News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 328 - 31/07/2020
- COVID-19 PANDEMIC [all issues]
- Government ends advice not to use public transport
- Heritage railways continue to be hurt by pandemic
- RAIL ROUTES [all issues]
- Work starts on new road and bridge over railway at King's Dyke level crossing near to Whittlesea
- Network Rail undertakes track renewals across several East Anglia routes
- Final approval given by Combined Authority for the March-Wisbech rail reopening business case
- Consultants appointed to develop business case for eastern section of the East West Rail Link
- Railway bridges at risk of being bashed to be fitted with CCTV to enable quicker inspection
- STATIONS [all issues]
- Government funds improved cycle facilities at East Anglian stations
- Defibrillators to be installed at several Essex stations
- ROLLING STOCK [all issues]
- RAIL DEPOTS [all issues]
- GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues]
Following the launching of judicial proceeding by the SAVE Britain's Heritage group, on 30th July 2020 (the 175th anniverary of the opening of the Ely-Norwich railway line) a High Court order quashed the decision by Breckland District Council (see [Snippets 326]) to allow the demolition of Brandon station. The 1845-built building, which had been boarded up for 16 years, had featured in the BBC comedy Dad's Army but Greater Anglia now wanted to use the land for a car park. Full details at https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/campaigns/item/654/PRESS-RELEASE-Dads-Army-station-saved-from-bulldozers. It must be stressed that the judge has merely ordered the council to reconsider its decision because it had not gone through due process, and therefore Breckland's planning department may yet reach the same decision when it revisits the case over the coming months. Railfuture welcomed this good news providing that money is found to renovate the building and bring it back into purposeful use to benefit the community and rail users. It is understood that the disused compound to the west of the building, which was last used in 2012 during the resignalling of the Ely-Norwich line, will now be converted into an extension of the car park.
A consultation began on Monday 27th July 2020 (ending on 5th October) to see what people in Cambridge think about a huge expansion of the city. The idea is to create a whole new district to the north-east — on land between Cambridge North station and the A14 — that would not be dependent on car usage. See: www.greatercambridgeplanning.org/nec.
The Lowestoft station Tourist Information Office opened on 20th July.
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP), which is funded by train operator Greater Anglia, Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Ipswich Borough Council, has received official recognition from the Department for Transport under the government's new Community Rail Strategy. The recognition shows that a CRP's objectives and activities are supported by government and gives access to the Community Rail Development Fund as a further source of grant funding to help it carry out its work. The East Suffolk Lines CRP works to increase passenger numbers on the Ipswich-Lowestoft and Ipswich-Felixstowe branch lines and build links between the local community and the railway.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Government ends advice not to use public transport
Keywords: [COVID19]
On 17th July 2020 the UK government announced that it was ending its advice, affecting England only, to avoid using public transport unless absolutely necessary, making it clear that anybody may use public transport for any reason. However, it still encouraged people to "consider alternative means of transport where they are available". It must be stressed that since the relaxation of the initial restrictions on public transport for key workers only, introduced at the height of the lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, when police questioned, and sometimes turned back, people wishing to travel by train, there had been complete freedom to travel by train in England for several weeks (Scotland and Wales had a file-mile limit on travel, which effectively ruled out train journeys). The first easing was around 10th May when the instruction in England to "Stay Home" was reduced to "Stay Alert".
In June Railfuture had received written confirmation that train journeys for entirely leisure purposes were allowed, and no questions would be asked, but the rail industry continued to promote train travel only for "essential", "necessary" or "absolutely necessary" journeys as an apparent instruction even though it was not. A good analogy might be the government's advice (for many decades) not to some, but smoking tobacco is not illegal.
Railfuture has been extremely concerned about the medium- and long-term damage being done to the railway by deterring train travel — described by some as "trashing the brand" — that it had been using social media since late June to inform the public that train travel was allowed and to encourage use with the hashtag #ReturnToRail. Once the announcement had been made by Boris Johnson on behalf of the government, the DfT-controlled railway industry started to change its tune. Robert Nisbet of the Rail Delivery Group described the railway ad being "vital to economic recovery" and promised that train companies would "play their part by helping people travel safely" introducing a 'safer travel' pledge. However, despite almost all trains having very few passengers they still asked passengers to "travel at quieter times" in order that all passengers could socially distance form one another.
In contrast to the negativity of the rail companies, but in unison with Railfuture, Transport Focus has become increasingly vocal, especially on social media, about supporting more passengers on trains. Its chief executive, Anthony Smith, described the relaxation as "good news" and stressed that people could travel on trains "even if you have an alternative". He had also criticised out-of-date messaging and signs at stations that deterred travel.
One may get the impression that the rail industry is terrified that too many people will start using its trains. Outside of London, this appears to be highly improbable in the short-term, as the public seem to be very reluctant of having interaction with other people. Reopening of pubs and restaurants in mid-July has not triggered the mass gatherings that some expected.
Railfuture wants to see people enticed back onto trains with special deals. However, the Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs), do not allow operators to sell tickets at fares any lower than those in place when the EMAs were introduced. This does not apply to LNER, which (like Northern) is managed through the Operator of Last Resort (OLR) process and so does not have an EMA, hence it has been able to offer its owb discounted advance fares.
As reported in [Snippets 327] it became mandatory for people over 11 years old (unless exempt on medical grounds) to wear a face covering on trains. It was also urged that they be worn at stations, and this also became mandatory in late July. Passengers were asked to wash their hands before and after journeys. Hand sanitiser dispensers have been provided at many staffed stations. Operators have publicised the 'enhanced cleaning' being undertaken including the use of "hospital-grade anti-viral cleaning products in all public areas across the network."
Heritage railways continue to be hurt by pandemic
Keywords: [COVID19]
The Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) has announced all of its "special events" trains for summer 2020 have been cancelled owing to COVID-19 restrictions. These included the planned beer festival, cream & high tea, fish & chip, rock 'n' rail and jazz trains. Special events make a lot of profit but only if they attract a large number of attendees (and fairly full trains), because of the extra cost of staging them. It has not mentioned the lucrative (and financially vital) Polar Express (formerly Santa Specials), for which bookings had opened in spring on the assumption that the social distancing would be over by November.
The MNR announcement made no mention of normal train services, which it hopes to restart in August 2020, and should be able to operate profitably with social distancing thanks to the 'Pacer' train that it acquired early in 2020.
RAIL ROUTES
Work starts on new road and bridge over railway at King's Dyke level crossing near to Whittlesea
Keywords: [Whittlesea]
On 20th July 2020 an official start of works ceremony was held for the project being undertaken by Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK that allows Whittlesea's King's Dyke level crossing to be permanently closed. The ceremony was held with the contractor and those who have campaigned and supported the scheme since day one. The level crossing is being replaced with a bridge over the railway, and connecting road, at a cost of £32m, and is due open to traffic by December 2022. Work has officially started five months early.
News: https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/construction-starts-on-kings-dyke-five-months-early/.
Network Rail undertakes track renewals across several East Anglia routes
Network Rail has announced a series of track upgrades in East Anglia, all of which should deliver a more reliable — and where jointed track is being replaced by continuously-welded rail, a more comfortable — train service. Where the track or bridge beams were in a poor state, the work should allow temporary speed restrictions being lifted.
A programme of track renewals covering nearly four miles between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds started on 18th July 2020 with some weekend line closures until Sunday 4th October. In August, Network Rail will also replace 4km of track in the vicinity of Cantley including through the station.
Network Rail (NR) has announced emergency works that require a 28-day closure of the Ely-Peterborough line from 6th September to 4th October 2020, followed by six consecutive weekends, so that it can repair four bridges in the Manea area. Although passenger services will be suspended, because it is a vital railfreight corridor NR will allow freght traind to use one track while it is working on the other. Once the work is completed speed restrictions will be lifted.
Final approval given by Combined Authority for the March-Wisbech rail reopening business case
Keywords: [ETCS] [WisbechBranch]
On 8th July 2020, a Wisbech Standard article covered in significant detail the plans to reopen the railway line between March and Wisbech, which has been without a station since 1968 and is now one of the largest towns in Britain without a rail connection. This followed a meeting that day of the Transport & Infrastructure Committee of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CAPCA) in which its members voted unanimously to give final approval for the Full Business Case (FBC), which describes the scheme in detail, along with the costs for each element of it. However, the CAPCA doesn't have the money; that will need to be provided by the government, which wishes to 'level up' deprived parts of north Cambridgeshire.
In order to build a high-quality rail route into Wisbech, with a centrally-located station, 19 houses and up to 120 acres of land (valued at £7.7m at 2017 prices) will need to be acquired. Less than half of the capital cost would be for the rail upgrade because lots of associated work, especially on the roads, will be required.
The closure of all 22 railway level crossings would require five highway diversion schemes and seven new bridges. Consultants Matt Donald said that some of this could be avoided if Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road found alternative approaches for managing the level crossings that could address the safety risk.
At March station a new platform at the west end of the old platform 3 is recommended, with a revised track layout at March for train access. Both existing platforms are current accessible but because the station would become an interchange a footbridge with lifts is required to enable passengers change lines. The reinstated line would remain as single track but with the addition of a 350-metre passing loop at Coldham (although no station there).
The business case assumes that two trains per hour service would run between Wisbech and Cambridge, giving a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) for the scheme of 2.19. However, until Network Rail's Ely Area Capacity enhancements are implemented there is only capacity for an hourly service between Wisbech and Cambridge, which is why it would unlikely trains could start operating before 2028. Railfuture has been led to believe that the East Coast Mainline re-signalling between London King's Cross and Stoke tunnel using ERTMS (exact timescale still to be finalised but transition to ETCS Level 2 operation should be completed by the end of 2029) could be extended from Peterborough to Ely, and up to King's Lynn allowing the signal boxes along the route to be closed. The Wisbech route would therefore use ERTMS as well. The lead time for this is long hence the 2028 opening date, with construction taking place between 2024 and 2027.
At the beginning of July, ahead of the Combined Authority's Transport and Infrastructure Committee meeting on 8th July, Mayor James Palmer met the rail minister, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, to discuss the case for reconnecting Wisbech to the rail network (highlighting the importance of Wisbech rail for the prosperity and growth of the north of Cambridgeshire area) plus the need for capacity improvements at Ely North Junction. The Minister and the Mayor will continue to speak regularly "to maintain pace on the project" according to a spokesman for the Mayor's Office.
Senior politicians are well aware of the importance of the link to Wisbech. Back in 2015 the Cambs Times reported: "Prime Minister David Cameron promised to take a 'proper look' at the campaign – and the cost – of re-opening the Wisbech to March rail line." Back in 2016 local MP Steve Barclay wrote: "I wanted to update constituents on Wisbech Rail, I met with the Rail Minister, Paul Maynard again on Tuesday 8th November. I was pleased to hear the Minister describe Wisbech Rail as 'a critical project', which he strongly supports". In a frustratingly-slow process the public have seen little happen, but it now appears that progress is being made.
News: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-meets-minister/.
Consultants appointed to develop business case for eastern section of the East West Rail Link
Keywords: [EastWestRail]
On 27 July 2020 the East West Rail Consortium, announced that it has commissioned consultants Steer to develop a business case for the Eastern Section (Cambridge to Ipswich/Norwich) of the East West Rail mainline. The results will be used to demonstrate to the Department for Transport the economic benefit of improving the frequency of passenger rail services on the Eastern Section, which currently has hourly trains, and providing a new direct passenger rail link from Suffolk/Norfolk to Oxford.
Railway bridges at risk of being bashed to be fitted with CCTV to enable quicker inspection
Some of the most bashed and at-risk railway bridges in East Anglia will be fitted with a new CCTV system capture images of the bridge deck, allowing faster examination by structural engineers in the event of a bridge strike, and therefore reduce delays and cancellations to rail services. The inspection will identify any debris to be removed and ascertain whether trains may proceed and at what speed. In the Railfuture East Anglia branch area they are two at Ely, two at Needham Market and one at Norwich (Trowse).
Most of the vehicles that hit railway bridges are lorries and buses, which cost around £13,000 per strike, a total of £23m in a year. Drivers are at risk of losing their licenses and leaving their employers with a hefty bill for repairs and train delay costs. Network Rail provides information about bridge strikes please visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/wiseupsizeup.
STATIONS
Government funds improved cycle facilities at East Anglian stations
The government has made awards for improved cycle facilities at six stations in the "East" region. In the Railfuture East Anglia branch area these are at two stations: Cambridge North (measures to improve cycle security in the existing 1,000-space cycle park, costing £400,000, of which £460,000 is from the DfT) and Ipswich (25 additional cycle parking spaces with two-tier cycle stands costing£50,000 of which £45,000 is from the DfT). The funding is for the government's tranche 6 period covering April 2020 to March 2021. Tranche 5 had included improvements at Audley End, Meldreth, Manningtree, March, Marks Tey and Newmarket stations, and also a contribution towards the Chisholm Trail at Cambridge.
Defibrillators to be installed at several Essex stations
Following their installation at other stations, such as Lowestoft, life-saving heart resuscitators (automated external defibrillators) will be installed on the platforms at more stations in Essex including Colchester Town, Harwich Town, Clacton plus Dovercourt, Frinton on Sea, Great Bentley, Kirby Cross, Mistley, Thorpe-Le-Soken, Walton and Wivenhoe stations. Funding was provided by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership.
ROLLING STOCK
Greater Anglia's Class 745 trains carry first passengers to Stansted Airport
Keywords: [Class745]
On Tuesday 28th July 2020 Greater Anglia's Stadler 12-car Class 745/1 trains made their passenger-carrying debut on Stansted Express services, with the 05:06 Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport, which departed for London at 06:15. A second set operated the 07:10 from London and started its return journey at 08:12. The 10 new car trains used on Stansted Express (which have 767 seats — an increase of 83% on the 418 seats available on the eight-car trains) are slightly different to the 10 that operate do the Great Eastern Mainline as they have additional luggage racks but no First Class accommodation or buffet. Some of these sets had been used on the Norwich trains because not all of the Class 745/0s, which have First Class and a buffet, were in service, although they are now (like the 38 bi-mode fleet).<./p>
The new Stansted Express trains are maintained in Norwich so they are put into passenger use for trips there for servicing. They are all due to be in use by spring 2021, which will enable GA to progressively transfer the current Stansted Express trains on to other West Anglia services, prior to the introduction of its new Bombardier Class 720 commuter trains on West Anglia services, which is expected to begin in the latter half of 2021.
RAIL DEPOTS
Greater Anglia upgrades its Clacton rail depot for specialist servicing of its Class 755 bi-mode trains
Keywords: [ClactonDepot]
Greater Anglia's Class 755 bi-mode trains operate north of Ipswich on its rural routes. Although maintenance is mainly performed at its Crown Point depot in Norwich, from which many of the services originate each day, it doesn't have all of the equipment to perform the more intensive maintenance and renewal of parts, especially wheel sets. GA has recently installed a train lifting facility at its Clacton rail depot to accommodate its fleet of Stadler bi-mode trains, which are heavier and longer than its old dmu fleet, which has now been cascaded to other operators. The four additional 18-tonne lifting jacks, for the bi-modes, will work alongside the existing 16 15-tonne jacks.
GUIDED BUSWAY
Cambridgeshire County Council aims to reclaim £80m repair bill for the guided busway
The BBC reported on 17th July 2020 a new legal bid by Cambridgeshire County Council to require BAM Nuttall, which was the construction company, to pay the £80m bill for repairs to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which opened in 2011 after significant delays.
The guided busway construction costs, which was expected to be £86m, ended up exceeding £150m. It its first legal action in 2014 the council was repaid £36m by BAM Nuttall. However, there busway has suffered from several defects and is now looking to claim for the costs of rectifying all the identified defects that have not yet been fixed along with the cost of the repairs that third parties have made on its behalf.
In a High Court document, the council claims that BAM Nuttall had not factored in "the expected movements of the foundation" and there were "errors" in its calculations, as a result the foundations would not meet the required lifespan of 40 years. The council also cited "inappropriate infiltration drainage design", missing and incorrect information in maintenance manuals and the provision of dirty and contaminated concrete beam moulds.
BAM Nuttall says that the design of the busway is not fundamentally defective and doesn't require the remedial works that the council claims. In the six years since the council's consultants alleged that the busway would need hundreds of interventions each month, this has not come to pass. According to BAM, the engineering evidence shows that it will not come to pass in the future.
News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-53406729.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 328 - 31/07/2020
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