Activists Briefing - Issue 7
19th October 2005
IN THE NEWS
The Nottingham Evening Post telephoned Railfuture President, Peter Lawrence, on 4th October to say that recently a train sped through Beeston station instead of stopping and asked if there would be any safety issues as a result. Peter’s reply was that he could not see any safety problems as the train would of course be controlled by signals but it was bad luck for the passengers planning to get on and off at he station. It was up to them to claim compensation from the Train Operating Company for the inconvenience.
The press release, issued by Peter on behalf of Railfuture, at the time of the announcement of the proposal to close Walsall to Wolverhampton and his comments to the effect that the SRA may be hiding bad news on the back of the 7 July terrorist attacks was published in full in the September 2005 edition of "Conservative Transport News". It also included Peter’s points on 'closure for closures sake' and the need for someone to be appointed to expand the UK rail network - not for closures. Our comments on the ever-growing dependence on road vehicles, road congestion, global warming, noise levels and air pollution were also included.
MATV Channel 6 interviewed Railfuture East Midlands Chairman, Roger Skilton, on 19 September. This followed our press release on the fuel price protests. Roger thinks the interview went quite well, bur the interviewer didn't have much appreciation of the situation.
In an article on guided busways in the Times on 7th October Jerry Alderson, Railfuture Network Development Committee Chairman, is quoted pointing out the disadvantages of the schemes.
Source: Times 7/10/05 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1814255,00.html
Mercury FM Radio (Watford) interviewed both Peter Lawrence and London & S.E. Chairman, Keith Dyall on the anniversary of the Hatfield Rail Crash (14th October 2005). They asked questions about safety issues at the time of the crash, views on Railtrack and whether conditions had improved since Network Rail has been created.
Following the announcement of the replacement franchise for Central Trains et al Peter Lawrence had telephone calls from The Eastern Daily Press, BBC Radio Norfolk and Yorkshire Post
NEWS FROM RAILFUTURE BRANCHES
Contrary to information given in the previous Activists Briefing Rhodri Clark has NOT taken over as Railfuture North Wales branch contact. The position is currently vacant.
Railfuture Lottery Organiser, Elisabeth Jordan, has changed her email address to elisabeth at leisure-learning.wanadoo.co.uk
Railfuture Northeast have produced a detailed analysis of the rail services under threat in the NorthEast. The paper is also written to provide background support for those many people and organisations that wish to oppose the cuts proposed. An electronic copy of the paper is available by email on request to david.harby at ntlworld.com.
An electronic copy of issue 90 of the London and South East branch newsletter Railondon is also available by email on request to david.harby at ntlworld.com
Under new redevelopment plans announced on 12th October, Snetterton, Norfolk, Racing Circuit wish to build a rail station to serve the race track. Details of this new development plan can be found on the following web site: www.snetterton.co.uk. Peter Lawrence, pandwlawrence at waitrose.com, would welcome any comments you have.
COLIN FOXALL APPOINTED AS RPC CHAIRMAN
Colin Foxall CBE has been appointed Chairman of the new Rail Passengers’ Council to replace Stewart Francis, who resigned in May due to ill health. His appointment commenced on 23rd September and is for a period of 4 years. Colin Foxall has been Acting Chair of the RPC and was Chairman of the Regional Rail Passengers Committee for Wales from 2004 to 2005.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Colin Foxall did not declare any political activity.
Source: DfT news release 2005/0095, dated 27 September 2005.
www.dft.gov.uk/pns/displaypn.cgi?pn_id=2005_0095
NEWS FROM ORR
On 6th October 2005 the ORR published its draft health and safety enforcement policy statement. ORR is seeking the rail industry's views on the proposed policy, which sets out the general principles and approach to enforcement; its staff will follow when it takes over responsibility for health and safety regulation. The policy is based on the policy developed by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), that currently guides the work of Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate.
ORR's responsibility for health and safety regulation in the railway industry will take effect after regulations transferring enforcement responsibility from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ORR have been made by the Secretary of State for Transport and laid before Parliament. The transfer is expected to take place early in 2006.
The health and safety enforcement policy statement is available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/254.pdf, together with the letter from ORR to consultees at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/let-254.pdf. Source: ORR press release
The Office of Rail Regulation has published its second annual assessment of the performance of Network Rail in 2004-05. ORR has also issued a notice on Network Rail's forthcoming 2006 business plan.
The annual assessment of Network Rail is available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/252.pdf. The Network Rail 2006 business plan notice and covering letter can be found at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/notice_format_bp2006.pdf.
National Rail Trends - April to June 2005 (Quarter 1) were published on 30th September 2005. The quarterly public performance measure (PPM) figure for quarter 1 is 87.5%, an increase of almost 3 percentage points from the same period the previous year, and the highest quarterly performance for five years. The national moving annual average for PPM at the end of June 2005 was 84.3%, 0.7% up on the year to March 2005.
Comparing April - June 2005 with the same period in 2004:
16 out of 24 Toc’s showed an improvement in performance. At the sector level London and SE operators showed the biggest improvement in performance figures, up by 5.1 percentage points to 87.1 percentage points during the peak hours, and up 4.6 percentage points over the whole day to 89.1%. Long-distance and regional operators' performances both increased by 1.1 percentage points to 81.6% and 86.1% respectively.
Complaints overall decreased by 27%. Complaints for London and SE operators decreased by almost 40% and for long-distance operators by 25% but those for regional operators increased by 23%.
All sectors saw growth in total passenger kilometres, total passenger journeys, and total passenger revenue between April - June 2005. For long distance operators, passenger kilometres increased by 8.2%, whilst passenger journeys increased by 11.8%. For regional operators, passenger kilometres increased by 3.6% and passenger journeys by 2.3%. Total passenger revenue, seasonally adjusted and at 2004-05 constant prices increased by 4.2%.
Total freight moved, measured by tonne kilometres, increased by 10.2%. There was a significant increase of almost 30% in the amount of coal moved over this period.
This edition of National Rail Trends covers the period 1 April 2005 to 30 June 2005, and is available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/253.pdf. It provides trend data on a range of industry-wide indicators including key figures on rail usage and freight. National Rail Trends includes data that is provisional and subject to revision in the light of new information.
Source: ORR press release
The ORR has published its policy framework to facilitate investment in the rail infrastructure. This framework covers what Network Rail to do to facilitate and deliver investment, terms (including principles for risk allocation) for carrying out investments, and specific proposals in relation to investments sponsored by third parties (i.e. bodies other than Government and Network Rail, such as regional and local authorities, train operators and private developers).
The range of infrastructure investments which will be covered by the framework on the railway network includes connections to private freight facilities, construction of new maintenance depots, small and large-scale station improvements (ranging from new facilities at minor stations to the proposed Kings Cross redevelopment), and infrastructure improvements and upgrades. The investment policy framework set out in this document follows a consultation earlier in the year, and extensive work with Network Rail, Department for Transport (DfT), train operators, and other industry stakeholders.
The policy framework for investments: conclusions is available at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/255.pdf. Policy framework for investments: an initial consultation was published in February 2005 and is available at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/223.pdf.
Source: ORR press release 7/10/05 http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7461
RAIL USERS’ CONFERENCE 5TH NOVEMBER 2005
A booking form for the conference is included with Railwatch, which is currently being despatched. Please return, with your payment, as soon as possible so that lunches etc can be ordered. The final date for the receipt of luncheon bookings is 31st October 2005.
2006 BRANCH AGM’S
If they have not already done so Branches will shortly be setting a date for their 2006 AGM. Wherever possible Mike Crowhurst would like to ensure that an RDS Board member is present at all AGM’s to answer questions that may arise about national affairs. Would branches therefore please tell Mike their AGM date as soon as it is arranged? Dates already known are West Midlands 25 Feb, Yorks 11 March, and Lincs 18 March.
CENTRAL TRAINS FRANCHISE REMAPPING
On 18th October the DfT announced the long awaited new structure of Rail Franchises following the abolition of the Central Trains franchise. The DfT press release and media briefing can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns/displaypn.cgi?pn_id=2005_0102.
RAIL USER EXPRESS DERAILED
Soon after Tony Smale sent his last RUEx email bulletin, to RUG contacts, in mid August, his home PC suffered catastrophic failure. Internal parts including the hard drive blew up with the result that he has to rebuild his address book from scratch. If you had been receiving RUEx bulletins or would like to, please send Tony a blank message with "Subscribe RUEx" in the subject line. His email address is unchanged (note that there's an underscore between tony & smale): tony_smale at lineone.net. Tony assures us that the PC and modem were plugged in via a surge protector - so be warned!
EUROPEAN PASSENGERS’ FEDERATION AGM 2006
The next EPF AGM and Conference has been arranged for Saturday 18th March 2006 in Maastricht, Netherlands. Further details are available from EPF Chairman, Trevor Garrod, 15 Clapham Road South, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ.
LTUC WELCOMES WATERLOO DECISION
The London Transport Users' Committee has warmly welcomed the Government's report recommending that Waterloo International be retained for rail use after Eurostar has moved to St Pancras in 2007.
Brian Cooke, Chair, LTUC said: "We are delighted that the report recommends Waterloo International remains in rail use. This is a vital rail asset, and depriving passengers of this would be a backward step. We support this recommendation wholeheartedly and look forward to working with the industry to determine how this new capacity for domestic trains should be used."
The report prepared by Ove Arup last summer for the Department of Transport can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_609903.pdf
MORE EUROSTAR TRAINS ON TIME – MORE FLIGHTS ARE LATE
Eurostar trains on the London - Paris route are now significantly more punctual than competing airlines. 88% of Eurostar trains arrive on time compared to only 68% of flights by British carriers. In the past year Eurostar punctuality has increased by 5% from 83%, airlines punctuality has declined by 5% from 73%.
Source: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article317808.ece
CFIT LAUNCHES NEW GUIDANCE TO FAST-TRACK DESERVING LOCAL TRANSPORT SCHEMES
With several tram schemes escalating in cost and Government placing increasing importance on the cost/benefits of schemes, CfIT has produced new guidance to support local authorities in considering their best options for a new mass transit system (light rail, guided bus or bus) in their area.
The guidance focuses on the need to rigorously examine strategic choices at the outset so that local authorities can work up which option is the most realistic and most suitable for their urban area, considering the costs and benefits of each before deciding upon a particular scheme. This minimises the danger of an ill-suited ‘vanity’ scheme gaining too much of a head of steam.
The CfIT guidance also advocates constant review, especially if costs or passenger forecasts change since this enables alternative options to be reconsidered.
Peter Hendy, Chair of CfIT, said:
"The guidance undoubtedly means a bit more work to start with, but the outcome will be a clearer understanding of why one mass transit option is more appropriate than others for the local area. As a result, this should enable the Department for Transport to reach their decisions more rapidly. This should mean a better deal for the travelling public and greater satisfaction for local authorities."
The new guidance can be found on the CfIT website at www.cfit.gov.uk/reports/amt/index.htm
Source: CfIT press release http://www.cfit.gov.uk/pn/051007/index.htm
NETWORK RAIL CLAIM £156,930 FROM CAR DRIVER AFTER LEVEL CROSSING COLLISION
Network Rail are claiming compensation of £156,960 from a car driver who delayed trains by 202 minutes when she ignored warning lights, swerved round barriers and was hit by a GNER train. The driver was banned for 2 years and fined £200 after admitting driving carelessly. The claim is for losses suffered by Network Rail as a result of the collision.
Source: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16225938&method=full&siteid=64736&headline=heidi
PASSENGERS TO BENEFIT FROM STATION INVESTMENT BILLIONS
Network Rail has announced plans to launch a ten-year modernisation scheme for its stations. The company has identified the need for up to £4bn of additional private-partner investment in stations to enhance capacity at stations, improve facilities and provide opportunities for commercial development.
These are to be joint venture schemes and Network Rail is now looking for partners with the expertise to help take forward the first wave of stations to be redeveloped.
Plans have already been announced for King’s Cross and Paddington. Network Rail are now looking for proposals for Euston and Victoria by the end of this year, shortly followed by Waterloo. These are prime development sites – Euston has a comparable area to Canary Wharf – and Network Rail say there is huge scope for development opportunities, whether retail, offices or even residential.
Up to 50 larger regional stations have been recognised as needing upgrades, to increase capacity and / or improve facilities. At smaller stations instead of previous piecemeal upgrades, Network Rail plans to bundle sites together into clusters and offer them as packages to single developers. They say this will enable a wider range of facilities to be introduced along a whole line of route ensuring that stations of any size across the network will better cater to passengers’ needs.
Source: Network Rail press release http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Documents/News%20release%20-%2010.10.05%20-%20Passengers%20to%20benefit%20from%20station%20investment%20billions.doc
EWS SAYS CROSSRAIL PLAN WOULD ERODE RAIL FREIGHT CAPACITY
The English Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) has submitted objections to the planned £13 billion Crossrail link beneath central London. EWS is urging Government to amend the Crossrail Bill to ensure that the whole rail industry can expand and that regular freight customers are not forced to rely on lorries.
EWS appreciates the aims of Crossrail, but it has deep concerns about the impact of Crossrail on the movement of freight by rail into London and the South East. Graham Smith, the company's Planning Director, thinks the scheme to help passengers and relieve congested Tube lines offers many benefits but should not be accepted "at the expense of freight by rail. The Crossrail proposals could destroy the movement of freight along the Great Western Main Line between Reading and London, and seriously affect the movement of essential freight from the east coast ports into and through London via the Great Eastern Line".
Over 200 daily freight trains moving 150,000 tonnes of goods a day could at worst be pushed onto the roads, creating thousands of additional road journeys. The idea looks particularly inappropriate along the M4 corridor because air pollution is already so intense north of Heathrow that toll charges are being contemplated by the Department for Transport.
EWS's key objections to the Crossrail Bill are:
Crossrail trains consuming capacity for existing freight trains on the rail network.
The consequent blight on rail freight property, which will push existing rail traffic onto the roads and prevent new business being drawn to rail.
The undermining of the independence of the Office of Rail Regulation. This independence is considered essential if private investment is to be attracted into the rail industry.
Conflicts between the Crossrail Bill, the Olympics Bill and other proposed legislation.
A copy of EWS's submission to the Committee is available on its website http://www.ews-railway.co.uk/news/downloads/EWSpetition-Crossrail.pdf
SLIGHT FALL IN ROAD CASULTIES IN 2004
The "Road Casualties Great Britain 2004 Annual Report" contains detailed information on the number of people killed and injured on the roads in Great Britain in 2004, based on information about accidents reported to the police. A slight fall in fatalities is reported this year. www.dft.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0096