News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 209 - 30/09/2010
- RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues]
- STATIONS [all issues]
- Network Rail submits planning application for new island platforms at Cambridge station
- Royston station platform extension works imminient
- New platform approved at Oxford station but not for new Marylebone-Oxford and East West rail services
- RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues]
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- Cambridgeshire County Council to hold inquiry into busway contract but not the decision to build the busway
- Council concerned that contractor has not issued final completion certificates for individual works on southern section
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
The Railfuture East Anglia Branch meeting in Norwich on on Saturday 25th September 2010 heard Chris Starkie of "Shaping Norfolk's Future" list his organisation's wish-list as a 90-minute schedule between London and Norwich, more reliable services; new inter-city style trains, more capacity, station improvements, steadily improving cleanliness, added comfort, better on-board facilities, action to reduce engineering disruption and improvements to rural lines.
Until 30th November 2010 it is possible for people over 55 years old to travel on certain First Capital Connect services from £15 (£25 First Class) with a further 20% discount for Senior Railcard holders. See http://www.club55.co.uk.
East West Rail Link project manager Patrick O'Sullivan will be one of the speakers at the Railfuture national Rail Reopenings conference in London on Saturday 13th November 2010.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
East Suffolk Line resignalling will use conventional signalling whilst cost of Beccles loop almost halves
Keywords: [EastSuffolkLine]
According to items mentioned at the Suffolk Rail Policy Group on lst September, the East Suffolk line resignalling, which will see the life-expired Radio Electronic token Block (RETB) system replaced, would be conventional type rather than the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The cost of Beccles loop, which would be introduced st the same time, had reduced from £5m to £3.95m, passive provision for a loop at Wickham Market was being made.
STATIONS
Network Rail submits planning application for new island platforms at Cambridge station
Keywords: [CambridgeStation]
Following a consultation process earlier in the year, Network Rail has submitted its planning application for the new £17m island platform at Cambridge, complete with covered footbridge and lifts, which will be used from the December 2011 timetable change, initially at peak-time only, and will support 12-car trains to and from Liverpool Street as well as increasing capacity at the station.
Network Rail will independently extend the platforms on the West Anglia line at Stansted airport (where BAA will be funding the work), Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Mountfitchet.
Royston station platform extension works imminient
In spring 2009 the up platform at Royston station was extended to support 12-car trains. This allowed the 12-car trains from Cambridge in the morning peak could stop there. Now Network Rail is extending the down platform as well. Vegetation clearance will be performed at the beginning of October with the platform being complete for the December 2010 timetable change.
The four-carriage platform extension will be using a modular system from Corus Rail who are doing the design and build. Corus have also designed similar schemes such as a new 140m platform at Theale, and will be doing a 165m platform at High Wycombe. Such works using modular techniques typically take eight weeks.
New platform approved at Oxford station but not for new Marylebone-Oxford and East West rail services
Railfuture East Anglia's key reopening campaign is the East West Rail Service primarily Oxford to Cambridge and therefore any improvements at Oxford station are particularly welcome.
On Wednesday 29th September Oxford city councillors approved £12.5m plans at Oxford station to improve the existing service between London Paddington and Oxford. This will see a new bay platform south of Botley Road (built on part of the station's long-stay car park, off Becket Street) and a new covered footbridge to link it with the existing station buildings north of the road. The new platform will remove the need for trains to shunt between the platforms and the carriage sidings at the north end, as well as allowing longer trains, with more seats, to be used in future. Work should begin in 2011 and be completed by early 2012.
This work should not be confused with platforms to support the new Marylebone to Oxford rail service, and ultimately the East West Rail Link. This will see a further two platforms both at the station's north end, which Chiltern aims to launch by 2013.
News report: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/8425458.Station_expansion_welcomed_but_passengers_want_more/.
RAIL FRANCHISES
Government extends National Express East Angila franchise to allow conclusions from franchise review to be implemented
National Express has confirmed that it has secured from the government a 28-week extension to its Greater [East] Anglia franchise, which was due to end on 31st March 2011. Neither side has elaborated on the terms of the contract, although it is acknowledged by the government that the extension will secure less money in premium payments during that period that a new franchise put out to tender was likely to have achieved. Negotiations between the government and NXEA's sister company C2C are continuing amit reports that an extension of up to two years is possible. In addition, the ban on National Express bids imposed by the previous government after their East Coast default has been lifted.
GUIDED BUSWAY
Cambridgeshire County Council to hold inquiry into busway contract but not the decision to build the busway
Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet Members have taken the decision to hold an independent Public Review of the Busway contract, claiming that the independent public review would be a full investigation into the problems that have been faced without the multi-million pound bill of a legally-based Public Inquiry. The Review can only be carried out after the legal process has concluded to avoid prejudicing the legal outcome.
Council concerned that contractor has not issued final completion certificates for individual works on southern section
Cambridgeshire County Council claims that busway contractor BAM Nuttall has failed to provide construction certificates to prove that parts of the southern section to Trumpington have been built to standard. Until these documents have been submitted the council's consultants Atkins cannot carry out final inspections. If BAM Nuttall does not provide certificates until it has finished all work then there will be a large amount of inspection work to be done at the same time. Moreover, problems will not be found until the last moment risking further delays to the start of passenger services.
Like the dispute on the northern section to St Ives. Some unresolved issues on the southern stretch are becoming a "cause for concern", according to a report presented by officers to the council's cabinet.
News story: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/More-problems-could-emerge-for-guided-bus.htm.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Mid-Norfolk Railway's Thuxton passing loop opens for Class 37 Golden Jubilee celebration which was a 'massive success'
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
The Mid-Norfolk Railway welcomed approximately 2,000 visitors to its Class 37 Golden Jubilee gala weekend at on 24th-26th September, providing some much needed funds for the railway which makes little from its regular passenger services and relies heavily on special events and rail industry contracts. There were 12 locomotives on site representing the 50 years of service. Visitors came from far and wide including Ireland, Denmark and Germany whilst local publicity included a live broadcast on BBC-1 local news which brought in a number of local visitors.
The weekend also saw the opening of the passing loop at Thuxton which enabled an hourly service from Dereham and Wymondham with over 30 departures from the MNR's Dereham headquarters over the three days.
Norfolk County Council in discussions about Dereham to Norwich services in the longer term
On 3rd September a meeting was held between Norfolk county councillor Tim East, David Hibbs at the DfT and consultants into the possibility of running Dereham-Norwich trains. There is a proposal to include this in the new LTP, with £15,000 being spent on a passenger traffic demand forecast. This positive step coincides with rumours of discussions with Holt Town Council to extend the North Norfolk Railway into Holt, which has a 3,000 population, using an alignment running alongside the road.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 209 - 30/09/2010
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