East Anglia Branch News - Snippets Issues for 2006

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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 2006. 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
2006 [hide contents]
160	30/11/2006
	RAIL FARES [all issues] Train operators announce rail fare increases from January 2007 RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] GNER franchise to be re-let in 2007 - temporary cost-plus arrangement to be introduced ST.IVES LINE [all issues] First stretches of track lifted as Cambridgeshire County Council acquires railway line RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Major track upgrade to Wherry lines completed; Bittern line upgrade about to start STATIONS [all issues] Major track upgrade to Wherry lines completed; Bittern line upgrade about to start CAMPAIGNING FOR RAIL [all issues] New rail lobby group for Norfolk formed PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Reminder of Mid-Norfolk Railway's fund raising activities
159	28/10/2006
	RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] DfT announces companies that have qualified for Cross Country and East Midlands franchises Passenger Focus complains about GNER's car park charge increases RAIL SAFETY [all issues] Safety to be improved at level crossing at Elsenham station following double fatality STATIONS [all issues] Trainseurope office opened at Cambridge station sells train tickerts throughout Europe RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Midget stations on Ely-Norwich line to become request stops RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Beccles loop could cost just £3 million to construct Network Rail given powers for Thameslink Programme - funding is next hurdle to be overcome PASSENGER SURVEYS [all issues] Railfuture passenger survey at Whittlesea station finds that more people use it than official figures suggest
158	16/09/2006
	RAIL AWARDS [all issues] Friends of Brandon Station receive 'Most Improved Station' award from 'one' Wymondham Station receive 'Most Improved Station' award from 'one' INTEGRATED TRANSPORT [all issues] ESTA calls for better integration between bus and rail on the East Suffolk Line RAIL FARES [all issues] Southend to London for a fiver ticket hailed a huge success by 'one' STATIONS [all issues] Ely station car park extension supported by Network Rail and local authority RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Network Rail reveals list of prioritised infrastrcutue schemes for East Anglia Network Rail to renew signalling on Great Eastern Mainline routes TRAIN OPERATORS [all issues] GNER overcomes obsolete 40-year-old railway rule that delayed rescue locomotives PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] 'one' return to Mid-Norfolk Railway for further low adhesion training WEBSITES [all issues] National railcards can now be bought online from the rail card website Register online to get a free BiTe card to obtain 20% savings when buying food and drink at stations Near real-time website shows trains moving around the country Register to pay car park chages using mobile phone
157	01/09/2006
	STATIONS [all issues] Car parking charges reinstated at Waterbeach station Lowestoft station move would require NR, TOC or DfT approval Carter Bridge over Cambridge station platforms finally cleaned RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] GNER uncertainty continues although business is helped by recent air scares RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Refreshments trolley returns on some First Capital Connect services First Capital Connect investigate capacity increases to Cambridge and Peterborough RAIL FARES [all issues] Cambridge-Waterloo International fare reinstated from 10th September Cambridge-London 'print@home' APEX tickets now available from 'one' ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Cambs County Council starts land acquisition as CAST.IRON becomes a CGB-monitoring body RAIL FUNDING [all issues] Community grants for o2 may be ideal to fund small schemes for station adopters PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Network Rail supply Wisbech-March Bramley Line with a draft of lease agreement North Norfolk Railway opens its William Marriott Museum WEBSITES [all issues] New website for FM Rail's InterCity MerryMakers
156	18/08/2006
	STATIONS [all issues] GB station usage figures for 2004/05 published 'one' continues minor station improvements 'one' looks to reduce staffing levels at some stations 'one' calls for more station adopters as 50th station adopted RAIL PUNCTUALITY [all issues] Six-monthly figures for 'one' see return to pre-Hatfield punctuality levels RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Half of Sudbury branch relayed over two-week period at a cost of £5.5m ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Agreements with bus operators revealed for Cambridgeshire Guided Busway RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] GNER loses legal challenge to ORR following its decision to support Grand Central Chris Garnett resigns as GNER Chief Executive First Capital Connect is subject of official complaint by London TravelWatch Has DfT cheated on consultation period for Cross Country franchise? RAIL BARGAINS [all issues] Season ticket for football matches introduced by 'one' Network Card available for only £10 instead of 20 prior to 4th September RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Additional railfreight traffic in East Anglia RAIL REVIEW [all issues] Essex Rail Users Federation responds to the Conservative party's rail policy review PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Full steam ahead for the Wisbech-March Bramley Line if they can find the money North Norfolk Railway's beer festival is the most successful yet
155	22/07/2006
	STATIONS [all issues] St Neots station improvements could be funded by new housing development Proposal to move Lowestoft station further from town centre generates criticism Friends of Brandon Station officially adopt the station Attempt to get listed water tower at Manningtree station cleaned up Railfuture East Anglia branch concerned about station car parking charges RAIL FARES [all issues] First Capital Connect's evening peak restrictions causes passengers to protest 'one' Railway criticised by passengers as poor value for money EAST WEST RAIL LINK [all issues] Willington Rowing Lake is approved - former Bedford-Sandy track bed will be severed East West Rail Consortium keeps up the pressure ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Government agrees to fund £92.5m of £116m guided busway - Cambs County Council votes to proceed LOCAL TRANSPORT PLANS [all issues] Inspector issues report on the East of England Spatial Strategy RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Passengers on Ipswich-Lowestoft line entitled to road transportation if train is cancelled RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Network Rail's plans for re-signalling March for Whitemoor become clearer Railfuture's priorities for Network Rail's investment plans for Control Period 4 RAIL OVERCROWDING [all issues] First Capital Connect meets stakeholders to discuss capacity issues that lead to overcrowding on trains Network Rail finds 20 spare paths on the ECML to support Grand Central, Hull Trains and GNER RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Railfuture calls for more railfreight to Great Yarmouth PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Mid-Norfolk Railway's aim to go northwards reaches new milestone Bramley Line closer to taking over March-Wisbech line after receiving licence to inspect track North Norfolk Railway benefits from donation of track renewal and maintenance machine by Balfour Beatty WEBSITES [all issues] TheTrainLine.Com now allows tickets to be printed on own computer
154	12/05/2006
	CONSULTATIONS [all issues] DfT's reveals its thinking on the the new Central Trains and Cross Country franchises RAIL FARES [all issues] 'one' introduces simpler off-peak advance fares that allows passengers to 'mix and match' to get the best deal RAIL SERVICES [all issues] Government response to Freedom of Information request reveals ten most overcrowded London commuter trains in 2005 RAIL SAFETY [all issues] Calls for footbridge at Elsenham station to avoid another tragedy STATIONS [all issues] Approval for SnOasis indoor winter sports resort in Great Blakenham should see new station on Great Eastern main line Back to the drawing board as developments around Cambridge station rejected by Cambridge City councillors Improvements at various stations in East Anglia Public Accounts Committee challenges Department for Transport over quality of stations provided by franchise deals RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Network Rail awards contract to resignal March to increase capacity for Whitemoor Yard Network Rail issues business plan of schemes they intend to implement in the next few years RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Government confirms final approval for the Bathside Bay container terminal at Harwich Rail traffic to Sizewell will cease by 2008 GBRf wins contract to transfer recycled aggregates from road to rail Yarmouth sidings for sale by government EAST WEST RAIL LINK [all issues] Funding of Aylesbury Vale Parkway (Berryfields) station helps progress towards East West Rail Link East West Rail Consortium announces further package of consultancy work to be carried out by Steer Davies Gleave RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] First Capital Connect takes over from Thameslink and the rump of 'WAGN' Office of Rail Regulation confirms ECML open access agreements for Grand Central and Hull Trains GUIDED BUSWAY [all issues] Cambridgeshire County Council receives tenders to construct the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Cambridgeshire County Council could face compensation claims for residents living close to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Government clears the way to sell land for 10,000 new homes at Northstowe PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Bramley Line delighted as level crossing rails across A47 are reinstated Progress on Northern Extension on the Mid-Norfolk Railway Work on the Nene Valley Railway's long awaited station at Yarwell commences 2005 was another record year for the North Norfolk Railway Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham sold to a private buyer who wishes to expand the operation
153	03/03/2006
	RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] ORR's provisional decision to grant open access rights to Grand Central is challenged RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Western end of East West Rail Line moves slowly forward with regular use of Bletchley flyover Track replacement on East Suffolk Line between Darsham and Saxmundham RAIL SAFETY [all issues] Greater security focus since New Year by 'one' on trains and at stations Successful prosecutions brought by 'one' thanks to DNA spit kits STATIONS [all issues] Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Urban Regeneration Company Masterplan conducts "Visioning Workshop" Campaigners attempt to renovate Brandon station Suffolk County Council raises possibility of several new stations Cambridge station area redevelopment raises protests RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Alconbury Railfreight Terminal unlikely to go ahead Griffin Wharf at Ipswich to see new freight traffic PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] Steam service scheduled for Mid-Norfolk Railway after 2005's deferment WEBSITES [all issues] Campaigners use BBC's Access Network facility to fight planned service cuts Midland Mainline expand reward scheme to include leisure travellers
152	09/02/2006
	RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues] First Group takes over from WAGN on 1st April 2006 'one' ends 2005 in chaos RAIL PATRONAGE [all issues] Year-on-year increase in passenger numbers continues RAIL FARES [all issues] Above average fare increases from 2nd January 2006 RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE [all issues] Essex Rail Users Federation demands more infrastructure as Essex Rail Network approaches saturation RAIL SERVICES [all issues] ORR minded to approve Grand Central's track access despite NR's claim that ECML lacks capacity RAIL BARGAINS [all issues] Virgin Cross Country launches £20 Sunday go-anywhere rail fare to overcome industrial action STATIONS [all issues] Government finally agrees to fund new St. Pancras Thameslink station Fully-accessible lifts for all services at Bury St. Edmunds station Expansion of King's Lynn station car park finally completed Huntingdon station building to reopen in March Peterborough station changes as part of GNER's £32.5m enhancements Downham Market railway station wins CPRE award New island platform at Cambridge station proposed by housing developer Plan to move long-distance coach stops to Cambridge railway station upsets operator RAIL ROUTES [all issues] Oxford-Cambridge Air Link shows need for an East West Rail Link Cambridge Sport Lake could remove threat at Willington to East West Rail Link Suffolk County Council transport committee to explore passenger services to Leiston and Felixstowe Beach RAIL ACCIDENTS [all issues] Leaf-fall treatment trains to be based at Stowmarket PASSENGER SURVEYS [all issues] 'one' and WAGN far down the list in 'best year' for TOC satisfaction REVENUE PROTECTION [all issues] WAGN attempts to use ASBOs against repeated fare dodgers RAIL FREIGHT [all issues] Hutchison submits TWA Order Application to double Felixstowe branch Bathside Bay container terminal at Harwich likely to get go-ahead RAIL AWARDS [all issues] 'one' receives customer service award for simple to understand compensation for late trains ST.IVES LINE [all issues] Cambridgeshire Guided Busway (CGB) given approval and now waiting for funding RAIL ACCIDENTS [all issues] No public inquiry into 2002 Potters Bar train crash PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues] North Norfolk Railway wins National Railway Heritage and three Tourism in Norfolk awards Colne Valley Railway's future secured following lottery grant Wisbech-March Bramley Line focuses on raising funds in order to secure line from Network Rail WEBSITES [all issues] Rail Passengers Council finally announces its new identify and launches new website Railfuture East Midlands branch has new website Wisbech-March Bramley Line website finally up and running Railway Forum launches website to promote a high-speed network in Great Britain North Norfolk Railway revamps its website Website set-up to save the "TransWilts" trains from cuts under new Great Western franchise

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Snippets news list last updated on 17th September 2025.

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