: “While reduce our carbon emissions.” has objected to Swiss firm Stadler being and more than 900 staff. It moves “expressway” road. Specification for the proposed road has Valley Combined Authority’s call that and plasterboard. The 100 metre the rest of South Yorkshire chosen by Nexus to build Tyne and Wear around 23% of UK rail freight. HS2 freight spinoff been upgraded while East West Rail has been de-scoped one of the two CrossCountry services canopy provides dry-loading for mopped up, iPort Rail flowed Metro’s 42 new five-car trains, rather than (cut back before it is even built). between York and Newcastle each hour GBRf managing director John trains and reduces costs of drying on regardless.” Five trains are Building HS2 should release train Hitachi, based at Newton Aycliffe. Stadler should run along the Durham Coast route Smith said: “I look forward to the product when it arrives at despatched daily from the depot, paths on the existing rail network nLabour should have backed national railcard is reported to be working to source working closely with our new to free some capacity on the main line British Gypsum’s factory. owned by European logistics and some of those paths should components in the North East. owners to maintain and surpass The Labour Party meanwhile has reiterated its support for north of Northallerton, as well as to The material comes by ship to company Verdion, and with the be available for freight trains, the investment in railways. Its policy of slashing rail fares by a our growth ambitions.” nRedcar waits for regeneration improve the scope and quality of long- Middlesbrough and is delivered potential to handle 12 trains a Freight Transport Association has third failed to convince the public. Railfuture’s campaign for distance services through Stockton, Infracapital was attracted to by daily train to the East day. Gauge clearance for freight told the Government. a national rail card would have been a more realistic policy The station at Redcar British Steel lost its GBRf because its “environmental Hartlepool and Sunderland. Midlands, reducing the carbon trains on the East Coast main line The FTA said its members want in the short-term at least. The late Tom Comber, the first minimal train service in December. Work credentials set it apart from The freed-up main line path could dioxide emissions compared to has been crucial to the success of a guarantee of fair treatment and chairman of Railfuture Thames Valley, was keen that British has begun to regenerate the steelworks competitors”. delivery by road. iPort. fair access to capacity released by Rail should issue railcards for everyone. People making site and the station is eventually expected then be taken by the long-promised Northern Connect trains between HS2. fairly frequent journeys would get a one third reduction, to be revamped and reopened. Go-ahead for Gateway £90bn rail benefit potential Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Stockton iPort gauges a success and so be encouraged to travel more frequently by rail, and The Government has given “HS2 predicts that its first phase n (with a combined population in excess The Government should ensure the railways would get more revenue. TransPennine Express travails development consent to Doncaster’s iPort Rail depot alone could free up rail freight that freight gets its fair share Delays in the delivery of new Nova trains of 300,000) and Newcastle. Such trains Gateway Rail celebrated its second Christmas, capacity equivalent to around nThames Valley timetable revision mean that Redcar will not be served would reduce Teesside to Tyneside Freight Interchange. after successfully operating of the national rail network, 1,500 lorries every day,” said the timings by 20 minutes each way. throughout the November ensuring that there is scope FTA’s Alex Veitch. We will be making representations over some failings of by five-coach trains until the “spring”. The interchange will be able to the new Thames Valley timetables. With electric trains Morpeth also had to wait until February But the shortage of main line paths take trains up to 775 metres long, terminating at Didcot, passengers between Thames for new trains to operate TPE services to should lead to attention being given to and will have three gantry cranes, Valley stations from Tilehurst to Cholsey and stations Edinburgh. Power supply problems and the need to reopen the Harrogate-Ripon- a train maintenance depot, rail- Rail flow for Highland water from Appleford to Oxford have to change, except on the a train maintenance backlog led to diesel Northallerton line, as advocated by the connected warehouses and a few through peak trains which are still diesel powered. operation and bus substitution. Leeds Northern Railway Reinstatement bus terminal. The consent also Construction will begin soon on a new rail operates six rail-linked sites. There are likely Connections at Didcot vary between 11 and 19 minutes. Group. approves work on the A508 road, freight facility to serve Highland Spring’s to be two trains each day, the equivalent One former through train which is sadly missed is the 17.18 nTyne Valley CRP innovations of 22 lorries, from Blackford which is on the The initiative a bypass to the village of , depot at Blackford, near Gleneagles, to from Paddington to Oxford which used to call at Radley main line from Dunblane to Perth, a prime The Tyne Valley community rail should lead to more direct rail links to and changes to Junction 15 of the deliver bottled water by train which should (the station for Abingdon, with a bus connection), but now partnership team took its Open in Winter . remove 8,000 lorry movements and save candidate for electrification. An electric terminates at Didcot. There were no ticket restrictions on places on Teesside and Wearside via rubber-tyre crane will lift and position initiative to Middlesbrough in January. the Stockton-Ferryhill and Leamside 3,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. this train, and there is now a 50-minute gap in the peak They handed out leaflets advertising £1m canopy for gypsum containers on the train, and Highland Spring service from Didcot to Oxford between 17.59 and 18.49. alternatives. The new facility is expected to open next is exploring opportunities to bring raw the possibilities of visiting Hadrian’s Wall Middlesbrough freight logistics www.railfuture.org.uk/Thames Valley Branch by train. The team was planning similar www.railfuture.org.uk/North East Branch year and will be operated by JG Russell which materials to site by rail to reduce its carbon firm AV Dawson has officially has been using rail freight since the 1970s. It footprint. Twitter @RailfutureTV events at Thornaby and Northallerton Twitter @RailfutureNEast opened a new £1 million canopy 14 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Increase Railfuture’s lobbying power: Recruit a new member railwatch April 2020 15 Cymru Wales North West Scotland [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

nWales wins Access funds for 4 stations nBurscough curves a ‘quick win’ nAGM on Maid of the Loch Wales has received funding from the Access Prompted by the Government’s interest in Railfuture Scotland is holding its AGM afloat, for All scheme for stations at Grangetown, reopening railway lines, Railfuture North West has on board the Maid of the Loch at Balloch on Pontypool & New Inn, Llantwit Major and reaffirmed its backing for Skipton-Colne, Penrith- Loch Lomond, at 14.00 on Saturday 18 April. Neath. Keswick and Skelmersdale. But a quick win is Appropriately for a an event aboard a former Picture: RAILWATCH Burscough curves, a simple, low-cost plan to re- BR steamer, the speaker will tell us something nShrewsbury-Aberystwyth connect the Southport-Manchester and Liverpool- about Rail and Sail. Passengers on the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury Ormskirk-Preston lines by reinstating the north line will have to wait until December 2022 for and south junctions. nWest Coast freight terminal is reborn an hourly service, but all the class 158 trains The Ormskirk Preston Southport Travellers Cloburn Quarries has taken out a long-term have been modified to comply with access Association believes it would improve rail links for lease on a former coal loading point on the requirements. Passengers are sometimes Southport, providing a fast, direct rail service to West Coast main line to deliver decorative confused by platform arrangements at Preston, Manchester and Liverpool city regions. aggregate supplies to customers in both Britain CAMPAIGN Pictures: LEVENMOUTH RAIL Shrewsbury and additional information The connectivity provided by integrating the two and mainland Europe. It is leasing Ravenstruther screens are needed at Dovey Junction, a crucial existing lines would realise benefits in the whole (pronounced Renstrie) rail terminal, near connection station, as well as at Welshpool area. Work undertaken by OPSTA in recent years Lanark, from Hargreaves Land as a way to and Caersws. At Welshpool better facilities indicates that the project would deliver £3 for strengthen its market position. Cloburn, which are needed for the replacement bus services, every £1 spent. also supplies rail track ballast, has previously which have been regularly in action over the been dependent on an “unsuitable loading wet winter months. Discussions are still under It would also enable Sunday services to be bank” at nearby Carstairs Junction, from where way for a new station at Carno. improved. They are poor on the Southport it was despatched to ballast depots at Millerhill line and non-existent between Ormskirk and (35 miles away) or Inverurie (150 miles away). nProtests over timetable skip stops Preston, which acts as an economic inhibitor and Ravenstruther opened in 1988 to load 40 million OVERCROWDING: This family was a cause of social isolation. OPSTA says the extra tonnes of opencast coal on to trains, until the There has been a delay in the introduction forced to stand up from Welshpool to rail connectivity could also reduce traffic and ALL CLEAR: A section of the Leven line that has been cleared for survey purposes of mark 4 rolling stock on Cardiff-Holyhead mining company went into liquidation. The local Newtown because of overcrowding congestion on the A59, A5209 and A570 arterial council granted consent for housing, but it was Campaigners are angry that the proposed the spring to co-ordinate the £10 million services, but to accommodate the desire for on the train from Shrewsbury to roads. The formations that carried the rail curves fast services between north and south Wales never built. Railfuture is calling for crossovers reopening of the railway to Levenmouth Levenmouth Blueprint fund, which will Aberystwyth. Long-suffering mum are complete and unblocked and each is just a few and signalling to be installed to prevent delays has stalled because Fife Council has still promote economic and social growth in some trains were retimed from December. Chelsea Hayley told Railwatch that it is hundred metres long. The junctions or physical There were protests at the removal of station as freight trains join the main line. not appointed a project manager, seven support of the rail reopening. Councillor the same situation almost every day on connections with each line would have to be months after the scheme was given the stops north of Shrewsbury for the morning the 15.52 train from Welshpool when she Altany Craik said: “Working with Network installed with additional signalling. Otherwise nAction on new East Coast stations go-ahead. service from December. After a number of picks up her children from school neither running line would need upgrading as Rail and Transport Scotland, we are timing trials, an earlier start, at 07.02 from they both have capacity for additional services. Network Rail is carrying out surveying work Responding to complaints from developing options, including possible Cardiff, enabled the stops to be reinstated. The other option is to change trains at for the new stations at Reston and . Levenmouth Rail Campaign, the Scottish station locations. “Once ready, this Llandudno Junction, where they face an hour’s nNew loops could boost frequencies The planning application for Reston has been Transport Secretary Michael Matheson information will be presented to locals and The return at 11.33 from Holyhead to Cardiff submitted, with East Linton expected within also had stops removed, but this problem has wait for a connection. Railfuture North West believes that putting in told Fife News that “all partners” were stakeholders for consultation. In addition, the next few months, along with an information committed to an opening as soon as we are also working closely with the not yet been resolved. an extra passing loop at Diggle would enable an initiative aimed at the local community. nSE Wales transport commission enhanced service at Greenfield and Mossley. The possible. Fife Council said it hoped to Scottish Environment Protection Agency n have a programme manager in place in and partners on the River Leven project.” Petition to reverse the cuts Railfuture will be making representations to current one-train-per-hour service to Manchester nRail is the key in south-west Scotland the South East Wales Transport Commission, at Greenfield and Mossley stations is lacking in A petition has been presented to the Welsh Reopening of the rail link between Stranraer and Government after protests from commuters which has been set up to find alternatives to a major commuter area. The loop could easily the busiest road in North East Fife, has been n is 60th station for Glasgow the which has been abandoned Dumfries, a new line from Stranraer to Cairnryan, along the North Wales Coast, who have seen be installed near the former Diggle station on undergoing major repairs, meaning traffic lights Scotland’s newest station, £14 million by the Welsh Government. It is an opportunity a rail link between Dumfries and Lockerbie and a reduction in rush-hour train services despite the once four-track formation, and should make and traffic hold-ups into St Andrews. Already Robroyston, was opened in December, for public transport campaigners to put new stations at Beattock, Thornhill, Eastriggs, paying some of the highest train fares (when provision for a possible future reopening of the taking longer than scheduled, it has now been providing trains every half hour to Glasgow forward alternatives to road building. The Cumnock and Dunragit are all options in the measured per mile) in Britain. The cuts have station, which closed in 1963. Railfuture North found that the bridge is in a worse condition Queen Street (12 minutes) and to Edinburgh (an commission has already held a series of Case for Change report on SW Scotland which is led to a fall in the numbers of passengers using West and the Stalybridge to Huddersfield Rail than expected, and so only a temporary repair hour). The station ‘s free car park, close to the stakeholder workshops and will be collecting now with Transport Scotland. north-east Wales stations. More commuters are User Group believe the loop could allow improved will be completed by the end of March. The M80 motorway, is aimed at relieving road traffic information about passengers’ experiences. The potential merits of new stations and switching to driving, adding to congestion on service frequency on both sides of the Pennines second phase will take place some time in the congestion in Glasgow. Robroyston is Glasgow’s the . gov.wales/south-east-wales-transport-commission by providing more through services. The Yorkshire services to improve connections to Glasgow on future. That bridge is vital for St Andrews. If it the South Western line will also be explored in 60th rail station and in February had attracted Transport for Wales has cut the only direct stations of Slaithwaite and Marsden would benefit were closed for any length of time, the effect more than 30,000 passenger journeys since its nNot much satisfaction in survey from a two-trains-an-hour service. detail, in a strategic transport projects review. It would be catastrophic on a town accessible evening rush-hour rail service between Bangor appears that the rail options are preferred over opening – 3,500 more than forecast. and Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn and Flint – the The national Transport Focus passenger Another quick win would be to relay the extra only by road. Rail would provide an alternative road enhancements. Dualling the roads from connection with the rest of the country. Contacts: 17.16 service from Bangor. survey was published in January and was the line which ran behind the down platform of Miles Dumfries to Stranraer (A75), Edinburgh (A701) Platting station (closed 1995). This would ease Rail Action Group, East of Scotland (RAGES): The changes to the timetable go against Welsh first to cover a full year of Transport for Wales and Lockerbie (A709) plus the A77 between Ayr nFalkirk Council backs www.rages.org.uk/ Government policy: operations. The levels of satisfaction were not congestion caused by several lengthy freight trains and Cairnryan have been ruled out. encouraging. per day coming from the Phillips Park direction Bonnybridge station campaigners gained the Beattock Station Action Group: 1) It will result in increased greenhouse gas which block the main line as they cross, observing support of Council in December when www.beattockstationactiongroup.org.uk/ emissions by forcing people from public FARES Value for money satisfaction down to nStARLink’s case for change a strict 10mph speed limit. it agreed to proceed to the next stage of the St Andrews Rail Link campaign (StARLink): transport into their cars, at a time of a “climate 48% – from 57% Following the completion of the Case for Scottish transport appraisal process, following www.starlink-campaign.org.uk/ emergency”. PUNCTUALITY Satisfaction down to 73% – from Change, St Andrews sustainable transport study, a pre-appraisal study. Railfuture Scotland’s n 10% boost to station figures facebook.com/StARLinkCampaign 2) It will deny access to Bangor University for 78% Transport Scotland, the consultancy Stantec research showed large numbers of Bonnybridge For the first time, the Office of Rail and Road and StARLink will be meeting shortly to finalise residents driving to work in towns connected LevenMouth Rail Campaign: those living in some of Wales’ most deprived FREQUENCY Satisfaction down to 69% – from figures for station usage at Greater Manchester communities. 73% the report. Among the options proposed are: to the rail network. These cars could all be www.lmrc-action.org.uk/ stations include an estimation of the free journeys a direct rail link from St Andrews to the main taken off the roads if a station were provided. facebook.com/LevenmouthRail/ Railfuture has called on the Assembly to force OVERCROWDING Satisfaction down to 66% – made by senior citizens, after protests by STORM line, a tram-train from Dundee running on Bonnybridge Railway Campaign meanwhile a rethink on TfW and to ensure the rail service Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG): from 68% (Support the Oldham Rochdale Manchester the existing roads and a light rapid transit line is considering a crowdfunder initiative as in North Wales is sufficiently frequent and www.capitalrail.org.uk/ STATION STAFF Satisfaction down to 75% – line). The uplift is 10% but 15% is a more realistic between St Andrews and Leuchars rail station. volunteers struggle to meet running costs. affordable to encourage commuters back on to from 83% figure and makes a good case for reopening more The case for a St Andrews railway has been Newburgh campaign: the trains. stations. nBoost for the Borders line STAFF AVAILABILITY Satisfaction down to 57% further bolstered by two things. Leuchars was http://newburghtrainstation.org.uk/ The main complaint is that since December – from 67% Previously no allowance had been made, although one of the few Fife stations to see an increase More than 2 million people a year are now Forth Rail Link (Dunfermline-Kincardine-Alloa): the main evening service from Bangor at 17.16 Transport for Greater Manchester believed that in passengers during the year ending March using the Edinburgh-Tweedbank Borders Toilet facilities are important for passengers www.forthraillink.com omits calls at all the intermediate stations it had been. On checking after the point was 2019, by 5.1% to 644,262, just 7,000 behind Railway, more than three times the original facebook.com/forthraillink/ to Chester apart from Llandudno Junction. and it was reassuring to see that satisfaction estimate of 650,000. The most frequent raised with them by STORM, they found that Dunfermline Town, the third busiest station Thornhill Station Action Group: There is now a two-hour gap between trains levels are improving slightly. The satisfaction no allowance had ever been made before. It is after Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy. It is certain complaint is severe overcrowding. John for people who want any of the nine stations level is 46% at stations, up 7%, and 44% on thought that this will now help in making a better that the increase at Leuchars is driven by St Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and [email protected] between Bangor and Chester. The 17.16 trains, up by 4%. case for future reopenings. Andrews where most of the passengers are Selkirk, said he is looking forward to making Bonnybridge Railway Campaign: was previously popular among workers and www.railfuturewales.org.uk www.railfuture.org.uk/North West Branch going to/coming from. The road bridge over progress on reopening the line further towards http://bonnybridgerailway.scot students returning home from Bangor. Twitter @RailfutureWales Twitter @RailfutureNWest the River Eden on the A91 to St Andrews, Newcastleton and Carlisle. www.facebook.com/bonnybridgerailway 16 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ European Rail Timetable available at http://www.europeanrailtimetable.eu railwatch April 2020 17 Railfuture in Europe It was railway enthusiasts who challenged the ‘haters’ Railfuture has renewed its BOOK REVIEW by Richard Lysons “railway enthusiasts”. The latter are given fair subscription to the European Ron – the man who really saved the S&C As I read this book in January, I was occasionally treatment for a change! Passengers Federation for 2020 distracted by the extensive radio and I was expecting a demonisation of Dr Richard and hopes that a two-way Rail champion and Railfuture newspaper coverage of the future of High Beeching and his infamous 1963 report (with informed dialogue will continue vice-president Ron Cotton died in Speed Two. Little did I know that there have its list of loss-making services and stations post-Brexit. January at the age of 88. always been opponents to the railways, surveyed over one week in April 1961). Britain remains a participant “There is no doubt that it was Ron stretching right back over 200 years! However, the authors produce a fair and factual in Interrail and Eurail but who saved the Settle and Carlisle These have ranged from the turnpike trusts and account of those events. Again, individual case Railfuture’s European Passenger line, never mind what Michael canal companies to the aristocracy, the Road studies are fascinating. The lengthy final chapter Group will review our work as a Portillo says,” said Railfuture vice- Pictures: railwatch Haulage Association, MPs and certain Ministers of the book, entitled “Hostility continues” brings consequence of Brexit. president Peter Rayner. of Transport! the story up to the present day and includes a Interrail has been actively It was Ron, a lieutenant-colonel promoting travel from and to It is very hard to imagine Britain without discussion of HS2 and its opponents. Obviously, in the Territorial Army, who also the UK by Interrail, as Railfuture railways, but 200 years ago inland transport there are similarities with the opposition to the backed Railfuture’s campaign for a suggested it should. was centred around stagecoach travel along railways in the nineteenth century. However, national railcard launched in 2003. we can now see the huge advances that railway Railfuture’s European group turnpikes, along with water transport on canals Ron made his mark on the S&C held its first post-Brexit meeting and navigable rivers. construction brought to our country over nearly in the 1980s, after most of the in February. Stagecoach travel over long distances was 200 years, in spite of the opposition described stations so clearly in this book. Railfuture will be assessing expensive, dangerous and uncomfortable. The Railway Haters – Opposition to railways on the The book finishes on a positive note, citing best practice on both rail and Railways transformed the country in every sort from the 19th to 21st centuries by David line had of way, from the standardisation of clock times the saving of the Settle and Carlisle Railway light rail. We also plan to closed and Brandon and Alan Brooke (Pen & Sword maintain contact with to the popularity of seaside resorts and the Transport 2019 £30) ISBN 9781526700209 as an example of how people power can be he was growth of the suburbs. successful. It also recognises that the railways in promoting better access, appointed especially after the successful stations near their country estates. Many of the in Britain have been transformed in the last few by British With the advent of railways, the landed introduction of services to themes which dominate current discussion decades, with the huge increase in passenger Rail as the aristocracy were generally opposed to lines Rotterdam and Amsterdam. being constructed on or near their estates. Two about railways have been around since their numbers and a series of reopenings. No Ron invented the project Railfuture freight group manager lengthy chapters are devoted to the opposition inception. politician would dare suggest closing a railway Saver ticket. The expected from the aristocracy and other landowners. line or station these days! Railfuture’s forebears Maggie Simpson of the Rail name lives on Nationalisation was first discussed in the 1840s to close Brandon and Brooke’s strength is their ability – the Railway Development Association – even Freight Group told Railfuture’s in the new 16-17 by a young William Gladstone and, a century freight group that more and almost the to give a clear overview of all this, but also to received a mention! Saver railcard later, was opposed by the railway industry’s ‘Big more businesses want to use entire line. provide fascinating case studies to enlighten I cannot praise this fascinating book enough; it launched in 2019 Four’ companies along with the unlikely allies of rail freight for environmental InterCity the reader. is beautifully illustrated, thoroughly researched the Road Haulage Association. reasons. Finding rail terminals trains had been diverted away, and well written. Brandon and Brooke have I did not realise, for example, that the Duke of The penultimate chapter of the book is a more near city centres is crucial. The Ribblehead Viaduct needed repairs Devonshire prevented the Derby-Manchester cheerful one to read. It looks at “Examples of produced a book that will appeal to both the London Plan has done a lot to and there were just two trains a Central line going anywhere near the support” for railways and mentions early rail general reader and the railway expert. protect wharves and rail sites day on the line described as a “73- Chatsworth estate. Other landowners effectively guidebooks, the ubiquitous Bradshaw guides n Richard Lysons MA is chair of the Friends of from development. mile museum”. But Ron found ways bullied railway companies into building pretty and what the authors bunch together as Littleborough Stations Railfuture infrastructure to promote the line as a lifeline Railfuture is supporting MPs for local who have bid for cash from people and the Department for Transport’s tap into its Restoring Your Railway massive (Reversing Beeching) Fund. tourist The Midland main line – forever Cinderella potential. By Roger Bacon operating on the Midland in 2020 as Kettering and Corby. Add to to replace the post-2019 non- Railfuture is now turning its He backed From 1 January, all trains in Britain with slam doors and toilets that this another saga where in March compliant IC125 coaches, and also attention to the DfT’s New the COLONEL COTTON: Ron at in 2003 Stations Fund which has invited should have complied with dump sewage on the track bed. 2019, with only nine months to by us directly to the DfT, and the Dalesrail local authorities to put forward accessibility rules. They do not. The IC125 trains provide 50% of the go to the accessibility deadline, answer from the DfT was always special main line services to Nottingham DfT confirmed it expected an that it was up to the franchisee to candidates by June. trains for A significant number of trains on update from decide what to do. After March Potential schemes ready for the Midland main line that do not and some to Leeds, Derby and walkers, which stopped at some of Sheffield, but the Rail Minister Midlands Trains in April regarding 2015, the franchisee Stagecoach delivery over the next 10 years the disused stations. comply will continue in service in modifications to its IC125 coaches had only short-term direct-award does not mention any of the are described in Expanding the Between 1983 and 1986, the 2020. How did this happen? so the fleet would meet disability contract extensions that as far as detail regarding the East Midlands Railways, a document produced number of passengers carried Before the end of 2019 Transport regulations coming into force on 1 we are aware did not include any franchise and the catalogue of by the Department for Transport increased from 93,000 a year Minister Chris Heaton-Harris wrote January 2020. mention of upgrading the mark 3 disjointed events orchestrated by in conjunction with Railfuture to 450,000 and eight stations coaches until March 2019, when to the Rail Delivery Group saying the DfT that took place in the past This was, as DfT must have known, and the Campaign for Better reopened. “it is extremely disappointing that it was far too late to get the work Transport. It can be downloaded decade. years too late to have any credible Former transport secretary the rail industry and train operators chance of being met, and a plan done in time. from: will fail to meet the deadline to Initially the original franchise award https://www.railfuture.org.uk/ Michael Portillo also played a role, to Stagecoach ran from November should have been actioned by How then can the DfT blame provide accessible trains for every article1745-Expanding-the- commissioning a review which led 2007 until March 2015. In October them with Stagecoach and a train everyone else for the eventual passenger and every journey by Railways to a reprieve. 2015 it was belatedly directly factory as soon as electrification failed outcome, when it was clear the end of the year”. north of Kettering was axed in as day to the various stakeholders, Both Ron and Michael travelled extended by the DfT until March on a special train in 2014, from He goes on to say that “owners 2018 with the option of up to 2017, if not before. especially after the cancellation and operators have had 10 years of the major part of the Midland Blackpool to Carlisle to celebrate another 13 rail periods. In February Within one month, in April 2019, the 25th anniversary of its reprieve. CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: Ron, right, with National Railcard report to prepare for the 31 December 2019 it was again extended by DfT Abellio was awarded the East electrification in 2017, that this would happen? Ron was credited with inventing author Douglas Medrisch and Railfuture chairman Peter 2019 deadline” and that “it is until August 2019 with the option Midlands franchise, and took over Lawrence (in 2003), centre, with copies of the report at Waterloo deeply frustrating that disabled of a further six rail periods. from Stagecoach in August 2019. Surely the DfT is the overall project the and Awayday brands and introduced Saver passengers will still be waiting To add to this complex picture, the Stagecoach, along with Arriva, was manager of the UK’s railways and to save the line along with his He worked in both operating and into 2020 for accessibility DfT had earlier announced in July notified of its disqualification from has an obligation to ensure that owner Graham Nuttall) at the commercial positions at London improvements to some services”. 2012 that the Midland was to be the competition. major failures like this one are reopening of Garsdale Station. Liverpool Street, Scotland and The key question is, does the blame electrified by Network Rail from In our view the whole picture from avoided. The Friends said: “This is very sad latterly in Liverpool. While he was a BR manager, he joined the for this failure really lie just with Bedford up to Nottingham, Derby March 2015 was of dither, delay It would be interesting to see tickets. He was always brimming news for all of us. A debt is owed by Territorial Army with the Irish the rolling stock owners and train and Sheffield. and a failure by the DfT to plan the conclusions from any future with ideas and could be all of us that love the line. He will operators, or should it lie partially After Network Rail in effect became objectively for a way forward that investigation that could take place guaranteed to brighten up a dull not be forgotten.” Guards and rose to the rank of or totally with the Department for a nationalised organisation under would allow time to upgrade old or by the National Audit Office or the day. After he retired, Ron became Ron went to school in High lieutenant-colonel. Transport which is now publicly the DfT, this plan and others were provide new trains. Rail Regulator into why this was a member of the Friends of the Wycombe and joined BR straight Ron Cotton, who was born in 1931, absolving itself? put on hold in July 2017, and Questions were asked many times allowed to happen. Settle-Carlisle Line. In 2009, he from school, and spent his National is survived by three sons and one The IC125 trains (HST) formed eventually electrification was by our MPs in Parliament about n Roger Bacon is treasurer of unveiled a statue of the dog Service with the Royal Engineers daughter. His wife Sylvia died of mark 3 coaches will continue allowed to go ahead as far north new rolling stock for the Midland Railfuture East Midlands Ruswarp (a hero of the campaign on the Longmoor Military Railway. earlier this year. 18 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Increase Railfuture’s lobbying power: Recruit a new member railwatch April 2020 19 Peak District route to lower carbon West Midlands Yorkshire [email protected] nCost-effective doubling ‘enough for Harrogate-York’ A rail reopening that proposal put forward by the n A £12.5 million plan to upgrade the Harrogate-York line is reported to be Manchester & East Midlands Rail New stations are key to West Midlands £15 billion plan “passing through critical gateways” at North Yorkshire County Council. will help the planet Action Partnership (MEMRAP) The money is needed for track and signal upgrades at Cattal, and North Railfuture vice-president is supported by Railfuture. Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has agreed to continue to maintain PAUL ABELL explains the Every loaded limestone train its key £9.5 million contribution which was agreed in 2013. The council is advantages of running which does not have to wander expected to commission Network Rail to undertake detailed design and round by the Hope Valley limestone trains downhill from ABELL Pictures: PAUL delivery of the scheme, which should be completed this year. It was found Peak Forest would save four tonnes of to be more cost effective to limit the amount of double tracking, which You cannot blame Dr Beeching carbon dioxide emissions if it will be restricted to sections at Cattal and Hammerton, mainly to ease the this time. He was quite happy to could travel the short way to passage of trains through these points. Officials are confident that the retain the Chinley-Matlock line Ambergate, says MEMRAP. measures will allow for a doubling of services between Harrogate and York through the Peak District, which In these days of climate concern in December. had originally been built as part that is a powerful argument. www.railfuture.org.uk/Yorkshire+Branch Twitter: @RailfutureYorks of the Midland Railway’s In addition, passenger London-Manchester route. trains using the link would Devon and Cornwall However, in the atmosphere of greatly improve connectivity the 1960s it was still closed south between Manchester and the [email protected] of Peak Forest after the Euston- East Midlands directly, and

Manchester electrification was LOADING LIMESTONE AT PEAK FOREST: By Peak District there would be an indirect AUTHORITY MIDLANDS COMBINED Picture: WEST nReverse Beeching should first target diversionary routes completed. standards this is a small quarry, but 100-tonne wagons are now improvement in connectivity standard for this traffic, which mainly goes south to London between Sheffield and The need for alternative rail routes, which Railfuture Devon and Cornwall The argument was that RAILFUTURE: Malcolm Holmes of West Midlands Rail Executive, has long campaigned for, was demonstrated in January with a series passengers could use the new Manchester resulting from the extra paths made available by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Birmingham City councillor of incidents affecting train services in our area. It is 20 years since we electric services to London, Waseem Zaffar and Brenda Lawrence of West Midlands Railway the removal of through limestone recommended the replacement of Bradford-on-Tone level crossing and its though this was not much help with a sign for one of the planned new Camp Hill stations trains from the . near neighbour (Victory) with road over-bridges. Railfuture’s South West if you wanted to get to Derby or Rail Strategy, published in 2000, explained that the bridges were needed Leicester from Manchester. Another of Railfuture’s campaigns looks likely to come to fruition. The to improve road safety but also to provide for an increase of speed on the The National Park case to reopen Aldridge is viable, according to the West Midlands Rail But the consequences of the Taunton-Exeter main line from 100 to 125 mph. Sadly, on 23 December A direct link from Peak Forest Executive which conducted an analysis last year. The executive is drawing closure have proved more 2019 a Paddington-Plymouth train hit a car on the Bradford-on-Tone to Matlock would run through up a business case for the new station and devising ways to secure the serious for the 2000-tonne trains automatic half barrier level crossing, four miles from Wellington, Somerset. the Peak District National £10 million funding needed to take the project on. Transport for West from the limestone quarries A local car driver was killed. Another Exeter-bound train from Paddington Park for much of its length, an Midlands’ plans include a 150-space car park for the station, on the Sutton around Peak Forest and Buxton had reached Taunton, but had to return to Castle Cary so it could run organisation which has policies Park freight line to the north west of Walsall. There are also plans for new via Yeovil and Honiton to Exeter. Subsequent trains were cancelled or travelling towards the south-east to cover a host of situations of England, where much of the stations on the Wolverhampton-Walsall line at Darlaston and Willenhall. diverted via Honiton. which might arise in its area. It is planned that two trains an hour would run from Wolverhampton to demand for stone is located. On 15 January, a building next to the railway line in Exeter caught fire, Those relating to the reopening Aldridge, one via Birmingham New Street and one via Walsall, with an Heavy trains from Peak Forest estimated 500,000 passengers using the service annually. This will be the causing the line towards Taunton to be closed for almost three hours in of railways can be found in its the afternoon and forcing the cancellation of main line trains to London, quarry could coast largely Local Development Framework, sixth reinstated station in the West Midlands Combined Authority area. downhill from Peak Forest to Construction is also expected to start this year on another three new CrossCountry services and local trains to Barnstaple. There were no a document adopted in 2011, diversions via Honiton, because the Castle Cary- Matlock – if only the line through and its Development Management stations – Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell – on the . Miller’s Dale and Bakewell was Policies, adopted in May 2019. Railfuture West Midlands can be proud that its campaigns over many years Yeovil line was closed for engineering work Maintenance work also closed still open. are finally paying off. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street mentioned the the Exeter-Plymouth main line on three Saturdays and four Sundays in The national park is in the January. If the Okehampton line had been reopened, trains could have They could then continue PEAK FOREST SIGNAL BOX: A 24-wagon train of 100 tonne reopened stations when he announced an ambitious £15 billion 20-year conservation business rather continued to run between Exeter and Plymouth. The Okehampton through Cromford to join wagons arrives from Ripple Lane depot at Barking, East London, transport plan. than the transport business, but reopening should be a priority in any Government proposals to restore the Sheffield-Derby line at on a roundabout journey via Willesden, the West Coast main these policies do not prohibit the nWidescale benefits already certain from High Speed Two lost railway lines. Ambergate. line, Sandbach, Northwich, Altrincham and Hazel Grove reopening of the railway. That would be a 26-mile journey Even before the renewed go-ahead for High Speed Two in February, Our second reopening priority is a link from Tiverton to Tiverton Junction Given the ethos of the national (not to be confused with Tiverton Parkway) to allow through commuter through the National Park, with huge quarry at Tunstead. Trains it had kick-started economic developments in Birmingham with well- park, it is understandable that services to both Exeter and Taunton. Tiverton has a population of around visitors unlikely to be disturbed from here have to climb more known companies in the finance and banking sectors relocating from there must be demonstrable 20,000 and is set to grow further with large housing developments on by the noise of coasting diesel than a mile of 1 in 90 to reach London. Railfuture West Midlands will be pressing for improvements to environmental benefits, while the east side of town. These could be rail served with a second Tiverton engines. Peak Forest signal box, before the existing network so it can exploit the promised boost from HS2. The the Monsal Trail which allows flagship Midlands Rail Hub scheme will transform east-west links across station. About five miles of new track would be needed. joining the long-way-round cyclists and pedestrians to use The problem the Midlands. The planning application for Curzon Street station has been Our third priority would be to extend the Exeter-Barnstaple line by nine route to Ambergate. the formation of the closed Because the line through submitted to the City of Birmingham, and extensive work has already miles, to serve an additional 25,000 people in Bideford and Northam. line in its turn is regarded as Bakewell is no longer available, Trains from the quarries near been carried out on the site and at Washwood Heath where HS2 trains will Bideford has been a reopening candidate since the days when the line something to be safeguarded. the loaded trains labour up a Buxton have 2.5 miles of such be maintained. The depot will employ up to 500 staff working in shifts, in still had track, but now the Tarka Trail cycle and footpath would have to be Railfuture believes a suitable long climb to the 985ft summit climbing. jobs within the depot, maintenance and support workers, or train drivers relocated alongside. just before Dove Holes tunnel, The easiest route for trains parallel route should be who will start and finish their day there. It will be HS2’s only rolling stock The Monsal Trail at Chee Tor provided. nRailfuture Devon and Cornwall AGM in Plymouth on 4 April before joining the busy Hope in the other direction would No.1 tunnel looking uphill maintenance depot for Phases One and 2a of the UK’s new high-speed rail Valley line from Chinley to be along the Midland main towards Peak Forest The funding network. Sheffield. The train struggles line, if the Bakewell route was up another steep 1 in 100 climb “There is a tide in the affairs of nCoventry-Leicester service at risk from high costings available. As it is, they do a for possible construction in the to the summit inside Cowburn wide westbound swing, along longer term when they expected men, which taken at the flood Coventry Rail Action Group, Railfuture and many others responded to Tunnel, followed by another stiff the West Coast main line from the financial case to improve”. leads on to fortune.” reports that high costings might jeopardise plans to rebuild Coventry climb to Grindleford. The roar of Willesden to Crewe, and then (Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare) station and create a new platform to clear the way for a two-trains-per- large diesel engines can be heard go via Sandbach, Northwich, Happily the route has been safeguarded, its integrity being Now is the time for campaigners hour service to Leicester. We have been reassured that rail minister Chris in the surrounding hills. Northenden and Hazel Grove Heaton-Harris is investigating after reports in mid January that Coventry assured by its use as the Monsal to stake a claim on the Picture: NETWORK RAIL At Dore the trains head towards (near Stockport). and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership had been told that phase Trail for walkers and cyclists. £500 million promised by the Ambergate with yet another 1 in The solution Government for a Beeching three of the large-scale works depended on a better business case. 100 climb to Bradway tunnel. The world has changed since Reversal Fund, both for the Reopening the railway north 2004. The obvious advantages of nTransformation plan for Stoke-on-Trent stations At the 26-mile point on this of Matlock was the subject of a carbon saving that would arise n journey, the trains are a couple of reopening the direct line have led from the more rational routing Railfuture supported Stoke-on-Trent’s application to the Transforming Network Rail work under way at Dawlish in February feasibility study in 2004. This to two recent proposals. miles closer to the Arctic Circle found that “the project was of limestone trains, and also for Cities Fund to create a bus-train-taxi transport interchange, which involves Network Rail has installed a bigger sea wall at Dawlish, Devon, to protect than they were at Peak Forest. unlikely to be economically One, associated with the heritage the improvement in connectivity relocation of one of the car parks to open up the entrance to the station the coastal line following the repeated breaches by the sea over the past This way round, the journey to viable, at least in the short Peak Rail which runs trains from between Manchester and the with a new east to west footbridge. The plans also include improvements few years. The line connects 50 towns and cities in Devon and Cornwall Ambergate is 41 miles, compared term”, but the consultants went Matlock to Rowsley, emphasises East Midlands. at Longton and Longport stations. with the rest of the country. Railfuture believes the line between Dawlish to 26 miles via Bakewell. A mile on to emphasise “the line of the how useful the link would be for Let us see if the Government will [email protected] and Teignmouth is so vulnerable that an alternative route should also be or so south of Peak Forest is the route should be safeguarded freight traffic. A more general put its money where its mouth is. www.railfuture.org.uk/West Midlands Branch made available by reopening the line via Okehampton. 20 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Increase Railfuture’s lobbying power: Recruit a new member railwatch April 2020 21 London & South East Reversing Beeching was a very [email protected] ISSN 0267-5943 www.railwatch.org.uk nBirthdays for Britain’s Growing Railway Good advice from young Londoners Editor: Ray King, 4 Christchurch Square Spring 2020 is a very significant period in good line – in public relations London E9 7HU Railfuture London and South East branch’s rail Tel: 020 8985 8548 [email protected] development almanac. It marks anniversaries PRESIDENT’S COLUMN would prefer reopening the Printer: Print-Out, High Street, Histon Cambridge CB4 4JD Tel: 01223 232709. of the culmination of years of concerted Picture: RAILWATCH By Christian Wolmar line to Poulton le Fylde, it campaigning to secure the addition of nine would be worth assessing Distribution: Intercity E2 9HE 020 8923 8080 It is easy at times to despair about stations to the region’s rail network. the alternative. Third, the Non-members can subscribe online at my profession of journalism, hardy campaigners at n 40 years ago in May three stations opened, at particularly when looking at www.railfuture.org.uk/shop or by sending £12 Hackney Central and Hackney Wick on the North Railfuture have ensured that (cheque payable to Railfuture) to: Alan Cocker, 11 the coverage of railways in the over the past half century London Line, and at Moulescoomb just east of Derwent Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QR. national media. Invariably they there has been a steady Brighton. Copy deadlines: The next issue is published in either get the wrong end of the stream of reopening lines July. Please email ­material as early as possible to n 35 years ago in May Homerton station also stick or cover the wrong type of shut following the Beeching [email protected] opened on the North London Line. story. This was particularly true of report. According to the 2017 Late copy: Saturday 3 May. n 25 years ago in May Chafford Hundred station the coverage of Grant Shapps’s version of Britain’s Growing Railfuture president: Emergency late news: Saturday 17 May. appeared on the rail map of Essex. £500 million to “reverse Beeching”. Railway, some 400 stations Christian Wolmar Advertising: Full page: £190. Half page: £95. Amazingly, this pathetic promise and nearly 1,000 kilometres n 10 years ago in April four stations opened Quarter page: £45. Small ads are free to members. of £500 million – in an industry of track have been added to the network with the first extension of the East London Line Otherwise: 30p per word. that spends at least ten times that annually since 1960 and there are several schemes northwards from Whitechapel – at Shoreditch Please report any problems with the delivery or on investment – attracted widespread in progress. And finally, most obviously, High Street, Hoxton, Haggerston and Dalston condition of Railwatch to [email protected] coverage. £500 million would be enough to reopen Junction. or to the E9 7HU address above. It was an excuse for the TV companies perhaps, optimistically, 100 miles of track n 10 years ago in May the link opened to enable to trot out those lovely shots of steam but in reality probably considerably less services to extend south locomotives with the blackened faces than that. of New Cross Gate to Crystal Palace and West Children living in the from motorists who want Nearby – but hidden of their drivers, kindly porters loading Croydon. Tower Hamlets area of the freedom to drive cars underground – is the Yet some 6,500 kilometres of lines were lost luggage for families spending a week in in the decade after the Beeching report and campaigning for a bigger, better railway The Office of Rail and Road’s estimates of station London suffer some of the wherever they want. The junction where Crossrail Skegness and Brief Encounter type shots much of this is completely irrecoverable usage only start from 1997-98 but for any of worst pollution from road council has even tried to trains will diverge to serve Railfuture is independent and voluntary. Railfuture of couples separating at railway stations. and totally uneconomic anyway. All of those stations their patronage then, or in the traffic anywhere in Britain. persuade drivers to turn Shenfield in one direction Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The lugubrious figure of the long dead Dr this helped disguise the fact that the case of London Overground 10 years ago, is For years, the council has off their engines, rather and Abbey Wood in the Registered in England and Wales No 05011634. B grasping the copy of his report inevitably Government was in some disarray over its but a pale shadow of the latest estimates for done little to tackle the than leaving them idling other. ­Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 also featured in the coverage. railway policy. Big decisions over HS2 and 2018-19 published in January. Leading the list is problem, but at last it is when they are not needed. Sadly Crossrail is badly Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset No one, though, bothered to explain the the future of franchising were in the offing, Shoreditch High Street, now in the top 50 of the trying. The signs and the appeals behind schedule and BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only). All flaws in the “reversing Beeching” story. First, and the announcement about “reversing busiest stations in Britain. It has launched a series are routinely ignored. although trains are still other correspondence to 24 Chedworth Place, of consultations to make The drivers of coaches undergoing test running the coverage neglected to point out that Beeching” was made the day before Mr Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND nSome of those still to come: local areas less dominated taking children to the Mile (our picture below shows there was only £250 million of new money Shapps confirmed that Northern was being General inquiries: [email protected] by road traffic and more End stadium sit with their a Crossrail train at Prince as the other half had already been allocated taken back in house, effectively temporarily Media enquiries: n Barking Riverside (at the end of a new London friendly to children, engines running while Regent station in January), to Network Rail. renationalised, which is a bit of a stomach Bruce Williamson Email: [email protected] Overground branch, off the London, Tilbury & cyclists and pedestrians the children have sport we have no clear idea churner for a Conservative minister. Tel: 0117 9272954 Mobile: 07759 557389 Southend line) to support a new community Second, Mr Shapps trotted up to Fleetwood in general. But every sessions. Close to where when the project will be where there is a five mile branch line There is, however, good news in all this Elections: Board elections held annually. of 11,000 new homes and due to open in time the council tries to the coaches park are completed and real trains December 2021. from Poulton that was shut in 1970. He nonsense. The very fact that “reversing Nomination forms can be obtained from do something positive, large signs asking drivers for real passengers will be was not announcing the reopening of Beeching” was seen by ministers and their www.railfuture.org.uk/Elections n Sharnal Street (on the Hundred of Hoo local protests flare up to turn off their engines. running. the line, merely that a feasibility study public relations teams as a good news story Who’s Who: Many other useful contact details can freight-only line in Kent) also to support a new costing £100,000 would be undertaken. shows that they understand the railways be found on the ­Railfuture website: community of 11,000 new homes. suggestions which was promoted at a rail show Why it costs £100,000 to assess whether are popular. Despite all the flak about the www.railfuture.org.uk n Thanet Parkway, which has recently in Longfield, Kent, in January. See picture, below further assessments should go ahead is railways in the newspapers, which is really completed its funding package with support left. beyond me. I suspect if Roger Ford and I disproportionate to their performance since from Kent County Council and the South East popped down there for a couple of days, most of the time trains can be relied on to We will have a similar stall at the London Festival JOIN Railfuture Local Enterprise Partnership. we would be able to work out what needed deliver passengers on time, it shows just of Railway Modelling at London’s Alexandra to be done and suggest that they get on how much the public wants a good railway Railfuture members receive ­Railwatch free. Buy ‘Britain’s Growing Railway’ – Railfuture’s Palace on 21-22 March. A-Z Guide to more than 400 new and reopened with it. Moreover, Fleetwood is already service. Ministers will have to do a bit more Get four copies of Railwatch magazine a year, Picture: RAILWATCH Picture: RAILWATCH on the tram route from Blackpool but early-bird price for our annual national conference Railways since 1960: nEngaging with the establishment than promising the possible reopening of a this is not properly integrated with the few railway lines, particularly in the North, and the chance to help improve Britain’s railways https://www.railfuture.org.uk/shop/books. Railfuture London and South East has had php?id=bgr1 local railways. Therefore one alternative to convince rail users that things really are half-a-dozen recent consultations to respond might be a Rotherham style tram train getting better. That is good news for rail YOU CAN JOIN at www.railfuture.org.uk/join n nRoad tunnel defies official policy to, exerting our independent influence where solution and while local campaigners campaigners. Individual £20 per year decisions are taken. n Joint £22 Hackney Council failed in n East Midlands Railway’s new timetable for n Under 26 £14 a bid to persuade Mayor December 2020. Railfuture is winning on the media front n Rail user groups, community of London Sadiq Khan n The ORR’s Accessible Travel Policy Guidance – up on our press release Online too, journalists and parish councils £25 to ditch his planned By Bruce Williamson n Businesses £35 Silvertown road tunnel. accessibility of rail replacement services. [email protected] on fare increases, and read our website articles our quote of “another and have complimented Or you can write to Railfuture, 1 Queens Road, The mayor has been told n Mole Valley’s Local Plan: we are championing Railfuture had its busiest Barnetby le Wold DN38 6JH, giving your name, decade of misery for rail us on them being in by campaigners that a Dorking Transport Hub embracing the two ever January for radio, TV address, postcode and email if you have one. and press appearances. passengers” was widely terms that the public can building a road tunnel stations where radial and orbital routes cross. Cheques payable to Railfuture. used in headlines. Twelve understand. under the river Thames n Hertfordshire’s Rail Strategy. Fare rises, the Email: [email protected] contradicts his policy different members of our It’s a great reflection on n fund to reverse to reduce road traffic Network Rail’s Reigate station upgrade. Beeching, Northern team of press officers our campaigning work, pollution. He has also n The DfT’s closure of Newhaven Marine station. renationalisation and and spokespeople were and shows that we are nMonthly news updates RENEW membership ignored rail campaigners Our responses can all be viewed at further speculation quoted or interviewed. being taken ever more (not Railfuture) who London and South East branch members We appeared on national seriously as a source of over the future of HS2 Renewals and other membership queries: have called for a new https://www.railfuture.org.uk/ can subscribe free to our monthly two-page meant that we were radio 12 times, national informed comment on Consultation+responses www.railfuture.org.uk service to Canary Wharf e-newsletter inter-railse. It usefully fills the gap more in demand for TV four times and made railway matters in Britain. or by post to Railfuture Renewals, from Brighton via Lewes, between the quarterly eight-page railse, sent comment than usual, it into just about all As ever, you can see, hear nMembers’ annual meeting 24 Chedworth Place, ­Tattingstone, Suffolk IP9 2ND. using a combination of to branch members with each Railwatch. Both with Railfuture’s name the national papers. and read many of our Email: [email protected] existing lines and short On Saturday 25 April in Wesley’s Chapel near newsletters can be viewed or downloaded from and views appearing in Add in our local media media appearances by sections of new build. we will hear about rail the branch website page, below. the media on average appearances and you’d typing “Railfuture in the Railwatch abides by the National Union of Railfuture has developed devolution and the new pipeline for network www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East more than once per day. have to try pretty hard to news” into your favourite its own Thameslink+2 enhancements. Twitter: @RailfutureLSE Many outlets picked avoid us. search engine. Journalists’ code of conduct 22 railwatch April 2020 Twitter: @railfuture Join Railfuture at: www.railfuture.org.uk/join ◆◆◆◆ Increase Railfuture’s lobbying power: Recruit a new member railwatch April 2020 23 Picture: COLAS RAIL

BIRMINGHAM: Five Ways underpass is being converted from a road into the track for the Metro extension to Edgbaston Is this the start of the revolution? As one railway campaigner put progressed further. From But just as rail campaigners was linked to house building it: “Who would have thunk it? the beginning of March, the consider the possibilities, the There are hopes that the Oxford- Five Ways underpass converted government of the tiny European reality of rail travel in Britain Cambridge “Expressway” road from road to rail.” state has introduced free travel gives pause for thought. might be ditched too. He was delighted that even on buses, trams and trains. The estimate for work at Ely There was once a campaign to in the car-proud city of It claims to be the first state North Junction, urgently needed convert railways into roads. Is Birmingham, cars are at last in the world to abolish fares to clear the way for freight it time to consider converting making way for trams. nationwide. Luxembourg, which trains from Felixstowe and more roads into railways? Five Throughout the storms of has more cars per head than upgraded passenger services Ways could be just the start of a February, work continued on anywhere else in Europe, is now for many parts of East Anglia, revolution. the Midland Metro extension to run by a coalition of the centrist has increased 20 times, from £25 Edgbaston with 300 metres of Democratic Party, the left-wing million to £500 million, according track installed at Five Ways. Socialist Workers’ Party and the to a BBC report. Greens. By the end of next year, trams Network Rail told the BBC that should be operational in the First class carriages are being the £25 million would not release underpass. It cannot come too retained on the rail network the additional services needed by soon. so people can pay to work rail users. “serenely” on the train. A spokeswoman added: “A far Even rail campaigners have wider range of interventions become accustomed to road Luxembourg is in the middle is required, including layout traffic dominating our lives. of a five-year public transport changes at Ely station, Birmingham’s Five Ways investment programme, with £2.2 billion being spent on rail improvements to bridges, power underpass was a key part of upgrades and improvements to the 1960s motor city revolution and trams. The bus fleet will be all-electric by 2030. level crossings.” Pass it on which has made people play The upgrade is needed to run second fiddle to car traffic. Transport writer Nicky Gardner The best way to recycle told the Independent: “To give an more trains between Norwich Railwatch is to pass it on to a Now though, thanks to Greta and Cambridge, King’s Lynn and friend who may be interested Thunberg shaming her elders entire country free transport is revolutionary. London, as well as Ipswich and in railways and tempted to join into confronting some hard Peterborough. “Apart from encouraging Railfuture. scientific facts, and increasing The Government was preparing commuters to shift from their awareness of the damage that to launch its Budget as Railwatch cars, it will slowly transform the pollution causes to everyone’s went to press and although HS2 Eco-friendly attitudes of an entire population life, it is possible to think of a is going ahead, it was reported The see-through wrapper in better lives in our cities. towards public transport.” to still be planning to spend £29 which Railwatch is delivered There is increasing talk of The move will also help the billion in building roads. by post is starch film and restricting car use in favour of many people who commute from But maybe change is coming is 100% compostable and public transport – and maybe Germany, France and Belgium there too. After the successful biodegradable. some of that talk will eventually to work in the Luxembourg legal challenge to Heathrow ISSN 0267-5943 result in some action on the financial sector. expansion, some campaigners are ground. For one woman who lives hoping to block road building. 63 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has in Thionville (France) and Ipswich has already abandoned finally allowed HS2 to proceed commutes to Luxembourg, her plans to build a £500 million and has even been photographed £73 monthly ticket now costs her northern bypass because all local on a railway line that might even £42. In Hungary and Slovakia, councils withdrew support for be reopened. In Luxembourg, European Union senior citizens the scheme, making funding meanwhile, matters have can travel by train for free. highly unlikely, as part of it 9 770267 594000