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East Anglia Branch News - Snippets Issue 154 - 12/05/2006

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News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.

Railfuture News Snippets 154 - 12/05/2006



On 22nd March Railfuture President, Peter Lawrence, was interviewed by BBC East TV on over-crowding of trains from London to Cambridge and Norwich.

Norfolk County Council is intending to form a new grouping called "Norfolk Rail Alliance Group" to secure additional investment in Norfolk's rail services. Railfuture has written to the Cabinet Member for Transport at Norfolk County Council to ask for a place for the East Anglia Branch on the Alliance.

As predicted in [Snippets 153] the Ipswich Griffin Wharf branch saw was first train for four years. On 25th April a train left there for a short journey to Harwich.

Bob Menzies, head of delivery of Cambridgeshire Guided Busway at the county council, will be speaking at a public meeting at the Free Church in Market Hill, St Ives, PE27 5AL on Wednesday 17th May at 19:30. Map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=531433&y=271168&z=0&pc=PE27+5AL.

1st East, an Urban Regeneration Company created to reverse deprivation in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, have appointed Halcrow and partners to prepare plans for the regeneration of certain areas in each town. Although the public consultation has ended, further details can be found at http://www.1steast.co.uk. The Halcrow project director is Michael Parsons, who can be reached at Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BY, or by email: parsonsm@halcrow.com.

Dates for forthcoming Wisbech-March Bramley Line public meetings are as follow:
* 31st May - Upstairs at St. Peter's Church Hall, near the old Council Offices Wisbech
* 28th June - Royal British Legion Club, March
* 26th July - Upstairs at St. Peter's Church Hall, near the old Council Offices, Wisbech.

More speakers have been lined up for the Railfuture Campaigners' Conference in Stoke-on-Trent on 1st July. These include Ian Yeowart, managing director of Grand Central and Caspar Lucas of Parry People Movers.

The 2006 Rail Users' Conference, organised by Railfuture, will be held in Reading on Saturday 4th November 2006. More details will be given with the next issue of Railwatch.

On 22nd March 2006 Railfuture President, Peter Lawrence was re-elected as Chairman of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership at the AGM of the partnership.

Network Rail's 2006 Business Plan is now on their website. See: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/companyinformation/BusinessPlans/BusinessPlan2006.htm. NR wants to improve performance so that 87.6% of trains ran on time by March 2007. This compares with 86.4% over the last year, 83.6% in the 12 months to March 2005 and 78.6% when National Rail was created.

Central Trains hopes to fill its off-peak services this summer by offering older travellers cheap fares. Anyone aged over 50 who completes a simple voucher and hands it in at Norwich station can then buy a period return to Peterborough, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester or Liverpool for just £10. A day return to Peterborough costs £5. Each voucher is valid for up to two tickets; proof of age may be required. Mon-Fri travel must start after 09:00, but there are no weekend restrictions. Offer lasts from 15th June to 7th September. Vouchers can be printed from the Central Trains website or obtained from their Customer Relations team.

Despite there now being legal powers to build the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, but no certainty of government funding, CAST.IRON is still eager to purchase the line from Network Rail if the funding is not found. See CAST.IRON press release: http://www.castiron.org.uk/PR-060516.php.

The ORR has moved to a new head office at One Kemble Street, London, WC2B 4AN. The email addresses (which are 'firstname.secondname@orr.gsi.gov.uk') and telephone numbers for members of ORR formerly at Waterhouse Square, Holborn, will remain unchanged.

The novelist Nina Bawden has accepted compensation of nearly £1m from Network Rail and its former maintenance contractor Jarvis over the Potters Bar train crash in May 2002, in which her husband was killed and she was seriously injured when the rear carriage of a London to King's Lynn train derailed at 97mph over faulty points.


CONSULTATIONS
DfT's reveals its thinking on the the new Central Trains and Cross Country franchises

Keywords: [CentralTrains]

The DfT has announced initial plans for the franchise restructuring that will see the Central Trains franchise disappear (first announced in October 2005) and is will be consulting stakeholders before making them part of the franchise requirements.

It has decided that the Birmingham-Stansted service will move to the new Cross Country franchise and will remain hourly, which is a disappointment to many including Railfuture but it will have longer trains.

The Norwich to Liverpool service will become part of the East Midlands franchise. The good news is that the end-to-end service will remain and it will not be split at Nottingham as had been feared. The are considering making it run two-hourly to Cambridge and two-hourly to Norwich, with an additional service on the Cambridge hours between Norwich and Peterborough, but only if they can negotiate changes with other operators' services.

The timetable for the new franchises is as follows:

  • 8th June 2006 - Consultation documents published
  • 7th August 2006 - consultation ends
  • September 2006 - Shortlist of bidders announced
  • October 2006 - Invitation to tender issued
  • February 2007 - Deadline for submitting bids
  • Summer 2007 - Announcement of winning bid
  • 11th November 2007 - Franchises start.
On 31st March the DfT announced that Central Trains' current franchise will be extended from 1st April 2006 to 11th November 2007 to coincide with the start dates for the other franchises.


RAIL FARES
'one' introduces simpler off-peak advance fares that allows passengers to 'mix and match' to get the best deal

Keywords: [OneRailway]

From 11th June new advance fares from 'one' will offer off-peak return travel to London from £10 return and £5 one way. Tickets will go on sale from 5th June, and there wil be 10,000 seats available every day.

Users of its inter-city services to and from London have been able to buy a range of advance purchase tickets marketed under various names such as APEX, London Day Out, London Evening Out, Leisure Advance and Business Advance. It will simplify this by replacing them all with a new set of First Class and Standard fares that offer more flexibility. The new advance fares will all be sold as one-way tickets, allowing customers to choose the lowest available price for either stage of their journey. The price and quantity available will depend on time of day, which is being divided into four bands, and prices will be higher further away from London. Passengers travelling at a busier time in one direction might pay a higher-priced advance fare and a cheaper advance fare in the other. They could even buy a first class advance on a busy train - in order to get a seat - and a standard class advance ticket for the other half. Midland Mainline has successfully trialled a similar scheme for destinations such as Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.

The tickets can be purchased online, by phone on 0845 600 7245 or any staffed station up to 18:00 on the day before travel. Child fares will be available on advance tickets from £2.50 one way and normal railcard discounts will apply.


RAIL SERVICES
Government response to Freedom of Information request reveals ten most overcrowded London commuter trains in 2005

The Department for Transport has revealed the ten most overcrowded London commuter trains in 2005 and services from Cambridge are in the top and fourth spots. The busiest train was the 08:02 Cambridge to London Liverpool Street run by 'one' which had an average of had 433 passengers on a service with seats for 234. The top ten is:

  • 08:02 Cambridge to London Liverpool St ('One'): 234 capacity; 433 passengers
  • 16:33 Sutton to Luton (Thameslink): 412; 618
  • 07:51 London Victoria to London Bridge (Southern): 635; 944
  • 18:15 London King's Cross to Cambridge (WAGN): 494; 713
  • 08:04 Isleworth to London Waterloo (South West Trains): 792; 1,138
  • 18:06 London Paddington to Oxford (First Great Western Link): 270; 385
  • 06:38 Margate to London Cannon Street (South Eastern Trains): 218; 310
  • 06:42 Haslemere to Waterloo (South West Trains): 598; 845
  • 17:50 Victoria to Rochester (South Eastern Trains): 494; 681
  • 07:03 Weybridge to Waterloo (South West Trains): 792; 1,084

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4830370.stm.


RAIL SAFETY
Calls for footbridge at Elsenham station to avoid another tragedy

Keywords: [ElsenhamStation]

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has published the results of its investigation into the deaths of two girls at Elsenham level crossing on 3rd December 2005 when they were struck by a train bound for Stansted Airport. They had erroneously assumed that it safe to cross the track - despite the warning lights and alarm continuing - as the Cambridge bound train had just arrived at the platform. A Human Factors "expert" suggested that the girls were so intent on catching the train that additional warnings would not a have a difference. However, there is only a ticket machine on the 'up' platform. If there was a machine on the 'down' platform then there would be fewer crossings of the track.

A father of one of the girls called for lockable gates at the crossing, but the RSSB report said that people jumped the gates when they were locked after the accident and the locking of gates also could lead to people being trapped on the line if there is not a refuge. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP has called for a footbridge to be installed although, because of the costs of making it accessible and coping with the staggered platforms, the report claims it would be too expensive. He has asked Network Rail to hold a public meeting as soon as possible, rather than wait for the completed inquest into the deaths and further safety reports to be published. No faults were found on the trains or crossing systems.


STATIONS
Approval for SnOasis indoor winter sports resort in Great Blakenham should see new station on Great Eastern main line

On 21st April Mid-Suffolk District Council gave approval for the new SnOasis scheme, which is planned to be the largest real-snow indoor ski slope in the world. Prior to its opening a new £13m station at Claydon would be opened to serve it, funded by the developer. The new station would be built adjacent to Gipping Road near Claydon village, 1km from the entrance to SnOasis, on the southern side of the level crossing by the old cement depot. A public transport interchange is proposed as part of the station development, allowing direct connections between local bus services and trains. It is also proposed to operate shuttle buses between the rail station and SnOasis Rail Station. Although the station would primary serve the sports complex, it would also attract the inhabitants of Great Blakenham and Claydon villages and the proposed housing development on the site immediately adjacent to the station. Therefore a 300-space park and ride facility, would be provided with provision for a further 200 spaces later. The opening date will partly depend on whether the Government decides to hold a public inquiry. A business case for the station, based on hourly trains between London and Norwich and the two-hourly services between London and Peterborough, has been submitted to Network Rail. Rail operator 'One' has indicated its willingness to stop trains at the station especially as SnOasis will generate principally off-peak traffic.

Another possible new station for East Anglia, which has been mooted for a long time, is a parkway station south of King's Lynn. Mott MacDonald are currently carrying out a study on the proposed scheme.

Back to the drawing board as developments around Cambridge station rejected by Cambridge City councillors

Keywords: [CambridgeStation]

Plans by Ashwell's to construct a £725 million "cb1" development around Cambridge station, which included 1,400 flats, a hotel, high-quality offices and a multi-storey car park, have been rejected by Cambridge City councillors as unimaginative and not catering for the city's transport needs or those of residents, being likely to lead to serious traffic congestion around the station with Ashwell trying to squeeze in as much as possible to increase the return on its investment. The council's planning committee believes that redevelopment of the very important station area is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to create a city gateway and has got to be done properly as there are no second chances.

Improvements at various stations in East Anglia

Keywords: [OneRailway]

Meanwhile, at other stations, East Cambs District Council is to spend £900,000 on a new 150-space car park at Angel Grove, which is walking distance from Ely station, and should help relieve the shortage of paring there. Experience at King's Lynn station, where the expanded car park opened on 7th February 2006, indicates that Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest days for car parking.

The issuing of tickets should be speeded up, hopefully with shorter queues at ticket offices, as new self-service ticket machines have been installed at 38 stations across the 'one' network, with Diss and Norwich among them. The 75 Scheidt & Bachmann touch-screen machines replace the previous Quickfare equipment. As is common with TVMs, they can issue a ticket to any national rail destination and handle railcard discounts and season tickets. They accept cash and credit cards.

In 2005 Great Yarmouth station was described as "an insult to Nelson", gloomy with peeling paint and strewn with litter. Now the station has benefited from an £200,000 upgrade. Money from 'one', Norfolk County Council and Network Rail has given the station a re-paint, new toilets, a new waiting shelter on the platform and better platform lighting. On the forecourt, car parking spaces have been defined by white lines and bus passengers at last have a shelter.

Public Accounts Committee challenges Department for Transport over quality of stations provided by franchise deals

MPs sitting on the influential Public Accounts Committee have branded many railway stations in Britain as "deplorable" and "a poor advertisement for the country". They are calling on the Department for Transport to investigate whether new standards new franchise deals should sets standards for stations (a term generally know as "key performance indicators" or KPIs). Mps visitng the stations in person made criticisms of individual stations, which include several in East Anglia:

  • Cambridge - "The city station is the biggest in the area and sees thousands of people pass through every day. Such a large station has all the amenities you would expect - food and drink is readily available, as are papers and magazines. There's also a large number of staff on hand to help with any problems. However, men's toilets weren't the cleanest and apparently the women's aren't much better." It was ranked: Amenities: 9/10, Appearance: 7/10, Feeling of safety: 8/10, Overall: 8/10
  • Waterbeach - "A desolate station on the edge of the village, this is the least welcoming of the five. There's little on offer to shield passengers from the elements, and facilities are basic. Appearance is scruffier than the likes of Foxton and Shelford, but on the positive side there's ample parking nearby and platform announcements and ticket machines appear to have been improved." Rankings: Amenities: 5/10, Appearance: 6/10, Feeling of Safety: 6/10, Overall: 6/10
  • Royston - "This busy town station draws scores of commuters every day, and when I visited I encountered the same problem many of them face - trying to find somewhere to park. Getting a space in the on-site car park is a challenge but after the trials of attempting to manoeuvre through the mass of vehicles, there's food and drink, papers and a reasonably warm waiting room to unwind in. Platforms are well lit, timetables clearly on view and staff were on site at the time. It may be slightly rough round the edges but that is what I would expect from such a bustling facility." Rankings: Amenities: 8/10, Appearance: 7/10, Feeling of safety: 8/10, Overall 8/10
  • Foxton - "This tiny village station is on the main line between Cambridge and London, meaning there are certainly plenty of trains coming through here every day. The station itself is bare of any luxuries - it's little more than two platforms, a shelter and some ticket machines and timetables. No sign of any ramshackle buildings or vandalism and what is there appears to serve its purpose." Rankings: Amenities: 5/10, Appearance: 8/10, Feeling of safety: 7/10, Overall: 7/10
  • Shelford - "Pulling up outside this village station, you're immediately confronted by a boarded up old side building but after stepping out onto the platform, it's another functional looking set-up. Passengers can wait in a heated waiting room, which comes with an electric sliding door. No staff again, and no chance of a cup of tea, a bite to eat or anywhere to answer the call of nature. Despite there being few people about, houses surround the site, making it feel a little less cut off." Rankings: Amenities: 5/10, Appearance: 7/10, Feeling of safety: 8/10, Overall: 7/10

According to the Cambridge News many regular users of these stations do not have a particularly strong complaints. For example, it quoted Claire Buckley who regularly uses Waterbeach station: "I don't mind waiting here at night on the platform if I have to because I don't feel threatened by the area", whilst another Waterbeach, Christine Gilder said: "The biggest problem is shelter: it gets very cold waiting on the platform, But the announcements on the platform are clearer than they used to be and ticket machines work properly." Commenting on Cambridge, Vicki Raphael said: "The women's toilets are very poor and parking can be a problem, but there is always clear travel information and the staff are helpful" whilst praised the station staff, saying they were always helpful." About Foxton, Rebecca Taylor said: "It's a lot better than it used to be. The ticket machine never used to work but they seem to have fixed it. I would give it a nine out of 10 overall." and Rick Mitchell, who uses Shelford station, said: "I've never had any trouble with it. It's a perfectly functional station." If the Cambridge News is to be be3lieved MPs are more critical than the public - perhaps they have higher standards.


RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Network Rail awards contract to resignal March to increase capacity for Whitemoor Yard

Keywords: [ElsenhamStation]

Network Rail has awarded May Gurney a £1.35m contract to resignal Whitemoor Junction (at March) to increase the number of trains that can enter or leave Whitemoor Yard from two to three an hour. Currently the signals are at level crossings on either side of March station, covering a long distance, with just a three-aspect signal protecting both the Wisbech branch and Whitemoor Yard exit. However, once the new signalling is commissioned (planned for September 2006) there will be signal for the east and west curves and the exit from the Yard. In addition, the Wisbech line will have a dedicated signal despite being currently severed from the network by a set of buffer stops.

Signals on the main Ely-Peterborough line will be repositioned as part of the work including replacement of Absolute Block signalling between March East and South Junction boxes - which is apparently the shortest section of AB in the UK - with Track Circuit Block signalling. This work is due to take place in August and September.

Network Rail issues business plan of schemes they intend to implement in the next few years

Keywords: [NetworkRail]

Network Rail has issued their business plan indicating the infrastructure works that they intend to carry out in the near future and other longer term ideas currently under development. The enhancements for East Anglia are given below with their current status:

Great Eastern Route

  • Marks Tey to Colchester bi-directional signalling 2007/8
  • Felixstowe line doubling 2008/9
  • Southend Airport new station - feasibility
  • Chelmsford North new station and loops - feasibility
  • Snoasis new station - feasibility
  • 15 day blockade Yarmouth line for track renewal 2007/8
  • 7 day blockade Oulton Broad swingbridge for renewal 2007
  • 9 day blockade Diss-Trowse for track renewal 2007/8

West Anglia Route

  • Ely to Norwich considered a "Fragile Route" where predicted freight increase will have significant affect on the condition of existing infrastructure
  • Chesterton Junction station - under consideration
  • Brandon extra freight siding - under consideration
  • Stansted Airport tunnel double track - in development
  • W10 Ipswich to Peterborough - in development


RAIL FREIGHT
Government confirms final approval for the Bathside Bay container terminal at Harwich

Keywords: [BathsideBay]

The Department for Transport has published the Bathside Bay container terminal decision letter. According to the DfT's website, having reached agreements on planning conditions, compensatory habitat proposals and measures to relieve the risk of road congestion, the Secretary of State has authorised the construction of a quay wall and reclamation of the inter-tidal area at Bathside Bay; breaching of the seawall and import rock armour, sand, gravels and mud for the managed realignment at Little Oakley, Hamford Water; and channel dredging and disposal of dredged arisings at Bathside Bay. This means that substantial rail capacity in the region will be used by containers arriving at Harwich.

Rail traffic to Sizewell will cease by 2008

Keywords: [SizewellBranch]

Nuclear traffic on the freight-only Saxmundham to Leiston branch to Sizewell will cease in 2008 if not earlier. The older 'A' power station will cease generating power at the end of 2006 but decommissioning may take up to two year. This is the only traffic on the former branch line to Aldburgh, which closed to passengers on 12th September 1966. The more modern 'B' power generator, which is expected to remain open until 2020, does not have waste removed by train. Editor's note: trains ceased in 2007 but resumed again in August 2009.

According to the 22nd April edition of the Eastern Daily Press, consideration is being given again to storing nuclear waste at the Stanford Battle Ground. When this site was previously considered for that purpose in the 1980s, a three-mile rail siding was planned off the Norwich to Ely rail route.

GBRf wins contract to transfer recycled aggregates from road to rail

GB Railfreight has won a three-year contract with M Dickerson Ltd of Cambridgeshire to move around 25 tonnes of recycled aggregates per year. There will be about 25 train-loads a year each consisting of 18 box wagons of spent ballast from Network Rail's depot at Whitemoor, which GBRf manages, will be taken by rail to the former EWS yard at North Walsham. It will then be sold to local construction firms and carried the short distance on road by Frimstone of Downham Market. Previously the aggregated had been transported solely by road. GBRf's contract will lead to 1,200 lorries being taken off Norfolk's roads. The trains will return with empty wagons to Whitemoor.

Whilst this is good news, it has upset passengers at North Walsham station. The aggregates are being stored in part of the yard had been used for car parking. 'one' is unable to prevent this as GBRf now owns the yard. However, there are plans to provide more paring spaces on the old canning factory site nearby.

Yarmouth sidings for sale by government

Government-owned BRB (Residuary) Ltd has put up for sale 21 redundant freight sites, among them the Vauxhall sidings site at Great Yarmouth. The crescent-shaped site includes three long sidings and was last used for freight in 2000. The rail connection is not listed in Network Rail's Guide to Freight Connections. Norfolk County Council has safeguarded Vauxhall sidings as a key marshalling and handling facility for the docks in the county's local plan, so they cannot be built on.


EAST WEST RAIL LINK
Funding of Aylesbury Vale Parkway (Berryfields) station helps progress towards East West Rail Link

Keywords: [EastWestRail]

On 11th April the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced eight new transport schemes (mostly roads) that it would contribute towards from an additional £51 million of investment as part of the Community Infrastructure Fund. It will pay £8.17m towards the £11m cost of building a new station near to the A41 north of Aylesbury to serve the Berryfelds development, which will be known as Aylesbury Vale Parkway. Chiltern Railways's Marylebone-Aylesbury passenger trains will be extended along the first three miles of the freight-only route north of Aylesbury station, which links up with the Bicester-Bletchley railway at Claydon Junction. Rail campaigners hope this will eventually lead to the introduction of Marylebone-Milton Keynes passenger services, with the reopening of the mothballed and partially dismantled railway from Claydon to Swanbourne Yard. Network Rail has announced that a new platform will be built at Milotn Keynes Central station, which will support terminating services from Oxford and Aylesbury.

As well as the ODPM's Community Infrastructure Fund, Bucks County Council is providing £1m as part of a park and ride facility with a further £2.8m from Chiltern Railways. Whilst the developer is not financing the station it is providing the 1.7 hectares of land. The large capital cost includes the new platform, station buildings, a park and ride facility plus track and signalling upgrading.

East West Rail Consortium announces further package of consultancy work to be carried out by Steer Davies Gleave

Keywords: [EastWestRail]

The East-West Rail Consortium has commissioned a further package of work from Steer Davies Gleave (SDG). This follows support for the project by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on 11th April, which encourages further development of the scheme. SDG will look at a half-hourly service to see how it affects the business case. It will also investigate whether the scheme could be paid from the increased land values as a result of the re-opening, which is dependent upon devising a calculation to reliably estimate that value. The work will be complete in July 2006 and should enable the Government to make a decision on getting the project delivered in time to match the new housing. The Consortium are claiming that trains could be running between Oxford, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford within five years.

The Consortium believes there is demand for rail travel between Cambridge an dOxford that does not exist for other modes of transport. Sky Commuter, an air commuter link between Oxford and Cambridge, which commenced on 1st February 2006, has been abandoned after just six weeks because of a lack of passengers. The service was rarely more than a third full.


RAIL FRANCHISES
First Capital Connect takes over from Thameslink and the rump of 'WAGN'

Keywords: [FirstCapitalConnect]

On 1st April, First Capital Connect took over the services from King's Lynn, Cambridge and Peterborough to London Kings Cross, plus the Bedford to Brighton Thameslink services. It has dropped the 'Thameslink' name, leading to a press release from London TravelWatch expressing disappointment over the discarding of a well-known brand line. Little thought was given to the consequences of such a long name for the operator, as electronic displays have insufficient space. For example, at King's Cross it initially showed 'ontimefirstcapitalconnect', but this was eventually avoided by reducing the name to "First Cap Connect."

A particular disappointment for passengers was the immediate abolition of all on-board refreshment trolleys, which were a reassuring sight from some passengers. On a positive note, FCC compensation for late trains matches the Delay Repay scheme operated by 'one' - 50% back if delayed by 30-39 minutes, and 100% if more than 60 minutes, which the DfT is mandating on future franchises.

Rail campaigners such as Railfuture had hoped that the merging o the Great Northern and Thameslink routes into a single franchise would lead to less fragmentation and a better service for passengers. When weekend engineering works closed the East Coast Mainline it was suggested to First that they allow tickets to be used on Thameslink services (bearing in mind that Thameslink is quite close to many stations on the ECML), so that passengers could drive to stations such as Elstreet & Borehamwood or St Albans (where there are frequent trains that are not packed at weekends) and catch a train rather than having to go on a replacement bus, or not go by rail at all. Sadly First has reused, even though it would have reduced their bus costs! Observers have suggested that the staff haven't yet fully appreciated the benefits of the combined franchise, which isn't a surprise when it's got to be the same staff TUPEd over.

The loss of WAGN has caused National Express some issues as the 'www.wagn.co.uk' website, which has been dropped, provided facilities used by its other London Line operators, c2c and Silverlink, such as a list of engineering works.

Office of Rail Regulation confirms ECML open access agreements for Grand Central and Hull Trains

Keywords: [GNER] [GrandCentral]

Despite pressure from GNER and a letter from Mike Mitchell at the DfT to Rail Regulator Chris Bolt, on 23rd March the Office of Rail Regulation has confirmed its decision (the detailed reasons for which were published on 6th April 2006) to grant a track access agreement to Grand Central to run trains from London to Sunderland (see [Snippets 153]). Because of a lack of capacity on the East Coast Mainline this will prevent GNER operating extra services to Leeds, which was part of its franchise agreement with the DfT on 2005. Mike Mitchell estimated that allowing Grand Central on to the line would remove £46m from the UK economy over 10 years because "Grand Central's revenue is primarily abstractive [taken from others] and the additional user and non-user benefits are insufficient to offset the incremental operating costs of these services."

Newspapers have suggested that GNER will take legal action against the ORR to either reverse its decision or provide compensation (it is asking for £100m). GNER is unhappy that Grand Central could undercut fares as it will not have to pay any of the premium or fixed charges that GNER faces. Moreover, GNER apparently thought it had agreement from the DfT that no open access agreement would be able to prevent it from acquiring paths to support its franchise, and therefore removed a caveat from its bid making its premium payments conditional on there being no competition from open-access operators. Meanwhile the DfT released a hard-line statement to all train operators and potential bidders saying that a franchisee unable to operate to the price it bid should surrender the franchise."

Although GNER's quarrel is with the ORR, it has retaliated against Grand Central's backer, Fraser Eagle, (whose identity was revealed only recently), by threatening to stop using its coaches for its rail replacement service, apparently worth £1.5m annually.

GNER's revenue just one year into its new franchise is 2% short of its predicted 8% increase in turnover because of the 7th July 2005 bombings in London. It has privately stated to the DfT that it is unlikely to increase its revenue to meet the £1,300m government premium over ten years (a third more than the next highest bidder (the bidders were Arriva, FirstGroup and Virgin/Stagecoach), but the financial situation became public when GNER announced plans to cut back on its award-winning dining cars: a reduction from 100 to 92 a day restaurant cars with meal services withdrawn on some Scottish sections its route - but still within the franchise commitment of 87 on its 122 daily services. A greater problem for GNER, despite not being reliant upon on the funds of its parent, Bermuda-based Sea Containers, is that the latter may collapse having admitted a breach of banking covenants and delayed its annual accounts because its auditors are not convinced it is a going concern.

Despite the financial shortfall GNER has been investing in is services. It will complete installation of Wi-Fi on its entire fleet by August 2006, nine months early. Its system, designed by Swedish on-the-move internet access specialist Icomera, uses line-of-sight satellite links for the main connection, with GPRS and 3G mobile phone links as back up and to provide connectivity when trains are in tunnels and covered stations. It will be free in First Class with passengers in Standard Class carriages charged £2.95 for 30 minutes and £9.95 for three hours' access.

The Independent newspaper has claimed that Christopher Garnett, chief executive of GNER, will leave the company and may lead take a major role at National Express Group PLC (the bus, coach and trains group), whose chief executive of 10 years, Phil White, retires by the end of 2006. It speculates that Mr Garnett's departure is because of his company's failure to obtain paths for additional London-Leeds trains.


GUIDED BUSWAY
Cambridgeshire County Council receives tenders to construct the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway

Having obtained a Transport & Works Order to construct the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, Cambridgeshire County Council issued tenders to construction companies to build the concrete kerb busway. This was one prior to receive confirmation from government that it would fund the scheme. The council has now received tenders from Birse, Balfour Beatty and Edmund Nuttall, and on 4th April it submitted the final business/funding case to Department for Transport. A preferred bidder will be selected by the end of April, so that if funding approval is given by DfT (expected by May/June) the contract will be awarded for the start of construction work. This is expected to start around November/December 2006 with site clearance (before the bird nesting season starts). The rails are expected to be removed in one go. The council hopes the busway will start operating in October 2008.

Cambridgeshire County Council could face compensation claims for residents living close to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway

Of course, construction is just one of the costs of building the guided busway, a major cost will be land acquisition and compensation for people living nearby. Property compensation specialists Thomson Broadbent have taken the initiative and from February started writing to home owners along the busway route pointing out their right to compensation and the "firm's campaign to secure compensation for the owners of residential properties are likely to suffer from an increase in noise, dust and vibration when the scheme is completed." The no-win no-fee firm charges a commission of 10% plus VAT of the compensation that they negotiate on their clients' behalf.

Government clears the way to sell land for 10,000 new homes at Northstowe

The guided busway was primarily progressed in order to provide a public transport link for the planned new town at Northstowe. In an article in the Cambridge News on 28th March 2006 there was a clear sign that the government intends for Northstowe to go ahead (although interestingly the article did not mention the busway). It said that government agency Defence Estates, which managing Ministry of Defence, land has sold the Oakington barracks land to English Partnerships, a second government agency, which helps to meet Britain's need for new homes. The £100 million land deal (understood to be less than the cost of building the busway) comprising 288 hectares will lead to the building of Cambridgeshire's massive new town, Northstowe, with between 8,000 and 10,000 homes located between Oakington and Longstanton.


PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Bramley Line delighted as level crossing rails across A47 are reinstated

Keywords: [WisbechBranch]

The Wisbech-March Bramley Line were delighted to read in a local newspaper that the A47 east of Wisbech was to be closed from 18:00 on Saturday 25th March to late on Sunday 26th March. The work was duly carried out and to a very high standard. Unfortunately rails across Weasenham Lane in Wisbech were not relaid. The Bramley Line obtained useful publicity in the local press and their credibility has received a welcome boost as many people have assumed that the action was a prelude to Network Rail transferring the line to the preservation group. Others believe that Network Rail is desperate not to underspend significantly in 2005/06 and has been using up its budgets.

On 8th May the Bramley Line had further good news when they received a letter from Network Rail granting them a six-month licence to examine the track and clear undergrowth and brambles. In addition, GB Railfreight, which operates the adjacent Whitemoor Yard for Network Rail, have written to the Bramley Line's chairman to declare an interest in their proposals and to offer assistance.

Progress on Northern Extension on the Mid-Norfolk Railway

Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]

A MNR member has donated money to flail the section of line between County School and North Elmham, a stretch that had not been visited by Avondale Environmental Services. This generous action has the railway to complete around two years' worth of once-a-month clearance in under a week and has made a drastic improvement the state of the line. As the trackbed in this area is currently used as a foot path it was necessary to erect closure notices and barriers were erected at each entrance. A volunteer was needed each day to act as a look out in case anybody ventured out on to the line. The vegetation clearance was performed with due regard to a study commissioned from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust some years earlier.

On the first Sunday of each month a permanent way gang works on track immediately north of Dereham. In March and April a combined MNR, CAST.IRON and Bramley Line group of volunteers dug out 101 sleepers, which will be replaced and ballasted. This will allow a works train to proceed towards Hoe before the end of 2006.

On Saturday 25th March MNR volunteers visited Cambridge station to lift a 1-in-7 point from the redundant sidings area behind platform 3, where the busway track is expected to be built. A buffer stop was also recovered. These will be used for access into the goods shed at Dereham from the north end along with enabling the run round loop to be completed. Volunteers from a Rutland-based railway visited on the same day to retrieve other track parts.

The MNR's progress northwards is slow because of a lack of both volunteers and money. The railway, which has operated since 1999 and is currently the fifth longest standard-gauge heritage railway in the country, is not in a tourist trap and has not attracted large numbers. However, this could change as the railway intends to offer a balanced steam and diesel service in the future. It will be running steam services at weekends and daily through the school holiday week until Sunday 4th June.

Work on the Nene Valley Railway's long awaited station at Yarwell commences

Keywords: [NeneValleyRailway]

The Nene Valley Railway's terminus at Yarwell, beyond the tunnel, has always been without a station. However, a new seven-coach platform will soon be built on the existing run round loop, near to the lake. To avoid point operation for DMU services, this has necessitated a track layout change so that the existing loop becomes a through track.

Work started in the last two weeks of January on preparations for new trackwork and the foundations for the new platform. The army assisted the NVR civils gang for two weeks at the end of March and beginning of April. The Probation Service has assisted by supplying people to clear the site of vegetation. Spoil has been moved from Wansford site to Yarwell. Royal Haskoning have been awarded the contract for the design of the platform and station building at Yarwell. Whilst platform construction is scheduled for September and October 2006 construction of the station building is subject to funding.

2005 was another record year for the North Norfolk Railway

Keywords: [NorthNorfolkRailway]

The North Norfolk Railway carried 126,450 passengers in 2005 - an increase of 6% over 2004, and an all-time record. The line is now one of the top five of Britain's 115 standard- and narrow-gauge heritage railways in terms of passengers carried. In research carried out in 2005, over 900 respondents were asked which of a list of Norfolk attractions they had heard of. The railway had the highest awareness at 86%, followed by Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle and Blickling Hall.

At the Bittern Line's Annual General Meeting in Cromer on 15th March attendees were told that reinstatement of the level crossing at Sheringham was proceeding albeit slowly. Design work has been completed for a scheme that would see Bittern Line trains enter the NNR's Sheringham Station in the proposed new Bay Platform 3. However, there would be a link to the NNR's metals so that trains could proceed to Holt. All signalling would be under the control of Network Rail. The cost would be at least £1.1 million and this is likely to prevent the scheme going ahead. However, the cost of putting in an occasional-use crossing solely for the NNR's use would be a fraction of the cost.

A week after that AGM the Heritage Lottery Fund confirmed a grant of £308,000 to the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society (the NNR's supporting charity) for a new carriage shed close to the High Kelling terminus station to house a collection of historic railway vehicles, which includes the 1920s set of four articulated carriages designed by Sir Nigel Gresley (amongst the most significant preserved railway vehicles in the UK) and a Victorian coach from the Wisbech & Upwell tramway.

Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham sold to a private buyer who wishes to expand the operation

Keywords: [ColneValleyRailway]

The one-mile-long Colne Valley heritage railway which exists within the 20-acre Castle Hedingham site, not far from Stansted, has been sold by its founders who wished to retire. They had intended ot sell it to the railway society that operates the line. However, the society missed the deadline (although they had obtained approval for the £1m grant needed to purchase it) and so a private buyer stepped in. The railway's future looks good as the new buyer supports the railway and part of the sale agreement is to allow the society to continue to run the line.


Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 154 - 12/05/2006

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