Shifnal – Improving Rail services An evening peak service to Shifnal, with typical levels of overcrowding Shifnal Forward Transport Action Group March 2015 1 Executive Summary The town of Shifnal is expanding rapidly, through multiple housing developments totalling an additional c1,500 households. The population is projected to increase by 54% in the 10 year period to 2021, the early impact of which is already being felt through increased use of rail services. In the year to 31 March 2014 passenger usage at Shifnal railway station increased by 9.54%, from 121,628 to 133,230 (source, ORR Station usage statistics), as many of the new residents of Shifnal choose to travel to Wolverhampton and Birmingham for work, education and leisure. Trains in both the morning and evening peaks are heavily overcrowded, as are some off peak services, particularly at weekends. With the population at Shifnal set to increase further, the pressure on rail services will continue to grow. Urgent action is required to alleviate overcrowding, accommodate future growth, and to encourage sustainable modal transfer from car to rail. Priorities for the short term (2015‐2016) are: 1. Morning Peak: to provide extra capacity towards Birmingham, the addition of a Shifnal call to the existing 0655 Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street service (operated by London Midland), which currently passes Shifnal at 0719. 2. Evening Peak: to provide extra capacity from Birmingham, addition of Shifnal calls to the 1709 Birmingham International to Llandudno, and 1809 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth (both operated by Arriva Trains Wales). 3. Station improvements: additional customer information screens, provision of secure cycle parking, and the raising the visibility and environment of the station. Priorities for the medium to longer term (2017‐2024) are: 4. Longer Trains: London Midland to allocate the diesel trains that will become surplus in 2017 (on completion of the Walsall‐Rugeley electrification) to strengthen existing services on the Shrewsbury – Birmingham corridor. Agreement will be required with the Department for Transport to reallocate the rolling stock. 5. Increased frequency: as part of the specification for the replacement London Midland franchise in 2017, an increase in frequency of services calling at Shifnal is proposed, raising the service to 2 trains per hour each way, all day. 6. Station improvements: provision of additional car parking spaces at the station. A full list of recommendations is in Section 6 The report is addressed to Shropshire Council Integrated Transportation Officer and West Midlands Rail, who aim to take responsibility with DfT for specifying and managing local rail services in the region from 2017. Shrewsbury Oakengates SHIFNAL Albrighton Bilbrook Birmingham Wellington Telford Cosford Codsall Wolverhampton 2 Contents Page 1 Introduction 4 2 Current Service Provision and Usage 6 3 Service Proposals 9 4 Shifnal Station: Location and Facilities 13 5 Shifnal Station: Proposals for Upgrading 15 6 Recommendations 18 Appendices 19 3 1 Introduction 1.1 Shifnal is a small town located mid‐way between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, and is within easy commuting range of these cities, Telford and Birmingham. The town is earmarked for significant growth in the period to the year 2021, with much housing development underway or confirmed at 9 sites around the town including Haughton Road (400 dwellings) and Wolverhampton Road (538 dwellings). In total 1,459 additional households will be provided by 2021, representing almost 50% growth from the 2011 figure of just over 3,000 homes. 1.2 The growth of the town naturally leads to an increase in the population. As the initial housing development has completed in the last year or so, the population has increased, with a further significant increase expected in the next few years, as per the table below. 2011 (Census) 6,240 2015 (Estimate) 6,771 (+9% in 4 years) 2021 (Forecast) 9,596 (+54% in 10 years) 1.3 Furthermore, Telford and Wrekin Council are expected to approve a further 1,600 homes at East Priorslee within the next 12 months. Located less than 3 miles from Shifnal, residents of this development may find it more convenient to travel to Shifnal station to travel towards Wolverhampton and Birmingham, with an easier drive, free parking and cheaper rail fares than the alternative at Telford Central. 1.4 Many residents of Shifnal travel to Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and increasingly, Birmingham for work, education or leisure purposes. As the population increases, it is expected that an increased share of the population will commute ‘out of town’ to work, having relocated to Shifnal due to the attractive nature of the town and the transport links. However, the forecast increase in population is likely to overwhelm the existing public transport provision at Shifnal. 1.5 This report looks at the impact this will have on Shifnal rail services, which are already under pressure at peak times, and which have increased at a greater rate than the population. 1.6 During the initial scoping of the report, we learned that the current rail franchise, operated by London Midland, is due to be replaced by a new franchise in 2017. Consultation about a new franchise specification starts in late summer this year, 2015. It is imperative that the town’s voice should be heard now, and not lost if there should be political changes as a result of the General Election in May. 1.7 We also became aware of a new organisation, West Midlands Rail (WMR), a government‐ sponsored body created 12 months ago with a view to overseeing all local rail services in the West Midlands. Working together with partner local authorities, including Shropshire Council, WMR wishes to take responsibility, with the DfT, for specifying and managing local rail services in the region from 2017, in line with the refranchising programme for London 4 Midland coincident with the start date of the new franchise. We are therefore seeking the support of WMR to bring improvements to the current service at Shifnal. 1.8 Therefore this report : examines the current train service, identifies potential problems in current and future capacity and service provision, proposes priorities agreed by Shifnal Forward Transport Group for improvements, and recommends ways to achieve these in the short, medium and long term. 1.9 We will ensure that the report is available to Shropshire Council, West Midlands Rail and the Department for Transport, this month, in this window of opportunity. It will also inform the Shifnal Neighbourhood Plan to be published later this year. 1.10 The report has been researched by the Shifnal Forward Transport group of volunteers, working with Shifnal Town Council, Shropshire Council, the nascent West Midlands Rail group of local authorities, together with many willing volunteers and rail users in the town. We offer sincere thanks to all who gathered information and helped in compiling this report. David Curtis Shifnal Forward Transport Group March 2015 5 2 Current Service Provision and Usage Shrewsbury Oakengates SHIFNAL Albrighton Bilbrook Birmingham Wellington Telford Cosford Codsall Wolverhampton 2.1 Service Provision 2.1.1 Shifnal is approximately half way along the Wolverhampton – Shrewsbury main line, a strategic route that links London and the West Midlands to Shropshire and both Mid and North Wales (Powys, the Welsh coast and Holyhead). 2.1.2 Passenger traffic to and from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton and Birmingham comprises commuting and business travel between the various towns and cities, students of colleges in Telford, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham leisure traffic, principally shoppers and tourists Military personnel for RAF Cosford and MoD Donnington 2.1.3 The line has nationwide connectivity with only one change: From Shrewsbury there are direct services to Swansea, Cardiff, West Wales and Holyhead, Chester and Manchester. From Wolverhampton direct services go to Glasgow, Liverpool, the North West, Southampton, Bournemouth, Oxford and London. From Birmingham there are trains to the cities of the East Midlands, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester, further north to Edinburgh and Newcastle, and south to Bristol, Devon and Cornwall. 2.1.4 The passenger traffic is catered for by a train service that has remained largely unchanged for over 20 years. Shifnal has an hourly service off peak to Wolverhampton and Birmingham, with an extra train in the morning peak. The balancing service from Birmingham towards Telford and stations to Shrewsbury is also hourly, again with a peak extra. All services are provided by London Midland (LM), save for the last train in each direction Monday to Saturday, and all services on Sundays, which are provided by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW). The Sunday service is operated every two hours, and is provided on a commercial basis, i.e. it is not specified by the Department for Transport and (presumably) therefore operates without subsidy. 2.1.5 All services Monday to Saturday are formed of Class 170 trains in 2, 3 or 4 coach formation. Peak services are usually formed of 4 coaches. Sunday services are often formed of a single carriage Class 153 unit. 2.1.6 Two services depart Shifnal in the morning peak at 07.42 and 08.13, arriving Wolverhampton at 08.05 and 08.36, and Birmingham New Street at 08.23 and 08.55 respectively. These two morning peak services are popular as the other morning trains are not conveniently timed for the majority of those who work in Wolverhampton or Birmingham with arrivals at the latter at 07.17 and 09.55. 6 2.1.7 In the evening peak, the two principal commuter trains from Birmingham to Shifnal are at 17.05 and 17:49, departing Wolverhampton at 17.25 and 18:10, and arriving Shifnal at 17:46 and 18:32 respectively. 2.1.8 Other passenger trains pass through the station non‐stop: 1 per hour from Aberystwyth or North Wales to Birmingham International (for the NEC and airport) operated by Arriva Trains Wales 2 trains per day from Shrewsbury to London Euston operated by Virgin Trains 1 train a day on a London Midland service from Shrewsbury to Birmingham (dep Telford at 07:15), with no balancing return journey in the evening.