News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.
Railfuture News Snippets 129 - 16/01/2004
- RAIL FRANCHISES [all issues]
- ST.IVES LINE [all issues]
- CAST.IRON continues with publicity drive and meeting the public and businesses
- CAST.IRON gets in-principle approval to professionally clear vegetation from a stretch of railway line
- RAIL FREIGHT [all issues]
- RAIL ROUTES [all issues]
- Guided busway TWA submitted for mothballed Luton-Dunstable line
- Cambridge-Sudbury Rail Renewal Association commences public consultation
- STATIONS [all issues]
- EAST WEST RAIL LINK [all issues]
- INTEGRATED TRANSPORT [all issues]
- RAIL PATRONAGE [all issues]
- PRESERVED RAILWAYS [all issues]
- WEBSITES [all issues]
National Express, preferred bidders for the Greater Anglia franchise, have been invited to the branch's AGM on 21st February. Confirmation of their attendance will be in Snippets and Rail East.
A branch member has a large number of railway magazines and timetables which they want to dispose of. Could be useful for
anyone doing research or to be sold at a preserved railway. Contact Nick Dibben if interested. Details are:
1: Train Illustrated Sept 1960 - Dec 1964
2: Modern Railways Jan 1965 to Jan 1974
3: Eastern Region Timetables 1961, 1964 to 1973, London Midland Timetables 1964-1973, All line timetables 1974-2000.
The North Midlands Railfuture branch wish to announce their AGM on Saturday April 3rd at "The Waterfall" in Derby. Their guest will be new operations director of Midland Mainline. This talk could be of interest to East Anglian branch members, whose rail services will soon all be operated by National Express. Details on http://www.rdsnm.btinternet.co.uk.
Look out for BBC-1 programme "Rail Cops" on each Monday evening at 22:35.
RAIL FRANCHISES
No details yet about National Express bid for Greater [East] Anglia franchise
It's nearly a month since National Express were named as preferred bidders, but little information has been revealed about the services that will be provided. Train services are unlikely to change significantly before December 2004.
ST.IVES LINE
CAST.IRON continues with publicity drive and meeting the public and businesses
Keywords: [CASTIRON]
Undaunted by the government's provisional award of funding towards the guided busway, CAST.IRON has been increasing its publicity drive. A new leaflet, explaining how the guided bus service will be no better than existing bus services has been produced. CAST.IRON held an exhibition at the Cambridge Central Library for a week from 6th January, followed by an open day at the conference centre on the Cambridge Science Park. The costs for the latter were paid by a generous business supporter, proving that businesses really do want a rail link to Europe's largest Science Park.
CAST.IRON are continuing with an information stall outside Cambridge Guild Hall on Saturdays, when it doesn't rain, which allow the public to learn about the rail scheme, sign a petition and become members of CAST.IRON. Further public exhibitions are intended in the next few weeks.
CAST.IRON gets in-principle approval to professionally clear vegetation from a stretch of railway line
Keywords: [CASTIRON]
CAST.IRON applied for permission to allow Avondale Environmental Services Ltd to clear vegetation from a 1.2 mile stretch of line between Histon Station and Girton Road level crossing. In-principal permission was granted, and CAST.IRON acted fast arrange a date and supply all of the necessary paper work, as well as notify nearby residents. The media were informed of this major photo opportunity - the first rail vehicle on the line since August 1992 - and several local newspapers, rail magazines and broadcasters confirmed attendance. BBC Radio Cambridgeshire had planned a live broadcast at breakfast time.
Unfortunately Avondale were notified by Network Rail at 14:00 on the day before that Network Rail had to refuse permission because of an internal 'red tape' problem. Frantic negotiations between all parties were unable to resolve the issues. CAST.IRON and their contractors were not to blame for the postponement.
CAST.IRON and Avondale are in discussions with Network Rail to resolve the issues and reschedule the clearance as soon as possible, though probably not before 10th February, when Cambridgeshire County Councillors are due to vote to decide whether to submit a TWA (planning) application to the government to build the busway.
CAST.IRON website: http://www.castiron.org.uk.
RAIL FREIGHT
Freight records broken at Felixstowe
Railfreight records have recently been broken at the Port of Felixstowe. In the week ending 23rd November 2003 6,519 units were loaded or discharged there, compared to the previous weekly record of 6,347 units set in December 2002. This new record was broken two weeks later when 6,536 units were shifted, and again the following week when 6,676 units were loaded or discharged.
The increase has been helped by Freightliner's new service to Hams Hall launched in November, two months after Tibbett and Britten introduced a new freight link to its International Rail Terminal at Daventry, and GB Railfreight launched a new Midlands service to Hams Hall. There are now 22 inbound and 21 outbound trains per day from the Felixstowe's North and South Rail terminals, linking the Port to Coatbridge (Glasgow), Trafford Park (Manchester), Liverpool, Leeds, Cleveland, Birmingham, Cardiff, Tilbury, Doncaster, Selby, Widnes, Wakefield, Hams Hall, and Daventry. The Port also handles two forest products trains per day at its dedicated paper-handling rail terminal. Source: http://www.eyefortransport.com.
RAIL ROUTES
Guided busway TWA submitted for mothballed Luton-Dunstable line
Keywords: [LutonDunstableBusway]
On Thursday 18th December 2003, after receiving provisional funding from government, busway proponents submitted an application for an Order under the Transport and Works Act (TWA) for the necessary powers to implement the "Translink" busway scheme. This is the same process as Cambridgeshire County Council are likely to initiate on Wednesday 11th February.
The TWA powers are wide ranging and include, amongst other things, powers to: compulsorily purchase land needed for the scheme; to stop up roads and footpaths; to demolish, reconstruct, refurbish and construct bridges; and to create byelaws regulating use of the busway. There is an objection period, which ends on 9th February 2004. To find out how to object, email [translink at luton.gov.uk].
Rail campaigners have set-up a website http://translinktruth.org.uk, which is intended to inform the public about the flaws in the busway scheme, and the advantages of rail. The website currently has just a form containing possible objections to submit to the government, though it will be improved.
Cambridge-Sudbury Rail Renewal Association commences public consultation
Wilson, Lee & Partners are conducting a £15,000 feasibility study (part funded by St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk County Council) into reopening the rail link between Haverhill and Cambridge on behalf of the Cambridge - Colchester Railway Development Company Ltd, (owned by the Cambridge - Sudbury Rail Renewal Association). They are seeking views from local people and will be conducting phone interviews from 14th January for two weeks. Street interviews in Haverhill and nearby villages will be held on Saturday 17th January. Anyone who wishes to state their point of view can contact the consultants on (01603) 881426 or (01953) 882141.
If the feasibility study is positive, there would then need to be an engineering study and a business study.
According to an article in the East Anglia Daily Times, the Cambridge-Sudbury Rail Renewal Association is quoted as saying that construction of a line between Cambridge and Haverhill could start in two years once funding was made available. The extension to Sudbury would be done later. The two years delay is rather tight to allow for the time needed to fully design the scheme, submit a TWA order, hold a public inquiry, wait for the inspector to report and then for government approval, followed by tendering and selection of contractors, and their lead time before commencing work.
Unfortunately the article was rather academic since there is no realistic prospect of funding being awarded in the near future.
BBC News report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/3398721.stm.
STATIONS
Cambridge station now has secure parking for cycles
Keywords: [CambridgeStation]
Passengers parking their cycle at Cambridge railway station can expect their bikes to be safer after the opening in December of a new high-security bike park, which has spaces for 200 cycles. Unfortunately it is only useful for those arriving after 07:00 and returning 08:00. It costs £1.50 per day.
The park should reduce thefts. Between April and June 2003, 41 bikes were reported stolen from the station.
EAST WEST RAIL LINK
Milton Keynes growth plans help justify East West Rail Link
Keywords: [EastWestRail]
The case for providing an East West Rail Link, recommended by the London to South Midlands Multi Modal Study, continues to be helped by expansion of towns. Milton Keynes is set to grow by 70,000 new homes - 110,000 people - by 2031 giving a population of 320,000. It will become one of the fastest growing settlements in England.
In 2003 the LSMMS recommended major transport infrastructure schemes in the area including M1 widening from 3 to 4 lanes from Junction 13 to the M25, A421/A428 widening from MK to Cambridge, and a new link connecting Bedford with Northampton, as an extension of Thameslink 2000. If the latter is built, it could equally enhance the EWRL scheme by providing an effective link from the WCML to the MML and to East Anglia.
Although the Secretary of State for Transport has accepted the road element recommendations (some have already been included in the Highways Agency's TPI (Targeted Programme of Improvements), the rail schemes have not been so favoured.
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT
Anglia Railways launches 'AngliAtoBus Services' leaflet to show options for combining bus and train journeys
Keywords: [AngliaRailways]
Anglia Railways has produced a leaflet called 'AngliAtoBus Services' about bus services to encourage passengers to leave the car at home and use public transport instead. It lists current options for combining bus and train journeys around the Anglia Railways network, with a guide to fares and contact numbers for the main bus operators.
Anglia Railways has joined together with some local bus operators to offer a range of connecting services across East Anglia and beyond. Many bus services are free or cheaper for Anglia Railways' customers and there is also the benefit of booking the whole journey in one go at staffed stations, on the train or by calling Anglia Railways' Contact Centre on 08700 40 90 90.
Anglia press release: http://www.angliarailways.co.uk/latest-information/news-detail.asp?id=524.
RAIL PATRONAGE
As well as National Rail, Eurostar also sees passenger growth
Although Eurostar saw a slight reducing in passenger numbers year on year, the opening of CTRL phase 1 saw the start of a
fightback. Figures comparing November 2003 with November 2002 shows that on the London-Paris route:
* Eurostar increased market share from 58.10% to 65.96%, whilst all airlines lost market share.
* BA was closest competitor with 13.18%, Air France had 11.46%, with EasyJet at 5.03% and bmi at 4.25%.
On the London-Brussels route, Eurostar was top at 47.56% (from 41.76%), with all airlines losing share. BA/SN was second with 22.15% followed by bmi at 13.90% and Ryanair at 13.19%.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Anglia Railway conducts further low-adhesion traning on Mid-Norfolk Railway
Keywords: [MidNorfolkRailway]
In early December an Anglia Railways' Class 153 single car diesel unit was used for leaf-fall training over the Mid-Norfolk Railway, using a 40 mph speed limit. Part of the line is sprayed to simulate low-adhesion conditions, and a "virtual station" stopping point was indicated by a marker board. Around half a dozen new drivers were trained.
This is the second consecutive year that Anglia Railways have used the MNR. If CAST.IRON succeeds in opening a 70pmh private railway, then the Cambridge-St.Ives line may see a considerable amount of driver training from many TOCs, unable to afford Network Rail's track access charges for higher speed lines.
WEBSITES
Grand Central Railway's website reveals plans
Keywords: [GrandCentral]
Grand Central, which hopes to obtain an open access agreement to provide rival Trans-Pennine trains to First, has set-up a website: http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk.
SRA's first in-house franchise launches website
South East Trains, run by the SRA has a website: http://www.setrains.co.uk.
Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 129 - 16/01/2004
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