News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 135 - 01/05/2004
- RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues]
- ST.IVES LINE [all issues]
- Objections to the Guided Busway total 2729
- CAST.IRON produces analysis of guided busway showing massive amount of public subsidy required
- Save Our Station campaign set-up to prevent Histon Station being demolished
- STATIONS [all issues]
- Felixstowe Beach 'derelict' station demolished on Easter Sunday
- Cambridge City Council decides not to retain land for Addenbrooke's Station
- Planning application submitted for additional public car parking spaces at Ely station
- RAIL DEPOTS [all issues]
- RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues]
- RAIL SERVICES [all issues]
- Rail Passengers Committee wins a late-night train to serve south Cambridgeshire villages
- Train times during Ipswich tunnel block announced
- WAGN takes over networkers from South Eastern Trains
- RAIL BARGAINS [all issues]
- LIGHT RAIL [all issues]
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
- WEBSITES [all issues]
The next Railfuture East Anglia branch meeting will be at the County Library in Ipswich on 12th June at 14:00. Peter Meades of 'one' Railway will be the guest speaker. The remaining 2004 meetings are confirmed as Norwich on 18th September and Cambridge on 4th December (not as stated in Snippets 134).
Network Rail will be holding an opening day at March Whitemoor Distribution Centre on 23rd May 2004. It is open from 13:00 to 17:00.
Cambridge to Colchester Railway Development Company (CRDC) and CSRRA will be holding a public presentation of the feasibility study (stage 1 market research) by consultants Wilson Lee and Partners of the Haverhill to Cambridge railway, on Saturday 8th May at 14:00 in Haverhill Town Hall Arts Centre in the High Street. The presentation ends at 15:15.
RAIL FRANCHISES
National Express commences Greater Anglia franchise - branded as 'one'
Keywords: [OneRailway]
The Greater Anglia franchise, run by National Express launched on 1st April with the laughable branding of 'one', because there is "one operator, one terminus, one vision and one unified management team for one region". Apparently it also stands for 'Operated by National Express". Rail users - though it seems not the marketing gurus at NEx - immediately saw the potential for confusing announcements: "the 11:20 'one' service to ...".
Alistair Darling officially launched the new franchise at Liverpool Street on 1st April, and named a class 90 locomotive Readwald of East Anglia after one of the region's Saxon Kings. Also in attendance were Richard Bowker, Phil White, chief executive of National Express, an assortment of local football mascots and some guys dressed up in Saxon outfits complete with axes and swords. Many stakeholders, including Railfuture, were present. They travelled on the 12:30 service to Norwich formed of refurbished Mk3 coaches in the new livery.
There were family days out on 3rd and 10th April, which allowed two adults and two children anywhere on the 'one' network (excluding King's Lynn) for £20. The website is http://www.onerailway.com (and .co.uk), with websites for the constituent routes: http://www.oneanglia.com, http://www.onewestanglia.com and http://www.onegreateastern.com.
Two Class 90 engines a week will be introduced so that by mid-May all mainline services will be scheduled to be hauled by them, replacing the Class 86s used since electrification of the route to Ipswich in 1985 and Norwich in 1987.
The new franchise has already seen problems for passengers. On 1st April there were queues at Cambridge station ticket offices and the only trains around were from WAGN whose staff are no longer allowed to sell tickets at Cambridge station.
NatEx press release: http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/releases/pr2004/2004-04-01/
SRA announcement: http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/Folder.2004-03-29.7340788589/438_gaf.
ST.IVES LINE
Objections to the Guided Busway total 2729
In mid-April the Cambridge Evening News claimed that the DfT had received over 3,000 objections to Cambridgeshire County Council's TWA order for a guided busway on the St.Ives railway line. CCC representatives claimed that this was about the number the expected, although this is clearly not true. Fewer than 400 objections were received against the Luton-Dunstable Translink scheme, and at one point CAST.IRON predicted only 1,000. In fact 1,000 arrived in the last three days!
The secretary of state has confirmed that a public inquiry will take place. Given the large number of objections, which CAST.IRON believes is a little over 2,729 (plus 4 letters of support and 3 other representations), Cambs CC has decided against trying to persuade individuals to withdraw their objections. Objectors had 14 days to state their wish to appear at public inquiry, and will have until 11th June to submit their 'statement of case', which can be their original objection if they do not wish to add to it.
Swavesey Parish Council voted at their monthly meeting on Monday 22nd March to object to the guided bus. They are one of many statutory objectors. CAST.IRON has also been asked by several residents living next to the railway line to be their representatives at the public inquiry.
SaveTheLakes website: http://www.savethelakes.co.uk
RAGBUS website: http://www.ragbus.co.uk.
CAST.IRON produces analysis of guided busway showing massive amount of public subsidy required
Keywords: [CASTIRON]
Cambridgeshire County Council claims that it supports the guided busway because it would not require any long-term subsidy, but a reopened railway would. However, CAST.IRON has produced a thoroughly researched 40-page analysis of the costs of operating a guided busway, and believes that an average of £873,000 subsidy is required each year just to maintain the busway. After allowing for initial loss-making bus services, prior to new houses being built, a total of £11.6m subsidy is predicted.
CAST.IRON chairman Tim Phillips presented a summary of this information in a 3-minute speech, followed by questions, to Cambs CC members on 30th March, prior to their vote on continuing with the TWA order. Members were not swayed by rail or conservation arguments (from Save our Lakes) and voted to continue (37 in favour).
CAST.IRON's busway costs analysis is the first ever analysis not performed or funded by its backers. Although independent in that sense, Cambs CC busway supporters immediately seized upon the term "independent" used once by CAST.IRON - despite being written by one of its executives, Dr Stephen Ades - and issued a press release accusing CAST.IRON of misleading the public. Dr Ades said: "the word independent was not a well thought-out choice, but CCC's press release has caused a significant number of people to go and look at the analysis [on the CAST.IRON website] - thanks pals!"
CAST.IRON's 40-page busway analysis: http://www.castiron.org.uk/analysis.
Save Our Station campaign set-up to prevent Histon Station being demolished
Keywords: [HistonStation]
S.O.S - Save Our Station [http://www.saveourstation.org.uk] has been formed to save Histon Station from demolition, which Cambridgeshire County Council have applied to do, to build a car park for the Guided Busway. It is encouraging volunteers to help tidy up the station, and return it to bloom by summer 2004. Volunteers meet at the station on Saturdays from 10:00.
On 24th April 12 volunteers turned up to help - twice that of the previous week. Vegetation has been almost totally cleared from the area around the station platforms, and now the buildings are receiving a coat of paint. The volunteers plan to replace the rotten fence at the front of the station.
The group, which is independent of CAST.IRON, has already obtained media coverage. The BBC filmed at the station on Thursday 22nd April, and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire interviewed organisers Phill Diver and Henry Tribe at the station on Friday 23rd April. An online petition can be signed at http://www.saveourstation.org.uk/petition.php.
At the other end of Histon, a lack of joined-up thinking has resulted in the resurfacing of Park Lane road covering over the groove in the railway track at the level crossing.
STATIONS
Felixstowe Beach 'derelict' station demolished on Easter Sunday
Keywords: [FelixstoweBeachStation]
Despite local District and Town Councils and rails groups, such as ESTA, calling for it to be listed, on Easter Sunday (11th April) the SRA carried out its threatened demolition of the old station building on the former Felixstowe Beach station site. It claimed the wooden structure was unsafe. Some campaigners had hoped that the possible development of Felixstowe's South Seafront that may have justified its reopening.
Cambridge City Council decides not to retain land for Addenbrooke's Station
Keywords: [CambridgeSouthStation]
On 27th April 2004 Cambridge City Council's Environment Scrutiny Committee took a decision not to reserve land for a railway station near Addenbrooke's Hospital. Among the arguments cited are environmental (encroachment onto "green finger"), competing with rival bus services, train operators don't want a station there and a city of 100,000 people can't support a multiplicity of stations. The latter argument wouldn't wash at Exeter, which is slightly smaller but has seven stations, including some opened/reopened in recent decades.
Objectors may argue against the council's policy at the Local Plan Inquiry.
Planning application submitted for additional public car parking spaces at Ely station
Keywords: [ElyStation]
A planning application has been submitted to build a new access road, bus stop and improve car and cycle parking (with CCTV) at Ely station. The car park will have 260 properly marked spaces instead of 220 at the moment. However, the space has been obtained by taking 50 informal parking spaces used solely by staff.
A planning decision on the £600,000 scheme (half of which will be paid by TOCs) is expected on 14th June.
RAIL DEPOTS
Network Rail opens depot at Whitemoor, March
The new £30 million rail maintenance depot at March has been in use since April, after four months work, and will eventually create more than 200 jobs. It will become an engineering supply depot serving the whole of East Anglia. Jenny Sacre of Network Rail said: "There are currently 40 jobs already filled in the first phase and it is expected that another 170 jobs will be created on the final opening, most of which will be recruited locally." More than 250 people from the surrounding area applied for the first round of 40 jobs.
The official opening is in May, and there will be a community event on 23rd May, which will include the re-naming of locomotive 66701 to Whitemoor. Live entertainment, stalls and a raffle are planned with all proceeds going from entrance fees to a local charity. Any organisations that would like to run stalls from the marquee or get involved with any of the events can call Jenny Sacre on (020) 7904 4043.
CEN article: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/search/dispstory.asp?id=51879&db=1.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Network Rail announces budget for maintenance and renewals in East Anglia
At the end of March Network Rail published is new national business plan, following agreement by government to fund it. The £26,000m three-year national business plan includes £1,000m in East Anglia. Much of this goes to the Great Eastern main line. However, significant work will take place south of Cambridge at Foxton, on the Wherry Line at Brundall, on the East Suffolk Line at Saxmundham and Darsham and also at Brandon. Around £145m each year will be for maintenance, £110m for track and structure renewals and £50m for signalling and OHLE renewals.
RAIL SERVICES
Rail Passengers Committee wins a late-night train to serve south Cambridgeshire villages
The RPC East of England Committee who have been calling for late night trains returning from Cambridge to serve the villages of Foxton, Meldreth and Shepreth have succeeded in getting WAGN to provide an experimental service.
The last train departed Cambridge at 21:54 on weekdays and Saturdays, but since 29th March the train leaving Cambridge at 23:21 on weekdays and at 23:11 on Saturdays has been stopping there. WAGN has only guaranteed to stop until 22nd May, saying: "This is an experimental service. If people don't use it then there will be no point in continuing with it."
Train times during Ipswich tunnel block announced
Keywords: [IpswichTunnel]
With only ten weeks before the £5m 8-week-long Ipswich tunnel blockade begins on 11th July, the temporary peak
and off-peak direct Norwich-London trains via Cambridge have been announced:
* Weekdays: leave Norwich at 06:30/12:12 and London at 11:47/17:27
* Saturday: leave Norwich at 07:51/11:14 and London at 11:24(to Yarmouth)/15:24/18:15
* Sunday: leave Norwich at 08:45/14:37; from Liverpool Street at 18:27 only.
Around 50,000 copies of a temporary timetable (which includes information on car parking arrangements and the replacement bus services) have been distributed at stations, tourist information centres and libraries.
WAGN takes over networkers from South Eastern Trains
Keywords: [WAGN]
Sixteen Class 365 "Networker" trains currently leased to South Eastern Trains are being transferred to WAGN as a replacement for 14 of the Class 317 type being temporarily transferred to Thameslink during the construction of a new Thameslink station under St.Pancras later this year, that will sever the route through London for several months.
RAIL BARGAINS
Harwich-Hook of Holland 2 for 1 offer
Stena Line in conjunction with 'one' railway has a 2 for 1 offer between any former-Anglia Station and any station in the Netherlands via the Stena HSS fast ferry between Harwich and the Hook of Holland of just £42.50 per person, a saving of £85.
The offer is valid from 3rd May-11th July inclusive and must be booked at least five days before departure (last day for bookings is 30th June). Telephone 0870-4006-756 quoting reference no. V406, or see your local travel agent. Terms and conditions apply.
Massive savings on steam trips through 'one'
Keywords: [OneRailway]
Trips on the North Norfolk and Bure Valley railways are being promoted on the 'one' anglia website. Savings of 25% and 29% respectively on the preserved trains are available when booking through tickets from a 'one' station.
'one' website: http://www.oneanglia.com/special-products/special-products03.asp?id=483193&class=4.
LIGHT RAIL
Light Railway scheme proposed for Great Yarmouth
Consultants have recommended a basic light rail system in Great Yarmouth linking the railway station to the seafront. It would use Parry People Mover vehicles rather than trams. Each vehicle is capable of holding around 50 people and would be powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) therefore not requiring overhead power lines.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Mid-Norfolk Railway gets ready for reopening of Kimberley Park station
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
The MNR have erected a pre-fabricated shelter on the platform at Kimberley Park station eight people were required to lift the shelter which was mounted on pre-cast retaining bolts in the platform. Earlier in April the whole of the platform had been resurfaced. When the station reopens to the public it will also have cycle racks.
MNR volunteers have been keeping the vegetation under control on the northern extension up to County School. On 1st May they commenced with re-sleepering directly north of Dereham station, and run a 3-car works train across Swanton Road as far as the sleepers were changed: at the 12 mile post. This was the first train across it since 1989. The MNR had previously ran a train across Neatherd Road, which is the crossing before Swanton Road.
An open day was held on Sunday 2nd May to celebrate the fifth year of service operation by the MNR.
WEBSITES
Wisbech-March Bramley Line group launches website
Keywords: [WisbechBranch]
The Wisbech-March Bramley Line Club, formed to acquire the March-Wisbech line as a heritage railway, now have a website at http://www.bramleyline.co.uk. The website has photos of the line, minutes from each of its recent meetings, and news items from local newspapers, including one stating that Norfolk Street Traders' Association in Wisbech has offered a "substantial" donation, taking the sum raised to over £1,000. This sum has been sent to Network Rail (NR) as a deposit to acquire the line.
The website has a printable membership application form (£10 for individuals) plus a diagram of March station http://www.bramleyline.co.uk/html/track_plan.html showing the working rail lines from platforms one and two and the proposed plan for the Wisbech line, which would require use of the old platforms three and four.
The group holds a monthly meeting. Contact 'info[AT]bramleyline.co.uk' or phone chairman Peter Downs on 01945 467740.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 135 - 01/05/2004
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