News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 212 - 24/12/2010
- RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues]
- RAIL ROUTES [all issues]
- Network Rail suggests quadrupling Huntingdon to Peterborough track
- West Norfolk Council decides that it is no longer worth protecting the former King's Lynn to Hunstanton railway route
- STATIONS [all issues]
- On-going saga of moving Lowestoft station further inland seems to be over
- Royston station down platform extended to take four extra carriages
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- Cambridgeshire Guided Busway cost climbs to a massive £181m and construction is still not complete
- Buses run on busway to test traffic light operation
- BBC Radio Cambridgeshire debate held in Impington as Stagecoach admits it could walk away from the busway
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
- WEBSITES [all issues]
At the Railfuture East Anglia Branch meeting in Bury St Edmunds on 4th December, James Steward of National Express East Anglia spoke to around 30 attendees. Although many were aware of the planned improvements that he described, in response to questions he revealed, for example, that NXEA are trying to find a new retail tenant for Lowestoft station.
The second series of Michael Portillo's "Great British Railway Journeys" will begin on BBC-2 from Monday 3rd January 2011. This year there will be 25 editions. The first of the five week-long journeys is from Brighton to Cromer, featuring lines in the branch area from part three. Filming took place at Newmarket, Cambridge, Ely, Downham Market, King's Lynn, Wymondham and Norwich stations, along with scenes along the Mid-Norfolk Railway from Dereham to Thuxton.
Mince Pie Special trains will take place at the Mid-Norfolk on 27 and 28 December and 1 January 2011. The MNR has reported 2,940 passengers carried on its Santa trains this season. Its latest plans for 2011 include an additional 'home fleet' diesel gala on the weekend of 14th/15th May and on the Saturday East Midlands Trains will run a High Speed Train set to the railway in aid of 'The Railway Children' charity.
The Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust has announced dates for two members' meetings in 2011: Wednesday 26th January, St Peter's Church Hall, Wisbech; Thursday 24th February, Bramley Line Office, Room 9, Old Bank Chambers, Dartford Road, March. All start at 19:00.
The Route Utilisation Study (RUS) for London and the South East has been published. See http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/4447.aspx.
The government has announced that Lin Homer will become the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport in January 2011.
The Royston down platform extension opened on time and there should be an item about it in the Rail Engineer in early 2011.
RAIL FRANCHISES
Interim Greater [East] Anglia franchise to be offered for around two years before long-term franchise commences
On 7th December the government announced that will invite bidders (scheduled for 11th January 2011) for a short contract of around 1.5 to 2.5 years for the Greater [East] Anglia franchise as an interim before awarding a new long term franchise to commence in 2013. Shortlisted bidders will be asked to submit their tenders in April 2011 with an announcement likely to be made in autumn 2011. The government has not explained why it will not simply extend NXEA's franchise until 2013 (it was originally to end in 2014) but it probably expects to get better value for money for the despite the costs of the franchise process. NXEA's turnover for 2009/10 was £510m from 107 million passenger journeys.
The government has already extended the c2c franchise by two years into 26th May 2013, although it has an option to terminate it on 8th December 2012 if this fits in more neatly with the franchise awards programme. The first new long-term franchise is expected to be the Inter City West Coast which is expected to run from 2012 until the planned opening of HS2 in 2026. The Inter City East Coast franchise will be awarded in late 2012 and will last for 15 years.
Prior to the government announcement newspapers had speculated that Network Rail and train operators would be required to "work in tandem" and suggested that the East Anglia route had been chosen for test-bed operation for revamping the relationship between Network Rail and train operators with both parties sharing financial risks and rewards from new infrastructure work.
Guardian story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/dec/05/network-rail-east-anglia-national-express.
RAIL ROUTES
Network Rail suggests quadrupling Huntingdon to Peterborough track
In its final East Coast Main Line 2016 Capacity Review published on 13th December (the draft was in August 2010), Network Rail recommends four-tracking the ECML from Huntingdon to Peterborough at a cost of £112m, which would have a benefit:cost ratio of 2.42. The 15 miles are currently a mixture of two track and three track (single southbound line), which severely limits capacity.
West Norfolk Council decides that it is no longer worth protecting the former King's Lynn to Hunstanton railway route
Keywords: [HunstantonBranch]
Many people including Hunstanton Town Council and the Fen Line Users Association have been hoping that the Hunstanton branch (which opened in 1862 and closed in 1969) could one day re-open in some form, especially as the route is relatively clear of obstruction until it gets into Hunstanton (perhaps necessitating a new station further south than the original), apart from a sports centre shed at the King's Lynn end. However, West Norfolk Council has recently written to Hunstanton Town Council explaining that it will not protect the remainder of the branch's route from development. It believes that building on or close to the trackbed in a number of locations has 'limited any potential redevelopment for rail use', which Railfuture disputes especially since it has studied the current state of the route. In addition Norfolk County Council has said that there is little likelihood of a rail proposal coming forward.
The Hunstanton branch is not a campaigning priority for Railfuture, but the reopening would not be difficult as the route has not been breached by roads, would not need any bridges and is on flat land. However, it would need to be electrified in order to extend London trains beyond King's Lynn, and a reopening would increase the need for track redoubling between Littleport and Downham Market.
STATIONS
On-going saga of moving Lowestoft station further inland seems to be over
Keywords: [LowestoftStation]
The Lowestoft Lake Lothing & Outer Harbour Area Action Plan issued by Waveney District Council appears to rule out any movement of Lowestoft station in the foreseeable future. In its response to this document ESTA wrote that "the plan should accept that both in the short term and in the long term, relocation of Lowestoft station is neither strategically acceptable nor legally possible." This is a view that Railfuture also takes. ESTA also spotted a reference to "a minimum of two platforms plus a siding for excursion trains" in the report, but it insists that three long platforms (as now) are required.
Royston station down platform extended to take four extra carriages
Since the timetable change in mid-December 12-car trains now call at Royston station in both the morning and evening peaks. The southbound platform at Royston station was extended in May 2009 allowing longer morning-only trains, but with only days to go the northbound platform was extended my around 90 metres (using modular platforms form Tata Steel - formerly Corus) to also allow 12-car trains. Although the extended platform is fully in use some landscaping behind them will take place in the New Year.
Power supply upgrades at Ferme Park in north London were also completed to allow additional carriages to be moved as part of First Captial Connect's much publicised 6,500 extra seats in the morning and evening peak on the Great Northern route.
NR Press release: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/LONGER-PLATFORMS-AT-ROYSTON-STATION-163e/SearchCategoryID-8.aspx.
GUIDED BUSWAY
Cambridgeshire Guided Busway cost climbs to a massive £181m and construction is still not complete
BAM Nuttall has spent a massive £151 million constructing the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway compared to the £87 million in its fixed-price contract. The county council continues to argue, to increasing incredulity, that council tax payers will not bear any of the £64m. However, it will have paid BAM Nuttall 95% of all the overspend minus the £14,000 that it is withholding for each day that construction is delayed and is hoping that BAM Nuttall will eventually return the money! Cllr Kilian Bourke, who obtained the figures, said "It is disconcerting to learn that in the very worst-case scenario the council could have to pay out up to £60 million." Attempting to allay fears, Graham Hughes, the county council's director of growth and infrastructure said "Our appraisal of possible outcomes has, however, led us to make provision for a further £5m of costs this being set aside from the LTP budget."
BAM Nuttall has confirmed that its workers will, once again, take an extended break over Christmas from 17th December to 5th January, further delaying the project, which weeks ago they predicted would be finished before them. Whilst they will suffer £14,000 delay penalties for each day of this break, BAM Nuttall will also incur costs during that time (e.g for hiring equipment) which it will charge the council for. Meanwhile the county council has been making arrangements for a new contractor to step in to resolve outstanding defects if BAM Nuttall fails to do so within 28 days of the 21-day inspection period being completed once the busway has been officially handed over to the council.
CN Story: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/Cost-of-guided-busway-climbs-to-181-million.htm.
Buses run on busway to test traffic light operation
Buses ran on the busway between St Ives and Cambridge on Thursday 16th December in order to test the triggering of the traffic lights at each road crossing as the bus approached. The lights are intended to automatically change in favour of the bus. Work at Histon, which inolved digging out all recycled shredded rubber tyres from the 'four foot' was hurriedly completed to allow the tests to take place.
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire debate held in Impington as Stagecoach admits it could walk away from the busway
The BBC held a public debate about the busway at Impington Sports Centre on Monday 29 November, with around 70 members of the public attending. The debate was broadcast in the mid-morning programme the nest day with highlights on BBC Look East.
The panel consisted of five members:
* Councillor Roy Pegrem, Cabinet Member for Growth, Infrastructure and Strategic Planning, on CC
* Graham Hughes, Director of growth and infrastructure at the county council
* John French, Independent expert in integrated transport solutions - His company Transport Regeneration is based in Bury St Edmunds
* Mike Mason, Independent District Councillor for Histon and Impington
* Tim Phillips, Chairman of CAST.IRON, which offered Network Rail a substantial sum to buy the railway line so that it could reopen it and run trains.
In the audience were Councillor Shona Johnstone, who did more than anyone to promote the busway over the railway, former councillor Matt Bradney who was the public face of the busway and was dumped because of it and Andy Campbell MD of Stagecoach. BAM Nuttall was invited but declined and provided a statement saying "The County Council has made clear that its view is that legal action is inevitable. In such circumstances, it is not felt appropriate to debate in public issues which would form part of the legal action the County Council are describing as inevitable."
Andy Campbell MD of Stagecoach in Cambridge repeated his threat made that morning on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire breakfast show that his company could walk away if the guideway doesn't open by mid-2011. He said that he regretted not inserting a penalty clause on Cambridgeshire County Council as Stagecoach had bought new buses which were not being put to best use at the moment. Raising concerns about the long-term future of the busway he said that the viability of the bus operation was entirely dependent upon Northstowe town being built because of the access charges relative to passenger numbers and he expected to make losses for four or five years. He appeared to be saying that conventional services could always have served Northstowe, and profitably, almost regardless of size but the burden of the busway that means a critical mass of potential passengers is needed.
According to council documents Northstowe was assumed to provide over 20% of the patronage and it was assumed that there would be a 10% premium to "standard" fares. The delay in building Northstowe isn't just a problem for Stagecoach - it is a financial nightmare for the county council too. The council should have received around £12m of section 106 money and it has had to borrow this shortfall - as well as the money to pay BAM Nuttalls cost overrun invoices - in the interim.
Meanwhile, further bad news for fans of the guided bus project is that buses have stopped using the mini-bus only lane at Hartford. The lane has bus bollards are each end so the gritting lorries cannot go down. This led to a bus skidding and it hit one of the bollards. Stagecoach have ordered all drivers not to use it until further notice.
BBC Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_9238000/9238188.stm
CGB Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridgeshire_Guided_Busway.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Mid-Norfolk Railway presentation to Railfuture by Operations Director James Steward
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
On 4th December at the Railfuture East Anglia branch meeting in Bury St Edmunds, after talking about NXEA, James Steward gave a short presentation about the Mid-Norfolk Railway, where he is operations director. He said that the 2008-2010 seasons had seen a large growth in the railway with visitors attracted by steam trains and lots of freight with training and testing work from the railway industry. The most impressive was perhaps the Harsco track machine which is normally charged out at £6,000 for an 8-hour shift including staff. The MNR has also been storing redundant machines for Network Rail and helping Balfour Beatty conduct training work. It also has a growing volunteer base.
The railways greatest achievement in the last few years is the Thuxton passing loop, which opened in September. It has three sets of points (fully motorised) and six signals (a mixture of semaphore and colour lights).
The railway is lacking undercover storage and is probably the only railway with a long length of track and a large amount of rolling stock not to have any. The MNR was unprepared for the huge number of visitors at the Class 37 Gala, which saw record ticket sales and was probably the biggest event in preservation in 2010. There were 12 locomotives on site, seven separate mainline movements, and over 40 return trips over three days.
In the past the MNR has been seen as a diesel-only railway but in 2011 it will hold its first steam gala. The MNR also wants its own resident steam engine since it currently does not have sufficient time to train its own volunteers, who have to spend time at the North Norfolk Railway being trained.
The MNR expects to open the line to Hoe in 2012, with a modest station platform. Works trains have already travelled just beyond Hoe and although the repaired track has yet to be inspected by the HMRI to is good enough to carry passengers in a DMU. The Hoe trains could operate in a link-up with the Gressenhall Rural Life Museum. An extension to North Elmham could be achieved in 2015 but this would need civil engineering work as embankments need strengthening. Sand is extracted from near to North Elmham and there is a proposal for freight trains to take it to London with waste trains coming back.
The MNR is talking to companies about freight opportunities. It is cost-effective since there are few freight locations in the region that are not operated by DB Schenker, who charge a four-figure sum for their use. There is already a freight facilities grant in place for Derby-Dereham stone traffic, but the train goes to Norwich for haulage by road for there to Dereham. It could go by train all the way as the destination is next to the MNR's line.
In 2011 the MNR will set-up a group to look at running its trains beyond the Wymondham Abbey terminal station. A possibility is to run onto the mainline, since it would only see a couple of hundred trains a year. However, it is more likely that the railway would have to build a station very close to the mainline one.
Thanking James for his presentation, branch chairman Peter Wakefield described the MNR as "huge economic importance to Mid-Norfolk."
WEBSITES
Railway Magazine finally launches a website
Railway Magazine has finally launched a website - see http://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk - just weeks after a change of ownership. Apparently the previous owners had refused to provide a website. The advantage of such a late launch is that it will demonstrate to the new owners the value that websites provide in an era when they are no longer a novelty.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 212 - 24/12/2010
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