News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 357 - 31/12/2022
On 21st December 222, the Transport and Works Act Orders Unit at the Department for Transport published a 41-page decision letter stating that the Secretary of State for Transport [Mark Harper] had approved the TWA Order application from Network Rail to construct Cambridge South railway station (formally the Cambridge South Infrastructure Enhancements project). It revealed that the final stages of the public inquiry process had ended on 10th June 2022 (the last day of hearings was on 25th February). The Inspector had recommended that the Order should be made, subject to modifications.
On 22nd December, the government announced that rail fares in England to rise by up to 5.9% from 5th March 2023 (which is 6.4 percentage points lower than July 2022 RPI figure of 12.3% and, according to the government, represents July 2022's average earnings growth). Railfuture's Media Spokesman, Bruce Williamson, was interviewed by several news organisatios, including GB News. He welcomed the below inflation rise (although many people's pay has risen less than 5.9%) and called for this to be repeated in future years (and the obsolete RPI measure of inflation should not be used in future). He pointed out the poor performance during 2022 and that strikes are going to make passengers feel they aren't getting value for money. He said that strikes are bad for the industry and will deter passengers, not noted that the rail strikes are about more than just pay. Government is concerned about losing money when not increasing rail fares as much as they could, but he wondered how much has the fuel duty freeze cost the government.
At the end of December 2022 the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published a revised version of its "Rail industry finance (UK) April 2021 to March 2022" report at: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/2162/rail-industry-finance-uk-statistical-release-202122.pdf.
On 1st December 2022 the government published a statement setting out what it wants to achieve in the Operations, Maintenance and Renewal (OMR) of the railways in England and Wales during Control Period 7 (CP7), which runs 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2029 (in Scotland this process is fully devolved). In its Statement of Funds Available (SoFA), it announced a budget for Network Rail during those five years of £44 billion, which does not include enhancements and compares to the £47 billion in CP6 that did include enhancements.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has revealed total passenger revenue between July and September 2022 was 71 per cent for the same quarter in 2019 (i.e. the latest pre-COVID equivaent quarter) when nornmalised (uplifting the 2019 revnuee ot take account of inflation) whilst passenger usage was 80.3 per cent, showing that yield per user is 88.4%, reflecting a greater proportion of leisure travel - see news story.
Greater Anglia (GA) has claimed that Soham station first year since reopening has been a "soaring success". It describes passenger usage since December 2021 as being "healthy and consistent", with almost 50,000 journeys starting or finishing there. Jamie Burles, GA's managing director, said: "We knew that re-connecting Soham to the passenger rail network for the first time in 56 years would be a great occasion. We're pleased that it's been so well used during its first year and we look forward to see how it continues to grow in the future." The new station cost around £18.6 million and was funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPA). Its Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Cllr Anna Smith, described the patronage as "a fantastic start" and sees the station as "life-changing for many people in the Soham area." Quotes from Rail Technology Magazine..
On 6th December 2022 ESTA launched "East Suffolk Line – A Railway For All Purposes", an 18-page discussion paper to mark the tenth anniversary of the inauguration of a passing loop at Beccles and introduction of an hourly Ipswich–Lowestoft service. It shows how the modern Class 755 Stadler trains should be able to complete this journey in 75mins, and also examines the challenge of freight, and the differing needs of Felixstowe, Sizewell and Lowestoft.
Despite objections fror Railfuture and Rail User Groups, the Department for Transport had wanted to cut the Norwich–Liverpool service (via Peterborough, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester) into two. It is understood that the through service will be retained until at least December 2023.
JBP, Network Rail's scheme partner, for the redevelopment of Liverpool Street station, was delighted by the public attendance of nearly 200 people at is public exhibition in early December 2022. Its upgradelss.com website contains early plans for the station and aspirations for the wider public realm. These proposals are succinctly explained and visualised in a video at: https://vimeo.com/773911599.
In early December 2022, Greater Anglia's four-carriage class 755 bi-mode FLIRT trains manufactured by Stadler were awarded the "most reliable train of their type" in Britain for the second concurrent year at the annual Golden Spanner Awards, which are based on the 'miles per technical incident' (MTIN) statistics (measured using data from Network Rail's nationwide TRUST computer system). The class 755 (claimed to be jewel in GA's rolling stock fleet) recorded an average of 17,676 miles between incidents, well ahead of other train classes and exceeding its own record of from 14,767 miles the previous year. The Stadler trains were triumphant with GA's class 745 train won the silver spanner for the most improved train of their type (126.9% year-on-year) and three-car class 755s won the bronze spanner for the lowest average delay per technical incident. Faults included are those that cause a delay of three minutes or more. See article.
The passenger lifts at Colchester railway station will be replaced, as they have reached the end of their life and are therefore more likely to break down because of their age. Brand new lifts will be installed because the replacement parts for the current lifts are extremely hard to get hold of, which could result in the lifts being out of use for longer if they did break down.
Greater Anglia's Norwich Crown Point Depot (which was officially opened on 27 October 1982, by the chairman of the British Railways Board, Peter Parker and currently employs over 100 staff) recently celebrated 40 years of servicing trains that operate in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. The depot has seen considerable changes in those four decades, such as electrification in 1985, along with the Great Eastern Main Line. In recent uears there have been new facilities to maintain and clean the 58 new Stadler class 755 and 744 trains (see above), as well as a new train washing facility, improved servicing equipment (such as a new bogie drop) and the ability to store and ispense more fuel. Crown Point replaced Norwich engine shed with servicing of InterCity trains moving from Great Yarmouth.
In late 2022 the Nene Valley Railway (NVR) announced that it was appealing for £100,000 to enable it to reopen the Fletton Loop, which connects its line with the East Coast Mainline, as it needed track repairs and renewals before it could be used by passenger trains again. The NVR is not alone in finding ifself unable to carry out, or afford to carry out, repairs to their tracks during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mid-Norfoll Railway's northern extension between Dereham and Hoe is out of use until 5,000 sleepers are replaced, and even then it will need thousands more replaced soon after that.
Graham Newman, who was heavily involved with Felixstowe Travelweatch (formerly ESTA Felixstowe) died on Wednesday 28th December 2022. He was also the chair of the East Suffolk Lines sub group chair and had been for several years. Graham was also Suffolk County Councillor for Felixstowe Coastal since 2005.
RAIL ROUTES
Network Rail objects to proposals for compulsory land buy-up of Wisbech line
Keywords: [WisbechBranch]
On 2nd December 2022, the recently launched CambsNews had a major feature story (entitled "Network Rail fights compulsory land buy-up to keep Wisbech rail hope alive") on the Wisbech railway line researched by its editor, John Elworthy. The information below includes some key points from the new story, along with additional information from Railfuture.
There are proposals to construct a new £300 million energy from waste (EfW) combined heat and power (CHP) facility in Wisbech on the existing waste management site on the Algores Way industrial estate. Its backers have adopted the name 'Medworth' after the ward in which the site sits. The benefit of EfW is that electricity is generated and non-recyclable waste (over half a million tonnes a year is quoted) avoids being sent to landfill. Medworth CHP Ltd (which is 50.1% owned by the city council of Mannheim, Germany) wants to run an overground pipeline along the eastern edge of the Wisbech railway line. This need not necessarily cause Network Rail (NR) a problem, and could being it revenue through wayleaves. The proposers claim the scheme has been designed so as not to prevent the reopening of the line, by which they mean that they will leave sufficient room for the railway. However, NR is looking at a reopening it as a double-track railway and says it "has concerns around the safety aspect of running the pipeline alongside an operational railway." It is also concerned that Medworth CHP proposes that the currently disused level crossing on New Bridge Lane will form part of the main site access for the scheme, but NR says it needs that land to fulfil its statutory undertaking.
What really appears to have upset Network Rail — and Railfuture is pleased by the strength of its reaction &mdash is that Medworth CHP Ltd has told the government's Planning Inspectorate of its possible intention to seek compulsory purchase orders to acquire land from Network Rail and others. Network Rail says compulsory purchase orders are being sought (a mixture peromanent acquisition, temporary use of land and permanent new rights) for 12 the 13 plots of land that it owns including "operational railway land forming part of the disused but operational railway being the March to Wisbech Line." Encouraggingly, NR says that "Although the line is currently not in use" it "intends to reopen the line in the near future".
The CambsNews article quotes NR's atatement to the Planning Inspectorate: "Network Rail considers that there is no compelling case in the public interest for the acquisition of the compulsory powers" and no other land is available that could make good the detriment caused to the railway. NR says prividing compulsory powers will not be exercised then it may be able to withdraw its objection depending on which plots of land are acquired and relevant works carried out include terms that protect Network Rail's statutory undertaking. Beside Network Rail, some 700 objections are being considered by the Planning Inspectorate.
Details of the scheme can be read at https://www.mvv-medworthchp.co.uk/.
STATIONS
Construction of Beaulieu Park station near Chelmsford to begin in 2023
Keywords: [BeaulieuStation]
A railway station for the Beaulieu Park area of Chelmsford (which is just south of the Railfuture East Anglia branch area) cold be opened to passenger services by end of 2025 (about the same time as Cambridge North station) after the contract between Essex County Council and Network Rail was signed. A station in the area has been proposed from around 40 years but it has taken signficant funding from the government's Housing and Infrastructure Fund, alng with the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and developer Countryside Zest, to achieve it.
Network Rail will announce a delivery contractor by end of January 2023 with construction of Beaulieu Park station – the first new station on the Great Eastern Mainline (GEML) in more than 100 years – beginning soon after. It will include:
- Three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks to enable stopping services to call at the station while allowing fast train to pass through unimpeded
- Step free access to all platforms via two lifts
- Ticketing facilities, with ticket vending machines and a gate line
- Accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
- Parking for over 700 cars, 5% of which to be designated Blue Badge bays, and motorcycle spaces, as well as dedicated parking for station staff, emergency services, and a dedicated space for service access
- Pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays
- A bus interchange including bus stands for local services
- 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage
- Pedestrian and cycle access routes to the station
News: https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/construction-of-beaulieu-park-station-to-begin-in-the-new-year/.
Additional content will be added to this page.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 357 - 31/12/2022
[Prev Issue (356)] [Snippets Issues] [Next Issue (358)] [Category List] [Keyword List] [People List] [Story List] [Branch Dashboard]