- Don’t treat existing timetable as perfect. Use franchising process to drive up service improvements - rural rail services should operate seven days a week, throughout the year, providing a service of reasonable frequency to meet the needs of residents and visitors.
- Overall service quality, including staffing, station facilities and information is of critical importance. Quality must be improved, not allowed to further deteriorate because of lack of resources
- Bidders should be encouraged to look at innovative solutions to the operation and management of some of the more peripheral rural lines, including various forms of micromanagement
- The positive work of community-rail partnerships should be recognised by new potential operators, with clear commitments to work with, and financially assisting, new or existing community-rail partnerships
- Train operators should be incentivised to promote new uses of redundant station buildings, for use as cafes, community centres, information centres etc.
- Train operators should be more pro-active in the development of integrated bus-rail links, as well as facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.
- New designs of rolling stock for use on the rural network need to be developed now, to provide a quality replacement for the Pacer fleet.
These are not utopian aspirations stressed Dr Paul Salveson, ACoRP’s general manager.
Over the last few years declining subsidies for the regional train operators has led to a loss of quality and reliability.
That has got to change, and the new regional franchises (including Northern, Wales and Borders and Greater Anglia) must see a tangible improvement in the vitally important rural services to help reduce social exclusion and provide a sustainable alternative to the car in rural areas.
Further details: Paul Salveson 01484 549737
ACoRP is a federation of over 30 community rail partnerships and other rail promotion groups. It is financially supported by the Countryside Agency, Strategic Rail Authority, and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, with support in kind from the Association of Train Operating Companies. It is a not for profit company limited by guarantee.
Association of Community-Rail Partnerships, Brian Jackson Centre, New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP
Phone 01484 549737 Fax: 01484 544234 email: paul at acorp.uk.com