News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 228 - 30/04/2012
- RAIL ROUTES [all issues]
- Ipswich-Felixstowe passenger service threatened by significant growth on rail freight from the Port of Felixstowe
- Stansted Airport owner BAA calls for 30-minute train journey to London
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
- January 2014 date set for start of court hearings between Cambridgeshire County Council and BAM Nuttall
- Cambs County Council discloses details of its Quality Bus Partnership agreement with operators of Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
- Appeal launched by Norfolk Orbital Railway group to buy land for North Norfolk Railway extension to Holt
- Mid-Norfolk Railway to benefit from Network Rail's Ely-Norwich resignalling project
- WEBSITES [all issues]
Rail campaigners are pleased that new operator Greater Anglia, owed by Abellio, has increased funding of several of the Community Rail Partnerships in East Anglia.
New ticket barriers became operational at King's Lynn station on 10th April.
The Felixstowe TravelWatch AGM is being held at St Andrew's Hall in Felixstowe on Tuesday 22nd May at 19:30, and will include a speaker from Network Rail.
On Saturday 5th May in BBC Radio 4's 'Archive on Four' programme at 20:00 Michael Portillo explores the long-term effects of the cuts on Britain's railways, before assessing what Dr. Richard Beeching (ex. ICI) would have made of the state of the rail network today. Railfuture's Chris Austin was interviewed by Mr Portillo for the programme.
The Epping-Ongar preserved railway line, which is just to the south of the Railfuture East Anglia branch area has announced its grand reopening (after four years to allow significant engineering works) on Friday 25th May 2012. See http://eorailway.co.uk/news/epping-ongar-railway-announces-the-resumption-of-passenger-services.
RAIL ROUTES
Ipswich-Felixstowe passenger service threatened by significant growth on rail freight from the Port of Felixstowe
Keywords: [FelixstowePort]
Felixstowe TravelWatch, in its 40th year having been formed to save passenger services on the Feliwstowe branch, is extremely concerned at the suggestion - for that is all it is at the moment - by the Port of Felixstowe to replace off-peak rail passenger services by so-called express buses in order to give the path to freight trains. This suggestion by the Port is to avoid (or delay) having to spend a considerable sum on doubling much of the branch. The powers had already been obtained to double the branch and then permission was sought and obtained to delay that until 2018 because of the recession. Many fear that the desire is to abandon it altogether.
Rail campaigners have pointed out that usage of some off-peak service is highly seasonal and, according to the latest edition of the Felixstowe TravelWatch newsletter, "extremely well patronised" during "periods of fine weather and especially at school holiday times throughout the year." They also claim that many passengers board and alight at Derby Road, Trimley and Westerfield, so a bus would hardly be 'express' it if had to visit all three of them. They also point out that many are "encumbered with heavy luggage, prams, pushchairs and cycles" which are not easy - of in some cases possible - to carry on buses.
It is assumed that there would be no reduction in rail services during the current franchise, so campaigners are focused in making the case to the DfT to retain all passenger servers from 2014.
Stansted Airport owner BAA calls for 30-minute train journey to London
Keywords: [Stansted]
According to a news item in RAIL magazine issue 695 (at book shops from 2nd May) the current owner of Stansted Airport, Spanish-owned BAA, is calling for the current 45-minute train journey between Stansted airport and Liverpool Street station to be reduced to 30 minutes, which is closer to the journey times to the other London airports. This would require substantial investment in the rail route, with both additional track (to improve pathing) and faster running.
BAA claim that 49% of passengers use public transport to get to and from the airport. It is currently appealing against a Competition Commission decision in February 2012 that it must sell Stansted airport.
GUIDED BUSWAY
January 2014 date set for start of court hearings between Cambridgeshire County Council and BAM Nuttall
A judge from London's Technology and Construction Court has selected January 2014 for the start of the court hearings in the dispute between Cambridgeshire County Council and BAM Nuttall. The construction work should have cost £87m but BAM Nuttall ran up a bill of £152m, most of which the county council has paid (according to the terms of the contract) but is now trying to claim back. In the meantime the council is paying substantial annual interest on the amount if has borrowed, and will incur a £175,000 cost to provide BAM Nuttall with the documentation that it has requested for the case.
News story: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Guided-bus-court-case-wont-start-until-2014-10042012.htm.
Cambs County Council discloses details of its Quality Bus Partnership agreement with operators of Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
As a result of a Freedom of Information request from a Cambridge city councillor, Cambridgeshire County Council has disclosed details of the Quality Bus Partnership in place for the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. Some people have criticised the county council for not publishing the details proactively without being forced to do so by the FoI request, especially as there appears to be nothing controversial in it. Also provided with the response was the access agreement, although part of this has been withheld for commercial reasons, namely that it gives an insight into how the operators conduct their business, in particular when it comes to tendering for contracts, and would assist their competitors.
FoI Response: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/quality_and_access_agreement_2#incoming-270092.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Appeal launched by Norfolk Orbital Railway group to buy land for North Norfolk Railway extension to Holt
Keywords: [NorfolkOrbitalRailway]
The Holt, Melton Constable and Fakenham Railway company, which is promoting the Norfolk Orbital Railway has launched a £250,000 fundraising appeal to allow them to buy vital plots of land allowing the North Norfolk Railway to be extended from its current stop a mile outside Holt into the town centre, alongside the A148 bypass and over to Common Hill. The company has signed an agreement which will allow us to purchase the privately-owned land, if it can raise the money, and the county council would like to sell their portion of the land to us. Of course, there will be substantial costs after this in order to build a railway formation and lay track.
To support the appeal, send donations to The Holt, Melton Constable and Fakenham Railway Co., The Railway Institute, Melton Constable, Norfolk, NR24 2DA.
Norfolk Orbital website: http://www.norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/
News item:http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/rail_groups_on_track_to_complete_norfolk_orbital_railway_1_1343924.
Mid-Norfolk Railway to benefit from Network Rail's Ely-Norwich resignalling project
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
The Mid-Norfolk Railway has accepted Network Rail's offer of Spooner Row signal box together with all of its equipment as a gift, with the MNR only having to cover the cost of transport. It is proposed to relocate it in 2013, erecting it south of Cavick.
It is understood that the Network Rail signal box at Wymondham will stay at its current location but will be fenced off from the mainline.
WEBSITES
Independent website provides details of trains calling at a station with their routes, station calls and platforms
The Guardian newspaper recently ran a feature on how student Ian Shortman used ATOC's timetable data, following
its decision to make the data available under licence, to provide a radically different timetable website from that run by
National Rail Enquiries. Mr Shortman says that his http://trains.im website solves some fairly
basic deficiencies in the NRES website where someone cannot easily determine:
* Which platform will be used - very useful when trying to make a quick connection
* Which is their train prior to boarding if they are not going to the destination (because not call station calls are listed)
* The route that the train will take.
His website, which can be used on mobile phones as well, addresses the shortfalls and more.
News item: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/apr/02/rail-timetable-open-data.
Website promotes advice on travelling to London and other areas during 2012 Games
The http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/ website aims to provide travel advice to people going to places where Olympic (27th July - 12th August) and Paralympic (29th August - 9th September) Events are being held primarily London, during the games. The hope is to avoid unnecessary congestion.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 228 - 30/04/2012
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