Railway Cuttings 76

19th July 2004

IN THE NEWS

Our President Peter Lawrence addressed the University of East Anglia Retirement Association on 9 June 2004. The rail subject was "The Three Norwich Rail Terminals - Victoria, City and Thorpe Stations".

BBC Politics Show telephoned Peter Lawrence and requested a copy of the Railfuture Rail Review submission. Peter had a call from Sky News on 7 July. It appears that a number of people are ignoring No Smoking signs on Brighton trains. Sky News asked for his opinion on what action could be taken. Peter suggestions included reporting the incident to the Conductor/Guard if there is one and reporting to the British Transport Police. Sky News were due to run the story on 9 July.

On 8 July Peter received a telephone call from the Northern Echo saying that Virgin had pulled out of the bid for the East Coast franchise. His response was one of surprise that Virgin had pulled out. (This was before the announcement of the withdrawal by the Virgin, Stagecoach and Deutsche Bahn consortium.)

On 9 July Peter received a call from Anglia Television asking him to do an interview on the forthcoming Ipswich Tunnel closure. The interview took place at Norwich Station on the same afternoon and as usual only a short section of the interview was transmitted. Peter managed to make the point that although closure would result in inconvenience and a nuisance for rail travellers "One" Anglia and Network Rail had made every effort to make the journey transfer from rail to bus at Ipswich and Manningtree as easy as possible. Ever since the announcement by Network Rail of the tunnel closure, stakeholders have been involved in several meetings and briefings. Railfuture East Anglia Branch together with Rail Passenger Committee, Line User Groups, District and County Councils and other interested parties have been able to voice their views.

RAIL STAFF June Newsletter mentions the changes to Railfuture leadership and the formation of Railway Development Society Limited. http://www.railstaff.co.uk/artman/publish/

Railfuture East Anglia Branch Secretary Nick Dibben recently gave a talk to the Bury St Edmunds Society on current and future rail developments in the region.

At the invitation of Network Rail, Railfuture Lincolnshire branch Chairman, Brian Hastings, and Vice Chairman, David Harby attended an event on 7 July to celebrate the start of construction of the Allington Chord. To mark the end of a long campaign for the chord by Lincolnshire branch and the local User Group, South East Lincolnshire Traveller’s Association, Brian was invited by Network Rail to give the vote of thanks at the end of the meeting. Nick Newton, Deputy Chief Executive of the SRA mentioned in his address that the Allington Chord was being discussed as long ago as 1959 when it was mentioned in a British Railways Board report. When the chord opens in December 2005 Nottingham to Skegness services will be able to call at Grantham without having to cross both the up and down tracks of the ECML. Brian also did an interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

THE FUTURE OF RAIL

The railway White Paper, ‘The Future of Rail’ was published on 15th July. Railfuture spokespersons were kept busy responding to media enquiries on that day. At the time of writing I have been told of interviews given by Peter Lawrence (BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Three Counties Radio), Mike Crowhurst, Railfuture Chairman, (BBC Radio Leeds and Talk Radio), Brian Hastings, Chairman Lincolnshire branch (BBC Radio Lincolnshire and the Lincolnshire Echo).

A brief summary of the White Paper is given below. The full text of the document can be read at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/railways/whitepaper/

As widely predicted the SRA will be abolished. Government will set the strategic direction and the private sector takes charge of delivery. Network Rail will be responsible for operating the network and for its performance.

The Government will be responsible for deciding:

• The overall size and shape of the network;
• The key timetable outputs;
• Policy on regulated fares;
• Minimum performance targets;
• Enhancement priorities; and
• Policy on information provision and accessibility.

• ORR to be the safety regulator for all rail based systems i.e. mainline railways, London Underground, other metro systems, heritage and light rail. On safety in general “Train operators and Network Rail…need to move away from a culture where standards are followed unquestioningly, whatever their impact, and move to a risk-based safety system where decisions are taken based on a proper analysis.”
• The formal federal structure of the RPC regional committees will be dissolved but the RPC will remain. LTUC remains in place.
• Fewer passenger franchises more closely aligned with Network Rail’s regional structure.
• The penalty regime will be reformed and simplified. “contracts will include provisions on train and crew availability, which are by far the largest factors in delays attributed to train companies, and are clearly within their control”
• “Where an operator does start to fail financially, they should expect that they will have to surrender that franchise, rather than receive any additional Government support.”
• Concerning ROSCO’s the “Government believes that these observations suggest the markets in rolling stock financing and maintenance established at privatisation are not working in the way that they were expected to, and that there is a case for looking to see how the operation of those markets can be improved.” There is no indication of what action is planned, if any.
• “A group of key routes will be identified on which freight operators will have more assured rights of access, for which an appropriate price will be set by the ORR. Where lines carry only freight, and no passenger services, the freight operators will pay its full costs.” (Ed - I read this as saying that charges to freight operators are likely to increase)
• “The Government will reform the funding arrangements for PTEs so that they bear directly the financial implications of their decisions on services and fares, and have more flexibility to make trade-offs between rail and other modes.” This is followed by a comment about choices to be made as to whether buses or light rail can provide a better and more flexible alternative.
• “Where Elected Regional Assemblies are established in England, they will be able to spend money on improving rail services, or to identify savings from reducing rail services that might be used to fund alternative transport provision.” (Ed – After the last 2 items will we need to update and republish ‘Bustitution – The case exploded’?)
• The DfT are to continue to develop the SRA’s Community Rail Strategy. The Government is to ask the ORR to calculate the specific level of funding currently being paid to support each line. (Ed – I trust the ORR will not be digging out the files from the Beeching Report to learn how to massage figures to produce the desired answer.)

The RDS Board held a short discussion on the White Paper at their meeting on 17th July. The consensus reached was that it is good in parts but that there are concerns about other elements. We need to know much more about the ‘fine print’ especially in relation to funding of PTE’s and Regional Assemblies. There may be more information in other announcements expected during July, especially the Transport Strategy.

WARNING: MAJOR TRANSPORT DECISIONS AHEAD

Transport 2000 has issued an excellent media briefing guide on the transport issues to watch out for in the Government announcements expected this month. It is well worth the effort of downloading and reading it.
http://www.transport2000.org.uk/news/maintainNewsArticles.asp?NewsArticleID=179

RAILFUTURE DELEGATION MEETS WITH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT TRANSPORT SPOKESMAN

On 7 July Railfuture President Peter Lawrence, Vice-Chairman Ray King and London & South East branch member Ian MacGrath met John Thurso MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. A report of the meeting will be given to the Railfuture Board and Policy, Lobbying and Campaigns Committee.

CIRCULATING RESPONSES TO CONSULTATIONS

At both national and branch level Railfuture frequently responds to consultations arising from the House of Commons, SRA, RPC, Regional Assemblies and others. Details of ongoing consultations and who is preparing the Railfuture response are circulated in Railway Cuttings but the mechanism for keeping track of these once completed so that all arms of Railfuture can easily refer to them is not as good as it should be. The Board would like the views of branches as to their preferred methods of archiving them.

Suggestions already received are publishing them on the website, keeping copies at the national office for issue on request and publishing an index in Railwatch.

This item is due to be discussed at the RDS Board meeting in September so if branches have any comments to make please send them to John Lee john.lee@rdsadmin.freewire.co.uk by 31st August.

FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF RDS LTD

At the AGM there were motions proposing a reappraisal of voting arrangements and Terms of Office etc. Proposals were that:
The Board is elected on a three-year cycle.
The Officers be selected by the Board from among their number.
The Board has the power to co-opt.
The Chairman is restricted to two consecutive three-year periods.
No member or officer may serve for more than six consecutive years.

Before any changes may take place they have to be approved by not less than two-thirds of members voting in person at a General Meeting. The meeting would also have the power to submit the motion to a postal vote. The Board is due to discuss these proposals at their meeting in September. Before doing so they would like to hear the views of branches and members in general and specifically on the following questions. Comments to John Lee john.lee@rdsadmin.freewire.co.uk by 31st August 2004 please.

Do we want to change voting arrangements at all and, if so, how quickly?
Which Officer posts should be included or remain directly elected?
Is a three-year rotation desirable?
Do we want to limit terms of service?
How much co-option should be allowed (other than for filling vacancies)?

PARLIAMENT DISCUSS TRANSPORT IN THE EASTERN REGION

On 29th June Mr. Patrick Hall (Bedford - Lab) introduced a debate in Westminster Hall on issues relating to transport in the eastern region. In his speech he praised the merits of the East-West Rail link. The link was also supported by Chris Mole (Ipswich - Lab) and Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes, South West – Lab) who reminded members that the wartime code-breaking station was in Bletchley Park precisely because it was on the Oxford to Cambridge Railway. She said that the link between two major academic centres is just as vital now. Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North – Lab) spoke in favour of Translink.

Summing up the Lib Dem spokesman Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury) stressed the importance of the East-West link but the Conservative, Chris Chope (Christchurch) concentrated on road schemes and made no mention whatsoever of rail. Replying for the Government Tony McNulty said how well the region did out of the last local transport plan settlement with Translink and the Cambridge guided bus scheme. (Ed. Are guided bus schemes really something to be proud of?) He said very little about rail except that in respect of East-West rail link “an announcement will be made in due course”
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040629/halltext/40629h03.htm#40629h03_head0

MEETING WITH THAMESLINK

Railfuture London and S.E. branch Chairman, Keith Dyall, held a meeting with Richard Dean of Thameslink in early July. Issues discussed included:
Non stopping of up Thameslink services at West Hampstead between 07.30 and 09.30, inaccurate information on destination screens, the need for an improved evening Metro service, Translink, Bus connections, route capacity, possible new stations, service enhancements after opening of CTRL, Thameslink 2000, First Class and timetable problems and plans.

For a detailed report of the meeting contact Keith at keith.dyall@tesco.net

ERTMS CRITICISMS

Did you know that Network Rail are planning to erect 2,022 microwave radio masts, each at least 33 metres tall? They say that these are a necessary part of the installation of level 2 European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) which is needed to comply with the EU Directive on interoperability.

As may be expected this is a contentious issue. Some masts will be in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there is also some concern over the potential health effects of long term exposure to low intensity microwaves. Needless to say groups are campaigning to stop the masts. My information has come from one of these, Mast Sanity, who have a website at www.mastsanity.org/actions/railmasts/netrail.htm. They review most of the issues involved e.g. planning permission, alternative technologies, cost effective methods of improving rail safety and the safety of the microwave emissions and as might be expected come down against the need for the masts.

By coincidence in the July issue of Modern Railways Roger Ford has an article that reviews ERTMS implementation. Looking at attitudes in the rest of Europe and the costs involved in installation in the UK he comes to the conclusion that “Quite simply, as it stands ERTMS is unaffordable.”

Railfuture does not currently have a view on the mast issue but we do have concerns as to the costs of installing level 2 ERTMS. There are also doubts as to whether the system will give much more than marginally improved levels of safety now that TPWS has been fitted network wide.

KLAUS MEYER

It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of Railfuture member Klaus Meyer. Klaus was a long-standing member of the International Committee.

BRTA CONFERENCE

Bedfordshire Railway & Transport Association (BRTA) are organising a Conference on Saturday 2nd October 2004 at the De Pary’s Hotel, De Pary’s Avenue, Bedford (10.30am — 5.00pm). Guest speakers are Allan Dare, Business Development Manager, Chiltern Railways, Glenn Barcham, Principal Transport Policy Officer for Bedfordshire County Council and Chris Wright, Secretary, Oxon & Bucks Rail Action Committee. The fee of £15 per person, includes lunch and tea/coffee. More details on BRTA website: www.brta.org.uk

AIRTRACK TALK

The Guildford Division of Railfuture London and S.E. branch have arranged an open meeting at Guildford Institute, Guildford (10-min walk from station) on Thursday 30 Sept 2004 (19.30 - 22.00) when Surrey County Councillor John Pincham will talk about the latest Airtrack proposals. He is a Railfuture member and major supporter of the Direct Link North scheme.

The AirTrack proposals call for a line linking Heathrow Airport with South London and towns such as Guildford, Woking and Reading by means of a spur from the Windsor line to the north of Staines. A link to a summary of the AirTrack business case can be found at http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/New+Airtrack+study+finds+in+favour+of+south-east+rail+scheme?opendocument

MEDIA WORKSHOP

Railfuture President and media spokesman, Peter Lawrence, has recently received an enquiry from a branch about media training. Some years ago we did organise a workshop in Leicester but have not done anything recently. If there are any branches that would be interested in attending a media-training workshop please contact Peter direct by email to <peter.lawrence@paston.co.uk> marking the subject "Media Training". Please indicate what type of training you think would be useful to you.

The initial suggestion is that we would run “mock” interviews etc conducted by members who are experienced in dealing with the media but the workshops could be tailored to meet the attendees needs. If anyone can offer skilled assistance in running the workshop could they also contact Peter.

BEECHING REPORT NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

For those who may need to look up Dr Beeching’s notorious report it is now available online at http://www.beechingreport.info/

NEWS FROM THE SRA

The Port of Tilbury has become the first port in the UK to begin full-scale operational handling of 9’ 6” high container traffic on standard wagons by rail. Further gauge enhancement work is being carried out between Felixstowe and Ipswich, Ipswich/Harwich and London, Nuneaton and Birmingham, and Crewe and Manchester, allowing ports and terminals such as Daventry, Felixstowe, Hams Hall, Birmingham, and Manchester Trafford Park to handle more of these bigger boxes by the end of 2004. http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/6/tilbury1506

Serco-NedRailways Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Northern Rail Franchise http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/6/preferred_bidder_northern_rail

Record Investment Levels in Britain’s Railway - Provisional figures suggest that there was over £5 billion invested in Britain's Railway in 2003-04, an increase of 24 per cent on the previous year. http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/6/record_investment-levels

The SRA has made bylaws relating to the national rail network and intends to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation of these bylaws. After reading the bylaws they appear to be a nationwide replacement for the present bylaws from individual TOC’s. The new bylaws can be read at http://www.sra.gov.uk/publications/general_default

INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS SUPPORT COMMUNITY RAILWAYS

For the early risers (05.45) on 1 July there was an interesting item on the Radio 4 Farming Programme. To formulate their input to the SRA Consultation Document on Community Railways the Institute of Chartered Accountants surveyed their 136,000 members. 74% said that it is very important that we have an efficient local rail branch line service. Over 50% said that rail services are a key factor for tourism as they allow visitors to move around the area and visit congested rural towns without the need for using a car. Members considered rail services are the third most important factor to them after recruiting staff and dealing with red tape. Respondents to the survey also said that rail improvements are just as important as road improvements.

WHO IS CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE RAIL PASSENGER COUNCIL?

Railfuture East Anglia branch secretary, Nick Dibben has received a package of documents regarding the future of the RPC. They were very generally critical of the organisation, especially of the National Committee. There was no name or any information on who had produced it. Does anyone know anything about this campaign? If they do please advise myself and Nick nick.dibben@ukgateway.net.

ECML FRANCHISE CHANGES

The Virgin, Stagecoach and Deutsche Bahn consortium has pulled out of the race for the ECML franchise citing issues "relating to the structure of the UK rail franchising system"
http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/sgc/investorinfo/rns/2908719?id=1089294892nRNSH6466A
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3877793.stm
http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/7/icec0807

EWS is taking a 29.9% stake in a newly formed company established by DSB to bid for the franchise.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 11th September
Railfuture Board meeting, Leicester
Saturday 18th September
Railfuture Yorkshire Branch meeting, Ilkley
Saturday 25th September
Railfuture Freight Committee meeting, Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham
Railfuture Passenger Committee meeting, Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham
Railfuture Network Development Committee meeting, FOE Warehouse, Birmingham
Thursday 30th September
Railfuture London and S.E. Branch (Guildford Division) open meeting at Guildford Institute, Guildford (10 min walk from station) 19.30 - 22.00. Surrey County Councillor and Railfuture member, John Pincham, will talk about the latest Airtrack proposals. Details from htjones@raildev.fsnet.co.uk.
Saturday 2nd October
BRTA Conference at De Pary’s Hotel, De Pary’s Avenue, Bedford. 10.30am — 5.00pm. Details from Richard Pill, BRTA Chairman, 24c St Michael’s Road, Bedford, MK40 2LT, phone: 01234 405268 or see www.brta.org.uk
Saturday 23rd October
Railfuture Policy, Lobby and Campaigns Committee, Calthorpe Arms, London
Saturday 6th November
Rail Users Conference 2004. Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham
Saturday 13th November
Railfuture Board meeting, (Venue to be confirmed – London or Peterborough)
Saturday 27th November
Railfuture International Committee meeting, VAT & Fiddle, Nottingham at 13.00.
Saturday 4th December
Railfuture Passenger Committee meeting, Nottingham (to be confirmed)