Activists Briefing

Issue 29 - 17th August 2007

IN THE NEWS

BBC has interviewed Railfuture Chairman, Mike Crowhurst, for an article about Crossrail on the BBCi website. Being quoted in the article had the benefit of a link to the Railfuture website appearing on the BBCi web page. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6922154.stm

NEWS FROM RAILFUTURE BRANCHES

Keith Dyall, Chairman Railfuture London and South East, was contacted by Phoenix FM-Brentwood who broadcast in the Brentwood/Shenfield/Billericay area. They were looking for information on Crossrail. Keith gave them a briefing and then recorded an interview. The interviewer later thanked Keith and told him the interview “made two good pieces”.

Railfuture Lincolnshire are exhibiting at the Grantham Rail Show, The Central Technology College, Rushcliffe Road, Grantham on 1st and 2nd September 2007 10.00am – 5.30pm (5.00pm Sunday). There are new layouts booked for this year so even if you have been before there will be something new for you to see.

Railfuture East Anglia Chairman, Peter Wakefield, was interviewed by East Anglian Daily Times for an article about the derailment of a freight train on a bridge over the River Ouse near Ely. In the article, printed on 21st July, Peter said that Railfuture were pleased 'One' have been able to redeploy units to provide onward connections at Peterborough and Ely. He also hoped that Network Rail would take the opportunity to rebuild the bridge in a final form that will mean no more disruption when the route is upgraded for passenger and freight in the near future.

On 14th August, Railfuture Lincs Vice Chairman, David Harby, recorded an interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire following the announcement that the East Coast franchise had been awarded to National Express. David welcomed the unexpectedly good news that in 2010, after a gap of 17 years; Lincoln will have direct trains to Kings Cross. Listeners had been phoning in expressing concern that National Express had been awarded the franchise given the atrocious service Lincolnshire has had to endure from another National Express subsidiary, Central Trains. On the previous Sunday there had been wide-scale cancellation of CT services over all of the East Midlands with hardly any trains run. David commented that on Midland Main Line, National Express have shown they are capable of running a high quality service.

A young reporter from the Hull Daily Mail telephoned Tony Ross of Railfuture Yorkshire to ask about a Liberal Democrats 'miles for £10' return Saver fares survey across TOCs. The report quoted Hull Trains as one of the most expensive TOCs. Tony wasn't aware of this development and wasn't sure what the survey meant but knew that Saver return fares valid across all TOCs were 'capped' by the Government so he gave the best answer he could. The Hull Trains website (www.hulltrains.net) has the details of their reply in their 'Latest News' section.

R.I.P.

It is with deep regret that we have to report that two long-standing Railfuture members have sadly passed away this month.

After a short illness Roger Skilton died at his home in Leyburn on 3rd August. Roger campaigned for rail over many years and has served as Secretary and Chairman of Railfuture East Midlands. He retired as Chairman in March 2007 following his recent move to North Yorkshire. A fuller appreciation of his life will appear in Railwatch.

After being ill for some months Elizabeth Hastings passed away on 11th August. Elizabeth was the wife of Brian Hastings who retired as Railfuture Lincs Chairman in 2006 and remains branch media spokesman. Elizabeth had been a member since the days of the Railway Invigoration Society and was one of the unsung 'backroom' helpers who many branches rely on to keep going. She answered the telephone from the local press and radio many many times when Brian was out and ensured that he was contacted and gave an interview on our behalf. Lincolnshire branch members will fondly remember her for her cooking skills and the many excellent lunches she organised for branch AGMs.

COME TO THE COLLOQUIUM

With the splitting of the Central Trains franchise and the award of the Cross Country franchise to a new TOC rail services in the West Midlands are set to change. Railfuture West Midlands have organised a Colloquium to brief delegates on the changes expected to West Midlands rail services to cope with meeting demand, handling growth in passengers and the greening agenda. The meeting will be chaired by John Balmforth, chair of TravelWatch Midlands West, and is expected to have speakers from CENTRO, Go Ahead, Chiltern Trains, ATOC and Arriva.

The event is on 27th September 2007 at Birmingham and Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham. Starting at 13.30 and due to finish at 17.00. The fee is £20 for transport professionals and £10 for members of voluntary organisations including Railfuture. Bookings should be sent to Les Fawcett, 44 Cavler Close, Coventry, CV2 5NJ and should include a cheque for the correct fee payable to "The Railway Development Society". A booking form is available by email from david.harby at ntlworld.com.

VACANCY – LOTTERY ORGANISER

In Briefing 22, January 2007, it was reported that due to a change in family circumstances Elisabeth Jordan would be resigning as Lottery Organiser during 2007. An appeal was made for a volunteer to take over from Elisabeth. We are now 2/3rds of the way through 2007 but no volunteer has come forward so an urgent appeal is being made for someone to take over this task. The organiser records payments, conducts a monthly draw and sends out payment cheques. The Lottery, which only takes up about 3 hours each month, is a useful source of regular income to Railfuture. If anyone is prepared to volunteer or wants more information please either contact Elisabeth, details in Who's Who, or David Harby.

VACANCY – NATIONAL MEDIA SPOKESPERSON

Peter Lawrence indicated a while ago that he wished to stand down as National Media Spokesman. Peter has now announced that he will be resigning in October 2007 so we are looking for a replacement. The National Media Spokesman needs to be contactable by landline or mobile phone at most times as the press often want an almost instant comment on a breaking news story. They also need to be on email so as to be able to send and receive press releases and communicate by email. The media sometimes want a comment on a document that is at that time only available electronically. Volunteers to Mike Crowhust. Contact Peter (01603 627217) if you would like more information about the role.

ELY CONFERENCE, 3RD NOVEMBER 2007

Bookings are coming in for the Ely conference but there are still plenty of spaces available. If branches can spread the word and give the conference a mention in their local newsletters this would be most welcome. A booking form and street map can be downloaded from www.railfuture.org.uk. The cost is only £10 for Railfuture members (£12.50 non members).

If anyone has any Railfuture banner(s) for conferences could they please make themselves known to Railfuture East Anglia Chairman, Peter Wakefield, email petawake at yahoo.com

FRANCHISE NEWS

It was announced on 14th August that the ECML Franchise had been awarded to National Express. The big surprise is an extra train from Kings Cross every hour, which will go to York and Lincoln in alternate hours. The DfT announcement to the Stock Exchange is at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/icecf1/nxecawardedcontract.
National Express already have a website for the franchise: http://www.youreastcoast.co.uk

East Midlands Trains now have a website: www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk.

NATIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGIES

After much speculation over the contents of the High Level Output Statement and Statement Of Funds Available we finally found out the details in mid July when these were announced. There has been plenty of comment and analysis in the national media as well as the transport media so I will refrain from making any comment. Also recently released have been the Wales Rail Planning Assessment and Scottish National Transport Strategy. Links to all of these are below.

The DfT White Paper “Delivering a Sustainable Railway” and links to the background research etc is at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/whitepapercm7176/

The ORR press statement welcoming the Rail White Paper is at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8835

Wales Rail Planning Assessment:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/PublicTransport/Rail/WalesRailPlanningAssessment/?lang=en

Scottish National Transport Strategy:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/NTS

ORR NEWS

The signals passed at danger Q2 report 2007 has been published at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.00101400c00a003

There is a copy of another letter from ORR to Passenger Focus about the SWT off-peak fare increase at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/passfoc-SWT-frerse.pdf

A lot of documentation has been put on the ORR website about track access contracts for East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country franchises and the London Rail Concession. This includes draft agreements listing the core and diversionary routes covered by the franchise contracts and responses from stakeholders. The response from Central trains on the EM franchise makes interesting reading – ORR had omitted some key routes from the track access contract including Peterborough – Doncaster via Lincoln and Ely – Cambridge!
See: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1257

TRIALS OF HEAVIER AND LONGER LORRIES

There has been relatively little comment recently about heavier and longer lorries being introduced but the threat has not gone away. A final report to DfT on the issue from TRL and Heriot Watt University is due at the end of September. The introduction of these lorries could see up to 50 per cent of existing rail freight shifting back to the roads.

Freight on Rail are asking Railfuture members to write to The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt. Hon Ruth Kelly, at Department for Transport, Great Minster House,76 Marsham Street. London SW1P 4DR., copied to your local MP, to urge her not to allow trials. The issue is also being debated at European level so FoR are also asking for letters to be sent to your MEP.

The latest Freight on Rail briefing about these lorries, including suggestions for objections, can be found on their website http://www.freightonrail.org.uk/HotTopicsWritetoNewSecretaryofState.htm

ePETITIONS ON THE 10 DOWNING STREET WEBSITE

The 10 Downing Street website includes several e-petitions calling for various rail routes to be opened or reopened?

The most successful at present is a petition to restart the Leeds tram project. It has attracted nearly 1,200 signatures. This petition closes on
7th March 2008. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Leeds-Supertram/

A petition to preserve Eurostar services between Ashford and Brussels has over 900 signatures. This petition closes on 9th November 2007. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Ashford-Brussels/

A petition to increase rail passenger capacity and reduce overcrowding in south east England is approaching 800 signatures. This petition closes on 31st January 2008. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traincrowding/

A petition to restore passenger services to the Ashington - Bledlington - Blyth - Newcastle line has just over 600 signatures. This petition closes on 7th April 2008. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ABTreopening/

A petition belatedly pleading to scrap the Cambridge - Huntingdon guided 'busway has just under 600 signatures. The 'busway is already under construction and it is too late to stop it. This petition closes on 29th November 2007. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/huntingdonbusway/

A petition seeking reopening of an Oxford - East Anglia rail link has received fewer than 400 signatures so clearly it hasn't been well publicised. This petition closes on 27th August 2007, so if Railfuture members want to close they had better act quickly! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/East-West-rail/

A petition to reopen the Somerset and Dorset main line between Bath and Bournemouth has just over 300 signatures. This petition closes on 16th April 2008. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/somersetdorset/

Finally, there is a petition opposing the introduction of 60 tonne lorries onto our roads. This petition closes on 31st July 2008. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Ban60tonlorries/

The No. 10 website gives a full index of "Transport and Infrastructure" petitions: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/list/open?cat=521

SAY NO TO 0870

Train operators are amongst those companies quoting premium-rate 0845 and 0870 numbers for their telephone enquiries service. It is worth knowing that you can use the website www.saynoto0870.com to find an equivalent geographical number for the train company’s enquiry service. I’ve tried out the website and easily found alternatives to the 0845 or 0870 number for most of Britain’s train operators. You may like to give it a try, then tell your friends which telephone number to use in preference to the premium-rate number shown on the company’s literature.

RAIL ALE

If you’re planning rail trip to unfamiliar territory, it’s handy to know where you can get a decent pint when you get there. Before you set out, log on to: www.beerintheevening.com for a listing of pubs within a few minutes of a railway station. In the left-hand menu, click on “Advanced pub search”, then scroll down and select “search by train station / tube station / DLR station”. For any chosen pub, you can download a street map, read other people’s reviews and get a list of facilities.

SNIPPETTS

Coleshill station between Nuneaton and Birmingham is due to open (strictly reopen – it originally closed 4 March 1968) on 19 August. The station gives useful bus connections to Birmingham Airport/NEC.

A planning application has been submitted for a station at Corby. As usual, the planning application can be viewed at the offices of Corby Borough Council or via its website http://www.corby.gov.uk

DfT have issued a modified list of their Rail Group senior contacts. See http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/rail/dftrailgroupseniorcontacts