East Anglia Branch News - Snippets Issues for 2005

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The East Anglia branch of Railfuture has been producing news 'snippets' since 1999. The aim is to produce concise easy-to-read information, often extracted from long-winded press releases, without the spin.

The following is a list of the news 'Snippets' produced by the East Anglia branch of Railfuture for 2005. They are listed in descending date order. Click on an issue to read the news.

Click [ALL] to see a list of all issues.

390	-	Date TBC	-	Issue 390 in progress - read content produced so far
2005 [hide contents]
151	09/11/2005
	RAIL PROMOTIONS [all issues] Rail Fest Weekend in East Anglia deemed a great success Free refreshments for theatre-goers travelling by rail RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Cambridge-Norwich service carries 600,000 passengers in third successful year ESTA Felixstowe concerned that introduction of Avantax machines has led to loss of revenue ESTA welcomes retention of direct London trains on the East Suffolk Line RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Railfuture's Freight committee attends site visit at Potter Group Proposed expansion at Barrington cement works would see increase in number of trains RAIL STAFF [all issues] Work commences on 'one' staff training 'Customer Service Academy' in East London ST.IVES LINE [all issues] No news on Cambridge Guided Bus approval as Scottish scheme closed for repairs again STATIONS [all issues] Possibility for new station to serve Snetterton race track Two more rural 'one' stations to be manned for first time since the Sixties Rail Passengers Council audit of station idenitifies deficiencies thoughout the region Impoved 'one' services on West Anglia routes from December 2005 timetable Clacton and Walton-on-Naze line is now called the "Sunshine Coast Line" RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Leaf-fall treatment trains to be based at Stowmarket RAIL PUNCTUALITY [all issues] WAGN amongst most punctual train operators during summer RAIL AWARDS [all issues] 'one's Delay Repay passenger compensation wins National Customer Service Award Ely is joint winner in Station of the Year at the National Cycle-Rail Awards 2005 PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Mid-Norfolk Railway's Kimberley Park station finally re-opens to passengers 'one' returns to Mid-Norfolk Railway for driver training Plans for Cromer signalbox to become a museum WEBSITES [all issues] Website launched for the East Midlands Passenger Transport Users Forum Southern Railway website shows way ahead in producing personal timetables Website promotes two-for-one entry tickets to attractinos when travelling by train London Transport Users' Committee is first of series of "Travel Watch" organisations New internet/phone train booking facility offers Intercity ticket-less journeys from £1 each way Website setup to chart progress of the Stiling-Alloa-Kincardine railway reopening in Scotland
150	19/09/2005
	RAIL SERVICES [all issues] 'one' announces improvements to winter Sunday services on Norfolk branch lines 'one's new permanent catering office and store result in see improved catering 'one' provided extra trains for Lowestoft Seafront Air Show RAIL AWARDS [all issues] 'one' is runner-up for "Passenger Operator of the Year" award ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Inspector submits guided busway inquiry report to Secretary of State but DfT keeps contents secret Cambridgeshire County Council conduct intrusive work on St.Ives and Trumpington routes RAIL PUNCTUALITY [all issues] East Anglia MPs complained to 'one' about poor train punctuality RAIL ACCIDENTS [all issues] "Foolhardy" driver fined for smashing through level crossing barrier Cambridgeshire County Council proposed £15m bypass to avoid lorries bashing Ely railway bridge RAIL COSTS [all issues] SRA analysis of rail costs says East Anglia passengers subsidise rail routes elsewhere in Britain by £1m a week Analysis of TOC passenger figures makes interesting reading RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] National Express faces competition inquiry for its Thameslink/Great Northern franchise bid Central Trains' franchise is extended for two years prior to major shake up RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Former Rail Passengers Committee submitted its rail service wish-list to national RPC before its demise RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Sudbury branch line upgraded with continuous welded rail RAIL FARES [all issues] APEX tickets now available for single journeys to increase flexibility of cheap travel by train RAIL SERVICES [all issues] New local charter train operator ROLLING STOCK [all issues] GNER Mark IV fleet upgrade only weeks away from completion PASSENGER INFORMATION [all issues] 'one' produces new 'quick reference' timetables following survey of customers STATIONS [all issues] Sheringham Evening Women's Institute celebrates 20 years of tending to West Runton station gardens Cambridgeshire county councillor tells Soham residents not to waste time campaigning for station reopening Waterbeach station gains customer information screen Cambridge station is 4th most patronised station on East Coast Main Line services Car park at Beccles station dependent on plannng approval for other developmenrs PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Filming at two heritage railways including "Dalziel and Pascoe" WEBSITES [all issues] Save Our Sleeper website nets more than 3,300 petition signatures National Rail website travel planner gets long-needed make-over Eurostar website enhanced following fare and rewards restructuring SRA website frozen as majority of its role is taken over by DfT Wisbech-March Bramley Line website taken down whilst a new site is designed Relaunched website for Cambridge to Colchester Railway Development Company Northampton & Lamport Railway also relaunches its website Green Transport News should be obtained from National Trust website in future
149	13/07/2005
	POLITICAL PARTIES [all issues] Liberal Democrats appoint new Transport Spokesmen RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] SRA instructs Thameslink/Great Northern bidders that payments to Treasury is the priority Competition Commission advises future franchise bidders of its approach RAIL PUNCTUALITY [all issues] SRA figures show that many services now back to pre-Hatfield punctuality RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Bittern Line passenger numbers have nearly trebled since 1997 'one' completes Class 156 for Class 150 swap with Central Trains RPCEE/Corus "East of Ely" report published - responses due in mid-July Plans for Alconbury airfield change again? COMMUNITY RAILWAYS AND PARTNERSHIPS [all issues] SRA's Community Rail Unit moves to the DfT and will be under new management ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Inspector's report from Cambridgeshire Guided Busway public inquiry delayed to late-July £2.2m so far for guided busway - no, actually it's £3.1m - no, it's even more! Cambs County post-election reorganisation sees new cabinet member in charge of transport RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Great Eastern Mainline is most densely used railway line in Great Britain ESTA promotes East Suffolk Line and calls for enhancements to services CSRRA looks at costs of outsourcing operation of trains RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Network Rail reorganisation expected to affect East Anglia RAIL DISRUPTION [all issues] Dispute over introduction of 'Avantix' ticket machines on 'one' routes leads to strikes RAIL FARES [all issues] Central Trains special offer for over 50s available until school holidays commence STATIONS [all issues] Car parking for St Neots and cycle racks (at long last) for Watlington Cambridgeshire County Council to bid for government funding for Chesterton Interchange station Norwich station platforms and canopy to be refurbished by Network Rail SRA's station usage figures shows estimates for all Network Rail owned stations RAIL PATRONAGE [all issues] ESTA (Felixstowe) passenger count performed on worst possible day ATOC fears worse overcrowding on trains is likely in the next decade Essex Rail Users Federation highlights the "scandal of Colchester Town railway station" ENGINEERING WORKS [all issues] 'one' tries to win back passengers now that GEML engineering works are finished RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] GB Railfreight secures rail mail for 12 months PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Positive news from Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust's AGM County School station master's house still looking for new owner Wisbech-March Bramley line could cost more than £10m to reopen into March station WEBSITES [all issues] Nottingham City Council shows way ahead for local car-less travel planning Alliance Against Urban 4x4s website targets "inconsiderate" drivers Railtrack Private Shareholders' Action Group website has latest news from the court case
148	12/05/2005
	RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] GNER's optimistic franchise repayments helped by 10% passenger increase in 2004 RAIL SERVICES [all issues] 'one' announces timetable chances effective from 12th June 2005 Plans for liong-distance through services to Great Yarmouth in 2005 are abandoned RAIL SERVICES [all issues] WAGN amongst TOCs to raise concerns about Grand Central's request for open access licence ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Cambridgeshire County Council's costs for progressing guided busway are double anticipated amount CAST.IRON highlights near redundancy of guided busway once A14 widening is complete Election candidates criticise guided busway CAST.IRON appeals to members to renew membership to help it top up funds STATIONS [all issues] SRA says that Whittlesea station will not close Fires affect both Littleport and Huntingdon station RAIL SAFETY [all issues] Cambridge Evening News highlights level 3 SPAD at Cambridge station in March TRANSPORT CONSULTATIONS [all issues] A14 widening public consultation starts, is postponed for election, and resumes PROMOTING RAIL TRAVEL [all issues] TransportWatch attacks Railfuture's "Case for Rail" booklet RSPB produces series of leaflets encouraging visitors to arrive by bus and train RAIL FARES [all issues] GNER allows passengers to obtain cheap tickets as soon as they become available AIR TRAVEL [all issues] Conservative party support for aviation tax RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] More freight trains from Felixstowe Port expected in next 15 years PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] North Norfolk District Council hosts tourism event at North Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway forced to postpone launch of steam services WEBSITES [all issues] Tricks of the trade for travel companies available on the web
147	04/04/2005
	RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] Five bidders pre-qualify for Great Northern/Thameslink combined franchise but Go-Via is out GNER wins new 10-year East Cost Inter City franchise RAIL SERVICES [all issues] December 2005 timetable for 'one' published in March to seek comments Rail Passengers Committee for Eastern England keeps active right up to its dissolution RAIL PUNCTUALITY [all issues] Rail punctuality up yet again as Heathrow punctuality is at its lowest ever ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Freedom of information act forces government to release independent assessment of guided busway Windfarm supports prove Cambs County Council lie that supporters of busway wouldn't write letters Chesterton Junction is trespass and vandalism hotspot in East Anglia RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Cambridge to Colchester Railway Development Company continues to promote reopening RAIL FARES [all issues] First class travel at half price for senior railcard holders until 26th May RAIL COMPANIES [all issues] National Express reaps rewards from continued passenger growth STATIONS [all issues] £400m plan restores King's Cross station to former glory New Liverpool Street control centre opens Suffolk county councillor's "pet scheme" budget cleans up Beccles Station Car park space increases at more stations but no longer platforms for Whittlesea ELECTIONS [all issues] Transport is not a major election issue TRANSPORT CONSULTATIONS [all issues] SRA lacks strategy in its Regional Planning Assessment submission to Regional Planning Panel East of England Regional Assembly expressed deep disappointment at SRA's lack of interest in rail Railfuture East Anglia branch comments on draft Regional Transport Strategy ESTA is just one of several rail user groups to lobby for better rail services RAIL TIMETABLES [all issues] Manningtree Rail Users Association says that 'one's new morning timetable is a "disaster" New umbrella organisation formed to lobby for continuous rail improvements in east of branch area RAIL STAFF [all issues] Official opening of training academy for Rail Tech staff RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] End of quarry-to-crusher trains at Barrington cement works PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Mid-Norfolk Railway sets dates for stream operation Network Rail prepares to close the Wisbech-March branch as it continues discussions with Bramley Line group WEBSITES [all issues] Friends of the Earth encourages campaigners to make use of Freedom of Information Act National Rail enquiry Services encourages people to visit heritage railways by train Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website shows rail paradises and deserts
146	05/02/2005
	RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Timetable change on 12th December has impact with customers causing 'one' to make changes New trains with "doors" for 'one' The Queen travels on a scheduled WAGN service Another successful year for Eurostar Hull Trains makes first ever public use of diversionary route via Ely and Cambridge PASSENGER SURVEYS [all issues] Huntingdon MP's "unscientific" rail survey finds many commuters unhappy ESTA survey shows overcrowding and infrequent train services is top complaint RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Cambridge to Colchester Railway Development Company wishes to form partnership RAIL FARES [all issues] Errors in fare manuals take week to fix on computer systems East Anglia to Birmingham can be cheaper via London with Chiltern Railways RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] Government allegedly demands £100m a year payback from ECML franchise Virgin CrossCountry and Midland Mainline are front runners to replace Central Trains in East Anglia STATIONS [all issues] New coffee kiosks open at two stations Plan to move Huntingdon bus station to the railway station may not happen RAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE [all issues] Norwich customer service centre for 'one' to open in February 2005 RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Network Rail awards five-year civils contract to Kier PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Mid-Norfolk Railway continues to be used as a training ground for the 'big' railway Wisbech-March Bramley line acquired signal box - now it buys its first train WEBSITES [all issues] Government's Transport Direct website formally launched at end of 2004 New website for contacting your Member of Parliament TransportWatch website reveals their intentions for the railways National Express sets up website to promote its bid for Greater Western franchise

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Snippets news list last updated on 17th September 2025.

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Railfuture is a non-profit making pro-rail campaiging organisation, which is run entirely by unpaid volunteeers, including production of Rail News Snippets for the East Anglian branch of Railfuture.

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