Annual Review 2017 Campaigning for a bigger better railway Railfuture Annual Review 2017 1 www.railfuture.org.uk pushed into next year and beyond. Honorary Meanwhile, franchising is facing its most uncertain future since privatisation and there are doubts President’s whether the current model can survive. address It may seem that given all the travails of the railway, groups fighting for The coming year on the railways is full of both uncertainty and local improvements or reopenings opportunity. On the one hand, there may face an uphill task. Not is more money available for railway necessarily. The kind of ideas and investment than ever before, after an schemes that we are putting forward amazing settlement of the may well fit in with Network Rail’s Christian Wolmar investment plans which start in April wider plans. There is a new emphasis There may never be a better time to 2019. On the other hand, in the short term, the overspending during the on devolution, on listening to engage with the wider industry than current five year period means that ‘stakeholders’ and on finding quick during these rather troubled times. schemes have been reined back or wins. Go for it. which will stimulate economic Chair’s review growth. Campaigning for a bigger better Our key national campaigns for 2018 railway sounds simple, but what do are therefore: passengers first, fares we mean? and ticketing, route modernisation and a bigger railway. A better railway is one which puts the passenger first. Successful businesses Railfuture aims to put forward have excellent customer service realistic proposals to improve rail woven into their culture, gaining the services. Our influence comes from trust of customers and so ensuring building relationships with that growth continues. If rail industry stakeholders, not throwing rocks. We staff at all levels make decisions with seek to reach out to a wider, more the interest of passengers in mind, diverse audience and increase our then rail users will see the benefits numbers, which in turn will increase that are important to them: the weight our voice carries with reliability, punctuality, quicker government and the rail industry. Chris Page journeys, more seats, comfort, wifi, In 2017 Railfuture received car parking, toilets, value for money recognition for our informative, and better customer service. impartial view on proposed changes Contents Critical to the rail industry’s ability to to the roles of on-board staff, for our deliver these benefits are clearly informed, sustainable and supportive Honorary President’s address 2 explained ticket and journey choices responses to consultations, and for Chair’s review 2 and competitive fares to attract the open, constructive and Fares and ticketing campaign 3 passengers from other modes of sometimes frank conversations that Route modernisation campaign 4 travel. we have had with stakeholders. Of Campaigning for a bigger railway 5 the five stations that the Department A bigger railway is one which Railfuture near you 6 provides more journey opportunities for Transport included in the second Campaigns in your area 8 and more capacity to accommodate round of the New Stations Fund, two Rail industry review 10 the increasing number of passengers (Peterlee and Warrington West) were choosing rail, by modernising routes included in the shortlist proposed to Help improve our railway 12 and adding new stations and lines the Rail Minister by Railfuture. Front cover photo by Barrie Forrest Railfuture Annual Review 2017 2 www.railfuture.org.uk Fares and ticketing campaign Chris Page, National Chair Some people are deterred from travelling by train by the complexity of buying a ticket and the perception that fares are expensive, whilst some passengers are unclear whether they have the best deal so feel ripped off. What passengers need are: Value for money fares Clearly explained ticket choices Smart ticketing which benefits the passenger Fares. Fares rise each year at RPI so take an increasing proportion of passengers’ income. Railfuture has long campaigned for the use of CPI, with the proviso that the rail industry must contain its costs so that it does not need more support from the Play the ticket maze game to reach the Oyster! taxpayer. clearly explained at the point of travelling fewer than 5 days per week, There are anomalies between fares purchase. and off-peak singles for people who can specify a train in one direction but which give rise to ‘split ticketing’, ie Printing a link to the National Rail need flexibility in the other, or are buying separate tickets for each part of website for the restriction code on the making triangular journeys. the journey because it is cheaper than ticket is a step in the right direction, the through fare. Some routes have but it is unfair effectively to impose Smart ticketing. Oyster is the only fare levels which are relatively high conditions after purchase. The validity really smart ticket: it is pay-as-you-go even though journey quality is poor, in terms of both time and route for the and valid across operators, has a daily and vice-versa. These anomalies make specific journey, not just the generic cap, can be loaded with your season passengers feel that fares are unfair, so restriction, should be displayed online ticket or railcard, and is cheaper than the Department for Transport must and on ticket vending machines before paying cash. Other smartcards and instruct the rail industry to carry out a purchase and printed on the ticket. mobile phone ticket apps don’t offer all fares review to resolve them. The those features – some are pretty dumb, The times which qualify for off-peak changes required should be made over being no more than an electronic ticket travel vary between operators and a period of time to limit the impact on wallet for some but not all tickets. The passengers and operator revenue. routes. These should be consistent as only downsides of Oyster are that it has far as possible – certainly the peak Fares should reflect journey quality and to be preloaded with money and it is period for commuting to a major city demand, and be competitive with not valid outside the London area. such as London or Birmingham should travelling by car. The fare for a through be the same for all routes, defined in Using a contactless credit/debit card journey should not exceed the sum of terms of arrival at (or departure from) avoids the need to preload and still the fares for individual legs. the city centre station, and should not gives most of the features of Oyster, Ticketing. The ticketing system offers apply to the reverse peak direction. but again only in the London area. passengers a choice: in flexibility of The Routeing Guide, which defines The rail industry must develop smart time of travel, in flexibility of route, in valid routes between any two stations, ticketing which is nationally valid and journey speed and in journey quality. pay-as-you-go. However it cannot rely That choice makes the system appear is impenetrable. It must be revised, not on every passenger having a smartcard complex, but simplifying it would to remove route options, but to make it or a smartphone, so must continue to reduce choice and flexibility, which easy for anyone to use. offer a range of ticketing methods. would not benefit the passenger. What New ticket types are needed, for passengers need is for that choice to be example ‘part-time’ seasons for people www.railfuture.org.uk/fares Campaigning for a bigger better railway 3 Railfuture Annual Review 2017 Route modernisation campaign Chris Austin OBE FCILT Electrification was the hot topic of 2017, with the cancellation or deferral of much of the programme in the light of the disastrous budget overrun on the Great Western main line prompting Railfuture to review its priorities. Railfuture still advocates a rolling Realignment at Market Harborough will remove a severe speed restriction on programme of electrification, but at a the Midland Main Line. Image by Network Rail. sustainable level, where it can improve operational efficiency as just one problem is that much of the benefit is speed restriction, remodelling Derby element of a route modernisation to the train operator while the cost falls station, enhancements and platform strategy that needs to be planned on Network Rail. lengthening at other stations, and W12 gauge clearance for taller freight coherently. There is little incentive for the train containers. Much of the network was remodelled operator to fund the improvement Elsewhere the current hiatus does give in the 1970s and 1980s, the steam age unless it is required in order to deliver layouts were simplified and surplus the franchise specification. Then the a breathing space for better capacity eliminated as sidings and operator will recover the cost through coordination and planning of railway depots were closed. Simplified track the franchise agreement. route modernisation, including the geometry yielded big maintenance The same is true of electrification, phasing of future electrification, and to savings and speed increases. where the costs fall to Network Rail address the reasons for the excessive and the benefits to the train operator costs of Great Western Main Line Now the need is for more capacity, electrification. more reliable operation, faster in terms of lower train maintenance journeys and greater sustainability. costs, better performance and higher Trans Pennine is a good example, availability. where the need for line speed Total route modernisation may include Therefore the government, through the improvements and additional loops or digital signalling to reduce the interval relief lines probably needs to come between trains and so enable higher Department for Transport, must take the lead on route modernisation, before the layout can be electrified – frequency, improved track layout and but electrification is still required to closure of level crossings to remove sponsoring programmes either directly with Network Rail, through franchise deliver the power required for faster speed restrictions, enhanced stations services over the difficult gradients.