HARROW COUNCIL TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2004 INFORMATION CIRCULAR PART I Enc. 1. Minutes of Recent Bus & Highway Liaison Meetings and Rail Liaison Meetings: (Pages 1 - 36) Enc. 2. Transport Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Processes: (Pages 37 - 40) PART II - NIL This page is intentionally left blank Information Item 1 Pages 1 to 36 INFORMATION ITEM 1 RAIL LIAISON MEETING BUS & HIGHWAY LIAISON MEETING The following minutes of the above meetings, are attached for information: • Wednesday 7 April 2004 – minutes agreed • Wednesday 7 July 2004 – subject to approval at the next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday 6 October 2004. FOR INFORMATION Author: Helen McGrath, Transportation Administrator Tel: 020 8424 7569 Email: [email protected] 1 This page is intentionally left blank 2 Harrow Council Minutes of the Rail Liaison Meeting Wednesday 7 April 2004 Present Harrow Council John Nickolay JN Councillor Alan Blann AB Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar TI Councillor Steve Swain SJS Transportation Manager Hanif Islam HI Transport Planner Fuad Omar FO Travel Plan Officer Helen McGrath HM Minutes Rail Operators Pat Hansberry PH Metropolitan Line, London Underground Limited Phil Wood PW Planning, London Underground Limited Mike Guy MG London Underground Limited Christopher Upfold CU Accessibility, London Underground Limited Matt Ball MB South Central Charlie Johnston CJ Silverlink County Ian Polush IP Silverlink Metro Harrow Public Transport Users Association Anthony Wood AW Chairman ACTION 1.0 APOLOGIES Councillor Adrian Pinkus – Harrow Council Chris Mair – Network Rail Julian Drury – Silverlink Stuart Yeatman – Chiltern Rail a) Minutes of Previous Meeting Agreed. b) Matters Arising To be dealt with under appropriate heading. 2.0 CROSSRAIL No attendance. 3.0 SOUTH CENTRAL AW mentioned the confusion surrounding the 1630 into Harrow and Wealdstone (northbound), which does not stop. MB advised the 1630 service would be resumed in the new timetable, scheduled to start on 27 September 2004. 3 The service will stop at Wembley Central at 1626, Harrow and Wealdstone at 1631 and at Watford Junction at 1638. MB added that the new timetable would no longer be changed for the summer and winter seasons. Also, more peak trains going south of Clapham Junction is being investigated. MB reported that the SRA study on the Brighton mainline is due for release shortly, which will outline their proposals for completion by 2005. SRA investigated use of the Brighton main line and its capacity and have proposed changes that will allow an extra 40% seating capacity at peak times. Although pleased about the improvements that have been made, JN stated that passengers would still be required to change platforms at Clapham Junction. MB agreed that it is unfortunate but still necessary. 4.0 CHILTERN RAIL No attendance. 5.0 NETWORK RAIL Chris Mair, Public Affairs Manager for Network Rail was unfortunately unable to attend the meeting but forwarded his brief for inclusion in the minutes. Easter Works From 9-12 April renewal works will be carried out on the route from Rugby to Hemel Hempstead (and Watford on 10 and 11 April) and from 9-13 April from Stafford to Rugby. During this period, long distance trains will be diverted via the West Midlands, terminating at Northampton/Milton Keynes, with connecting buses to Hemel Hempstead/Watford and a shuttle train service into Euston. Alternative services are also available between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill on Chiltern Railways and between Manchester Piccadilly and London St Pancras on Midland Mainline (though this service terminates at Luton on 10 and 11 April with a shuttle service into London). Local train services will still operate between Harrow and Euston during this period, however there will be three trains an hour between Watford and Euston (but two on Sunday 11 April). Spring Bank Holiday 29 May-6 June. The route is effectively closed between Watford and Lichfield, with passengers transferring onto buses at Watford heading north. The Midland Mainline and Chilterns services are again alternative options. A copy of the latest press release is attached for information. During the works all stations remain open. 200 miles of the West Coast is now available to 125mph running in tilt mode under driver training conditions. This is between Colwick (staffs) and Cheadle Hume and Rugby to Hanslope Jcn (north of Milton Keynes). Platform extension works will take place at Harrow and are scheduled for completion by the end of September 2004. We are scheduled to go onto site in the very near future. Development, design and planning works are still ongoing. This will facilitate the new 12 car trains which are introduced onto the route in 2005. 2 4 Network Rail are also commissioning the Watford to Bletchley signalling during the Spring Bank Holiday and the new crossovers at Bourne End at the same time, which will give performance benefits when they come on line. In relation to the platform extension work AW asked whether planning permission had been given from Harrow Council. HI informed that permission had not originally been sought and Network Rail had not anticipated the length of time required to seek permission. The situation is being investigated. HI added that lorries to and from the site will be using Ellen Webb Drive in order to deliver materials. JN asked whether permission was necessary and was informed that as Harrow and Wealdstone is a listed building permission is required to ensure the work is inline with the current look of the station. CJ added that the timetable for 12 car trains is due to commence in 2004 with new 12 car vehicles expected to be in operation by February 2005. Platforms 4 and 5 to be extended. 6.0 LONDON UNDERGROUND PW provided an update. Tim O’Toole, Managing Director, LUL visited Harrow Council on 5 March 2004. Whilst at Harrow he was given a presentation by Harrow Council on the proposed development of the College Road site, he discussed the PPP plans and blockade and also met AW to discuss current rail issues i.e. Crossrail, the Croxley link, accessibility etc. PW also reported forthcoming closures, as shown below: Neasden to Stanmore (Jub) – 24-25 April 2004 Track replacement work. Rail replacement buses will be provided from Willesden Green to Stanmore (all stations except Dollis Hill). Neasden to Stanmore (Jub)/Wembley Park to Harrow on the Hill (Met) 22-23 May 2004 7-car project. Rail replacement buses will be provided from Stanmore to Neasden (all stations except Dollis Hill), Harrow on the Hill to Wembley Park and Willesden Green (all stations) Harrow on the Hill to Wembley Park (fast) and Willesden Green (fast). Harrow on the Hill to Aldgate/Neasden to Stanmore 12-13 June 2004 Wembley Park closure. Replacement services to be confirmed. Queens Park to Harrow & Wealdstone (Bak) – 13 June 2004 Network Rail work. Rail replacement buses from Queens Park to Wembley Central. Harrow on the Hill to Aldgate/Neasden to Stanmore 19-20 June 2004 Wembley Park closure. Replacement services to be confirmed. Acton Town to Uxbridge (Pic) – 26-27 June 2004 Track replacement work. Rail replacement services from Acton Town to Rayners Lane. 3 5 Queens Park to Harrow & Wealdstone – 1 August 2004 Network Rail work. Rail replacement buses from Queens Park to Wembley Central. Bakerloo Line 9 Day Blockade Network Rail plans a major renewal of points at Willesden Junction scheduled to take place at the close of traffic on Friday 22 October 2004 until the start of traffic on 1 November 2004. As a result there will be no service on the Bakerloo line, north of Queen’s Park, for nine days – with a reduced service on the rest of the line, as there will be no train access to and from Stonebridge Park depot. The dates coincide with half term when demand is suppressed and we carried out a bus route survey during the last half term to gauge accurate road traffic levels. Network Rail are planning a like for like replacement of the points and although Silverlink Train Services have objected, favouring a complete remodelling, this is the most likely scope of works to be carried out. A further meeting with representatives from LUL, Network Rail and Silverlink Train Services is scheduled for late April. This will start to look at the final arrangements for the closure and allow LUL and NR to begin consulting key stakeholders. The communications plan will also be drawn up at this point. AW asked whether sufficient planning had been made to accommodate for the closures i.e. ensuring other lines are operating full services. PW advised that there is a team responsible for the planning of any closures and the investigation of any parallel closures. In relation to the Tim O’Toole visit, AW mentioned an article recently published in Local Transport Today which states that LUL have under spent their budget. AW brought this issue up with Tim O’Toole but his response was that although funding is not his responsibility, figures are planned by TfL. PW informed that Camden Town is currently at the enquiry stage and funding has been spent slower than expected. £56m being carried over for this financial year. AW asked about dual height platforms (correct name: composite platforms) between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge and feels LUL should investigate on grounds of safety. AW also mentioned the new, universal stock planned for the Met Line, which is 2 metres shorter meaning a 30% reduction in seating. HI asked LUL for a more detailed programme for refurbishment to use in conjunction with the Council’s refurbishment programme. PH agreed to put HI in touch with Bernie Peal. SJS requested to know the long-term improvements that LUL have planned.