Agenda item: 12 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Decision Report Decision Maker: Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment Date: 19 January 2016 Title: Rail Consultations – South West Trains Franchise and Crossrail 2 Reference: 7233 Report From: Director of Economy, Transport and Environment Contact name: Nicola Waight Tel: 01962 832122 Email: [email protected] 1. Executive Summary 1.1. The purpose of this paper is to seek approval for the following rail consultation response: South Western rail franchise consultation (deadline 9 February 2016); and to note those set out below: Crossrail 2 consultation (retrospective recognition sought for response submitted on 8th January 2016); Shaw Report scoping study consultation (retrospective recognition sought for response submitted on 24th December 2015). 2. Contextual information South Western rail franchise 2.1. Train Operating Companies (or TOCs) bid competitively for franchises let by the Department for Transport (DfT) and are granted permission to operate trains in particular areas and/or on particular routes for a fixed period. They also operate the majority of the stations under leases granted by Network Rail. 2.2. The current franchise runs to 2017. Extensions can, on occasions, be made to franchise periods. The existing operator, Stagecoach/South West Trains, was in discussions with the Department for Transport about extending the current franchise period to 2019 but ultimately the decision was made to refranchise. 1. Agenda item: 12 2.3. The Department for Transport commenced a new franchise process on 12 November 2015 with a view to inviting tenders in April 2016, and a new franchise being awarded by February 2017. 2.4. This franchise process includes a series of proposals and questions posed by the Department for Transport in order to seek the views of the County Council and other consulted parties. 2.5. The consultation paper for the South Western rail franchise can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/south-western-rail-franchise 2.6. The proposed response to this consultation is set out in Annex 1 2.7. Key points within this response include: The requirement for a commitment to cooperate with the County Council and the proposed HIOW Combined Authority Reduced journey times on the main lines to London Waterloo The need for capacity enhancement, especially on the main lines to/from London, ideally by increasing the number of coaches, and not the 3 + 2 seating configuration. Improved coordination with onward travel modes, particularly bus operators Improved passenger facilities and communication Flexible and smart ticketing Improved sense of safety at stations and on trains Increased car parking where required at stations Crossrail 2 2.8. Crossrail 2 is a proposed new rail link serving London and the wider South East. It would connect the National Rail networks in Surrey and Hertfordshire via new tunnels and stations between Wimbledon, Tottenham Hale and New Southgate linking in with London Underground, London Overground, Crossrail 1, National Rail, High Speed 1, High Speed 2, London Trams and international rail services. 2.9. Whilst no works would take place within Hampshire, the proposals would impact on rail access to and from Hampshire. 2.10. The consultation process includes a consultation questionnaire and encourages respondents to provide any additional comments not covered by the questions set. 2. Agenda item: 12 2.11. The consultation website for Crossrail 2 can be found here: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail2/october2015 2.12 The submitted response to this consultation is set out in Annex 2 2.13 In line with the County Council’s response to a previous Crossrail 2 consultation in 2014, the response: Supported the regional option for delivery of Crossrail 2; Called for a “regional plus” option to offer faster cross-London journey opportunities without the need for changes of train, thereby improving connectivity between the clusters in Cambridge, Farnborough, Basingstoke, Woking and Guildford, known for their contribution to the knowledge economy; Welcomed reductions in crowding, and improved journey times that Crossrail 2 would provide, provided that they would not result a reduction of services or frequencies to / from origins / destinations within the County into and out of London. Shaw Report 2.14 A review of Network Rail has been commissioned by The Government and is currently being managed by Nicola Shaw, the CEO of HS1. The remit for the review is to provide recommendations about the future structure and financing of Network Rail. 2.15 The consultation requests formal written responses to the questions posed in the scoping report consultation document and/or through participating in a discussion session to inform the Report Team’s thinking and to help the team to gather additional insight. 2.16 The consultation paper for the Future of Network Rail can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/f ile/476944/the-future-shape-and-financing-of-network-rail-the-scope.pdf The submitted response to this consultation is set out in Annex 3. 2.17 The response raised: the importance of cooperation between Network Rail (or a successor body) and the County Council and/or Combined HIOW Authority the importance of sufficient funding for the design and development of future schemes and investment programmes, including provision to support the development and delivery of schemes to meet legitimate local aspirations 3. Agenda item: 12 3. Other key issues 3.1. Through the South Western franchise consultation, the prospect of a Combined Authority and corresponding Passenger Transport Executive will be raised. 4. Recommendations 4.1. That the draft consultation response to the South Western rail franchise set out in Annex 1 be approved for submission to the Government by the deadline of 9 February 2016. 4.2. That the response to the Department for Transport’s Crossrail 2 consultation, as set out in Annex 2, which was submitted under delegated authority, be noted. 4.3. That the response to the scoping study for the Shaw Secretariat on the Shaw Report, which was submitted under delegated authority, as set out in Annex 3, be noted. Rpt/7233/NW 4. Integral Appendix A CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: Links to the Corporate Strategy Hampshire safer and more secure for all: no Corporate Improvement plan link number (if appropriate): Maximising well-being: no Corporate Improvement plan link number (if appropriate): Enhancing our quality of place: yes Corporate Improvement plan link number (if appropriate): Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.) Document Location None 5. Integral Appendix B IMPACT ASSESSMENTS: 1. Equality Duty 1.1. The County Council has a duty under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (‘the Act’) to have due regard in the exercise of its functions to the need to: Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited under the Act; Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender and sexual orientation) and those who do not share it; Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Due regard in this context involves having due regard in particular to: a) The need to remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons sharing a relevant characteristic connected to that characteristic; b) Take steps to meet the needs of persons sharing a relevant protected characteristic different from the needs of persons who do not share it; c) Encourage persons sharing a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity which participation by such persons is disproportionally low. 1.2. Equalities Impact Assessment: It is considered that the proposals will have low or no impact on groups with protected characteristics. The EIA statement is as follows: The ETE Decision Day report details responses to consultations being managed by the Department for Transport and the Shaw Secretariat. Whilst the Council has made recommendations for improvements for mobility impaired passengers and improved suburban rail access, particularly for the South Western Rail Franchise consultation, a decision on whether or not to include these items in the Invitation to Tender for the franchise will be made by others. 2. Impact on Crime and Disorder: 2.1. None. 1. Integral Appendix B 3. Climate Change: 3.1. How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption? No direct impact. 3.2. How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts? No direct impact. 2. Annex 1 Annex 1 South Western franchise response to be submitted on 9th February 2016 Dear Sir/Madam South Western Rail Franchise Consultation Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the South Western Rail Franchise Stakeholder Consultation which will inform the specification for bidders for the franchise from 2017. This letter sets out the formal response of Hampshire County Council to the Stakeholder Consultation document. Hampshire County Council and our District Council and LEP partners understand the key role played by the rail services in connecting labour markets and supporting economic growth across Hampshire. The South Western franchise has an important role to play in providing and improving access to employment, education, retail, services and leisure opportunities for our residents and for the numerous businesses based in the County. Hampshire has a population of 1.3 million residents and is the third most populous county in England.