News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 82 - 18/01/2002
- RAIL INVESTMENT [all issues]
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues]
- RAIL SERVICES [all issues]
- Anglia Railways seeks RPP funding for significantly improved local services
- First announces its investment plans if awarded Greater Anglia franchise
- RAIL IN THE MEDIA [all issues]
- Railfuture interviewed by BBC's East at Westminster programme
- Weekend political programmes focus on "rail crisis"
- STATIONS [all issues]
- EAST WEST RAIL LINK [all issues]
John Brodribb from STEER will be coming to the branch AGM on 23rd February 2002 and will lead a discussion on the SRA's rail strategy.
A public meeting entitled "Pollution - Can it be controlled?" is being held on Tuesday 30th April 2002 at The Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots. It will ask if pollution can be kept under control, given the watering down of the Kyoto agreement on climate change. Speakers are Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth Senior Campaigner Climate and Transport and Don Walton of the Green Party.
RAIL INVESTMENT
SRA publishes long-awaited Strategic Plan for investment in the railway
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The publication of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan on 14th January brought little news for rail in East Anglia that was not already known. |
* Improvements to Bury St.Edmunds station forecourt and restoration of passenger lifts
* Improve Diss station for better accessibility and interchange
* Platform expansion on Braintree branch, with passing loop at Cressing, and better access at Braintree Freeport
* Run round loop for freight at Brandon to enable regular interval passenger services
* Raised line speeds for Central's Stansted-Peterborough services.
Capacity improvements at Stansted and Cambridge would be part of the West Anglia Route Modernisation.
In a list of major rail projects which affect East Anglia, the SRA has suggested completion dates:
* West Anglia Route Modernisation - 2007
* Thameslink 2000 - 2008
* Felixstowe-Nuneaton freight route upgrade - 2010, with gauge clearance in 2005
* East Coast Main Line upgrade - 2010, with initial capacity upgrade at end of 2006
The SRA aims to lead a Special Purpose Vehicle to upgrade the ECML which is likely to include remodelling of Peterborough station, move freight off the ECML between Peterborough and Doncaster and improve capacity at Hitchin.
There is no mention of the East West Rail Link at all in the 116-page document, although freight use of the Bletchley to Claydon link is mentioned, as well as Chiltern's interest in operating an Aylesbury / Oxford to Bletchley / Milton Keynes service. The possibility of an eastern link from Stansted is omitted, though other rail links to airport, such as Heathrow, Cardiff, Manchester, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh are included.
More generally, the SRA stated its commitment to opening new passenger lines and stations through RPP, citing Edinburgh CrossRail and the Valley of Glamorgan line.
Download strategic plan: http://www.sra.gov.uk/sra/Publications/pdf/Strategic_Plan.htm
East Anglia summary: http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/releases/2002/jan/20020114_Eastern_England_briefing.htm
BBC Three Counties analysis: http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/news/2002/01/15/railinvestment.shtml.
GUIDED BUSWAY
SuperCAM guided busway consortium reveals more detailed plans for guided busway
According to Birmingham-based Gallagher Estates, who with Rapid Transit International and Stagecoach form the SuperCAM consortium, the guided bus system on the St.Ives line will be in service by 2006, in time for the opening of the new Oakington settlement with 6,000 new homes.
An exhibition showing all the stops along the route and the type of vehicles proposed will be on display in March. The consortium expects to fund £25 million for the capital cost and to repay a loan for the remaining £30m from bus fares. Stagecoach would be a leading contender to operate the service, but the contract would be put out to tender.
Each guided bus could carry up to 120 passengers and there would a bus every 10 minutes at peak times. The service would run for 16 hours each day. The consortium claim that the bus would take 25 minutes from St Ives to Chesterton and 45 minutes to Addenbrooke's Hospital or Trumpington.
According to Gallagher Estates' project director Alan Joyner, a heavy rail system would cost twice as much as the busway, and a light railway half as much again. He believes that "Neither would generate enough revenue to pay off the debt", although he conveniently ignores all revenue from non-local rail journeys and freight, plus train companies' operational savings from shorter cross-country journeys, and benefits to the economy from faster rail journeys.
Hunts Post article on busway plans: http://www.huntspost.co.uk/News/18_01_02/bus.asp.
In the same week's letters column in the Hunts Post, Nick Dibben said: "The recent experience of guided busways is not encouraging. Last year, the busway scheme for Edinburgh was cancelled because it was considered that an enhanced local bus system could do the same job at a fraction of the cost. The same city has just started work on a new cross-city rail link which will open within a year. More locally, the Government has recently refused funding for the Luton busway. Finally, in Essen, Germany, home of the first guided busway, sections are being removed and being replaced by standard buses."
A new street-running guided busway in Bradford will be opening on 30th January 2002.
Firstbradford website: http://www.firstgroup.com/firstbradford/qualitybus/index.htm.
RAIL FRANCHISES
GNER awarded two-year franchise extension by SRA
Keywords: [GNER]
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The SRA has completed franchise renewal negotiations with GNER and has awarded it a two-year extension to the East Coast franchise until April 2005. |
In addition, GNER are providing six new rescue locomotives and will be spending £20m to improve the reliability of its electric locomotives.
The SRA requires 81% of trains on time from April 2003 and 83% from April 2004. From April 2003 GNER will give refunds of 50% for trains 45-89 minutes late and a full refund if delayed longer.
SRA press release: http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/releases/2002/jan/Two_Year_GNER_Extension_Agreed%20_160102.htm.
RAIL SERVICES
Anglia Railways seeks RPP funding for significantly improved local services
Keywords: [AngliaRailways]
Anglia Railways are intending to submit an RPP bid to the SRA before the end of January. They are proposing 60 additional services a day on Monday to Saturday, and a more frequent service on Sundays. Speaking about the extra Mon-Sat Cambridge to Ipswich services Tim Clarke, managing director of Anglia Railways, said: "Our proposals would upgrade the Ipswich to Cambridge route with new trains to give a real alternative to the A14.".
The proposals would also see the best-ever service on the Wherry lines.
Anglia is working with county and local councils as well as the East of England Development Agency to secure funding for the first year of operation. Forest Heath District Council has earmarked £10,000 and Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed in principle to a contribution of £60,000. Improved service would begin in October 2003.
Full list of proposed services:
* 7 additional services between Ipswich and Cambridge (Mondays to Saturdays)
* A further 6 additional services between Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds (Mondays to Saturdays)
* 2 additional services between Ipswich and Peterborough (Mondays to Saturdays)
* Doubling of service to half-hourly between Norwich and Great Yarmouth (Mondays to Saturdays)
* Doubling of service to half-hourly between Norwich and Lowestoft (Mondays to Saturdays)
* 4 additional evening services between Norwich and Sheringham (Mondays to Saturdays)
* 2 additional teatime services between Norwich and North Walsham (Mondays to Saturdays)
* 2 additional services between Ipswich and Lowestoft (Mondays to Saturdays)
* Introduction of an hourly service between Norwich and Great Yarmouth on Sundays
* Introduction of an hourly service between Norwich and Lowestoft on Sundays
* An earlier first train and later last train between Norwich and Sheringham on Sundays
* A more frequent service between Ipswich and Cambridge/Peterborough on Sundays.
Anglia hope that these proposals will make it the front runner in the contest to operate the new Greater Anglia franchise. Spokesman Peter Meades said "If we continue to demonstrate that we have the right ideas for the region, we hope that it will help when we put our bid in for the new franchise."
Anglia press release: http://www.angliarailways.co.uk/latest-information/news-detail.asp?id=253
Eastern Daily Press News item:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Search/nfdetail.asp?Brand=EDPONLINE&Category=NEWS&
ItemId=NOED10+Jan+2002+23%3A57%3A13%3A223.
First announces its investment plans if awarded Greater Anglia franchise
First, formerly First Group, has released details of a investment programme if it is awarded the Greater Anglia franchise. Its proposals include a £180m investment in 188 new inter-city vehicles and dedicated vehicles for Stansted Airport, the replacement of rolling stock on the London-Norwich route and new trains for use on proposed through services between London and places in Suffolk such as Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft. A major station investment programme is also envisaged to make stations more welcoming. Platforms at important stations will be lengthened to take 12-coach trains.
First also wants to take control of signalling, train control and timetabling, in order to improve punctuality and reliability. Comments about these proposals can be sent to Peter Northfield, First Great Eastern, 35 Artillery Lane, London E1 7LP.
FGE proposals (PDF doc): http://www.ger.co.uk/document/franchiseproposal.pdf.
RAIL IN THE MEDIA
Railfuture interviewed by BBC's East at Westminster programme
The Sunday 13th January edition of the regional political programme East at Westminster focused on the future prospects of the rail system in East Anglia. Topics included the effects of the proposed Greater Anglia franchise. Railfuture branch secretary Nick Dibben was interviewed at length in the studio.
BBC press release: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/01_january/10/eastrailways.shtml.
Weekend political programmes focus on "rail crisis"
Following a week in which the Britain's "ailing rail system" led the news agenda, the two Sunday political TV programmes on 13th January featured rail problems. Tony Blair appeared on "Breakfast with Frost" and a panel of experts, including professor David Begg, appeared on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme. There will be a follow-up Dimbleby programme on Sunday 24th February, in Newcastle, where Stephen Byers will be interviewed.
STATIONS
Soham station steering group invest in Railfuture publications
Keywords: [SohamStation]
In October 2001, Soham Town Forum set-up a Station Steering Group, which includes two town councillors. In a press release, published by Ely Weekly News, the group revealed that it had purchased two Railfuture publications ('New Station - What Might It Cost' and the 'A to Z of Rail Re-openings'), costing a total of £10.95), which they hope will provide valuable advice to assess the viability of the station.
When the campaign was launched, local residents helped collect more than 1,600 signatures on a petition backing the station.
EAST WEST RAIL LINK
Rail reopening faces battle against cyclists and rowers
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According to the Bedfordshire Railway and Transport Association (BRTA) the Bedford-Sandy link faces significant local opposition due to a lobby for a rowing lake at Willington and from a cycling group who are determined to keep their cycle track west of Bedford which is on the old trackbed. |
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 82 - 18/01/2002
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