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East Anglia Branch News - Snippets Issue 255 - 31/07/2014

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News from the East Anglian Branch of Railfuture, Edited by Martin Thorne and Jerry Alderson.

Railfuture News Snippets 255 - 31/07/2014



On 22nd July former transport minister, Michael Portillo, now best known for his Great British Railway Journeys television series opened the newly refurbished King's Lynn station. As part of the £1 million the whole station was rewired and the booking hall was replaced. The platforms were also resurfaced.

Railfuture, in conjunction with ESTA, will be conducting passenger counts at Halesworth for a third successive year. This is to help identify how much growth has taken place on the East Suffolk line since the service has improved from two-hourly to hourly. The count will take place on 16th October 2014, organised for both parties by Mike Farahar.

The New Anglia LEP for Norfolk and Suffolk is encouraging people to sign up to support its "Great Eastern Rail Campaign" to deliver "better, faster trains for Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk". They are asked to visit www.newanglia.co.uk/ge-rail-campaign-join-us/ and enter their first name, last name, email and organisation. Twitter uses can follow their campaign using the '#gerailcampaign' hashtag.

The East Coast train operator is conducting a 5-minute 11-question survey go gauge the opinion of rail users and stakeholders. It is at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EC_Stakeholder_Survey_2014.


RAIL SERVICES
Railfuture East Anglia welcomes new hourly off-peak Cambridge to Stansted rail service by Abellio Greater Anglia

On 21st July Abellio Greater Anglia began operating a new direct Cambridge to Stansted Airport weekday service in the off-peak as a way of generating revenue from rolling stock that would otherwise be sitting in the sidings. This will provide a 2tph service for the first time and provide provide 1,700 more seats a day. It was one of its commitments for the 'direct award' extension to its short franchise.

The new service was officially launched by rail minister Claire Perry, which will see eight extra trains in each direction between 09:30 and 22:00, but not in the evening peak. It should mean that passengers no longer have to wait up to an hour for a train or have to change at Bishops Stortford. The new service will also have a catering trolley.


RAIL ROUTES
Barrington freight-only route to reopen to traffic by end of 2014

Keywords: [BarringtonBranch]

The freight-only route to Barrington cement works closed around 2009 when the cement works was closed and mothballed. However, Cemex UK, the owners of the site and the railway line from Foxton to the works, need to fill in the pits and intended to bring in construction spoil from London to do so. They had received planning permission to upgrade the railway line and operate up to three 23-wagons trains a day (Monday to Friday), but they failed to win the planned business and nothing appeared to happen. The good news is that they have now found a customer and will be moving 1.2 million cubic metres of waste material over the next five years to infill parts of the quarry.

On 11th July 2014 work started today to reopen the line. Engineers in yellow hi-vis jackets were spotted on the line, and the vegetation is expected to be cleared within weeks, followed by upgrading of the track for completion hopefully by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

Cemex UK also has ambitions to operate the site as a rail head for freight distribution, and if successful this would give the railway a longer life than the five years originally envisaged. More controversial, however, are its plans to build about 220 houses in place of the disused quarry buildings. It intends to submit a planning application in September 2014.

A video from Setember 2004 of the Barrington Quarry railway can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPzF21sa09Q. It shows cement trains travelling on the railway between Foxton and Barrington works and also the internal rail system within the quarry, which operated from the point of extraction and closed in 2005.


Powers to double the Felixstowe branch renewed by government having lapsed after five years

Keywords: [FelixstoweBranch]

On 2nd July 2014 the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, renewed the Transport and Works Act powers given to the Felixstowe Dock and Railway company to compulsorily purchase a strip of land, approximately 4.4 miles long, beside the Felixstowe branch to allow a second track to be constructed eventually in order to increase the number of paths for freight trains. The doubling work will actually be performed by Network Rail.


Western Section of the East West Rail Route could could boost annual GDP by £73 million according to report for consortium

Keywords: [EastWestRail]

The business case for the 'western section' of the East West Rail Route has already been made, the government is funding and the scheme is being progressed by Network Rail. So, why has the East West Rail Consortium released another report to show how much economic value the reopened line from Oxford/Aylesbury to Milton Keynes and Bedford (to open by March 2019) will deliver? Well, perhaps it is to keep up the pressure on its plans for the 'central section' between Bedford and Cambridge. Consortium members (primarily local authorities in the west) are contributing £45m to the western section and now local authorities elsewhere need to see the benefits that the railway brings.

According to the Consortium, the report by Arup shows that the scheme could boost the regional economy by £72.7 million per annum. This is almost double the £38 million previously forecast by Oxford Economics in 2010, when a more modest scheme, without electrification or high line speeds was envisaged. Iain Stewart MP for Milton Keynes South, Parliamentary Private Secretary for Rail and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for East West Rail welcomed the findings and said "I've always been a strong supporter and advocate of East West Rail. It's of vital importance to our region but its importance to the UK as whole should not be underestimated. Once operational, this line will become part of the national strategic rail network making many new journeys by rail possible. It will reduce journey times, provide much-needed additional capacity and become a useful diversionary route from other lines. This latest economic assessment clearly indicates that additional investment to enhance the line serves to strengthen the already robust case for investment. It is also important that the tremendous economic value of the western section of the East West Rail is understood as this also helps in developing the business case to extend the line to Cambridge and the East Coast Mainline and for through-train services to East Anglia."


Government will fund the all-important engineering study for the re-opening of Wisbech to March railway line

On 7th July the government announced that it would fund the all-important GRIP2 detailed engineering study for the re-opening of Wisbech to March mothballed railway. Previously the cost of this had been given as £250,000. This comes on top of the previously published very positive business case compiled by Mott McDonald. The government grant, to be administered by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership, is for £1 million and is also for the engineering study for the dualling of the A47 trunk road between Wisbech and Guyhirn. This is important to the railway project as it has been stated that the A47 Wisbech Bypass level crossing will have to be abolished and grade separated by a bridge either over or under the railway.

This excellent news would probably not have happened without Railfuture's work over several years but recognition should also go to the excellent campaign by the local MP Steve Barclay, who undoubtedly had the skill and determination to bring the right people together at the right time to make it happen, and the District and County Council members and officials.

This was one of the few rail schemes across the country for which funding was announced that day. In the region, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will receive about £60m for roads, rail, education and broadband improvements, for example. There was also an award of £1.5m for Bletchley station revamp as part of of the East West Rail Link.


Reopened railway is a vital part of the Wisbech 2020 Vision

Details of the progress to date in realising the Wisbech 2020 Vision, which launched in early 2013, have been published and can be viewed at www.wisbech2020vision.co.uk. The 34-page update outlines what has been done to tackle a 29-point Action Plan, which includes key transport initiatives, such as Wisbech-March rail link, the A47 upgrade and improved walking and cycling routes, as well as rejuvenation of the town, which includes building new homes. A summit will be organised for all the Vision partners later in 2014.


STATIONS
Final part of planning permission granted for Cambridge Science Park station

Keywords: [CambridgeNorthStation]

On 18th December 2013 the Joint Development Control Committee granted planning permission for Cambridge Science Park station. However, this was conditional upon the signing of a planning obligation, which has now been completed. Therefore the full permission has now been granted to Cambridgeshire County Council for the application (S/1497/13/CM and C/05001/13/CC.

The permission allows for the "erection of a station building with passenger waiting facilities, toilets, ticket office, retail space, amenity space, rail staff accommodation and facilities". It also includes "two main line platforms and a bay platform with a footbridge (with lifts) providing access over the main lines and operational sidings from the station building to the platforms." External works include "car (450 spaces) and cycle (1,000 spaces) parking and hard and soft landscaping" along with "construction of new vehicular access from Cowley Road and new pedestrian and cycle links to the surrounding area."

Former refreshment rooms are refurbished and reopened at March Railway Station after many years of disuse

Keywords: [MarchStation]

March station has been in a sorry state for many years following its demise. The Friends of March station have been trying to spruce up the station and make it more welcoming for passengers. Their voluntary activity has taken a large step forward with the restoration and reopening of two former refreshment rooms on platform two, which have been redundant for years. following substantial work, such as the replacement of rotten flooring, the room will now be available for community use. The main room is ideal for booking by organisations that need somewhere to meet on a regular basis or for one-off meetings. The second refurbished room, which was the old station bar, will become a small library.

The rooms were formally opened in mid-July by Councillor Ralph Butcher, Fenland District Council's Cabinet member responsible for transport and chairman of the Hereward Community Rail Partnership. About 35 people attended the launch, including the Mayor of March, Councillor Kit Owen.

The Friends of March Station will not be stopping at this. The hope to refurbish one of the remaining redundant rooms. Hereward Community Rail Partnership has just approved a grant of £486 to help the Friends continue their efforts to tidy up the disused platform and track bed.


RAIL FRANCHISES
Railfuture attends stakeholder presentation by Govia Thameslink Railway for new franchising beginning on 14th September

Keywords: [TSGN]

Railfuture East Anglia members representatives of Govia on Tuesday 15th July 2014 to hear their plans and also discuss various issues with them concerning the Great Northern part of their franchise. Their PowerPoint presentation from the meeting can be found at http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/1222/GTR%20franchise%20presentation.pdf.

During the meeting they explained that the business would have three management centres:

  • Great Northern: covering King's Cross to King's Lynn and the Peterborough peak services and the Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford and to Welwyn GC "inners"
  • Thameslink: Bedford/Cambridge/Peterborough to Brighton/Horsham and other routes that will run through the London core
  • Southern: covering services from Victoria to Brighton, Brighton Coastal, branches off the Brighton Main Line etc including much of South London and via West London to MK Central.

The following were confirmed (some of which will not commence until the Thameslink Programme is complete in 2018):

  • Enhanced services will run seven days a week from Moorgate to Welwyn GC and Hertford North onto Watton at Stone and Stevenage
  • There will be 2tph semi-fast from Cambridge via "the Core" to Gatwick and Brighton
  • There will be 2tph Peterborough via "the Core" to Gatwick and Horsham -these will run fast from Stevenage to Finsbury Park doubling the fast service from Hitchin and Stevenage to London to a train every 15 minutes
  • 2tph all stations Cambridge to Potters Bar thence via "the Core" to south London, East Croydon and Tattenham Corner
  • 2tph fast King's Cross to Cambridge and on to Cambridge SP, Ely, King's Lynn
  • Additional peak services from Peterborough to King's Cross.
  • A new metro-type train in fixed 6-car formation will run from Moorgate. One reason for this "surprise" investment is the difficulty of putting ERTMS equipment into very old class 313 cabs
  • Class 700 units will service all via "the Thameslink core" services
  • Class 377 units used on the current Thameslink services will be retained and transferred to the Great Northern to work King's Cross to Cambridge/King's Lynn fast trains
  • Class 365, half the fleet of these units currently used as the mainstay of service provision will be retained to work the peak additional trains from Peterborough to King's Cross.
  • There are no firm plans to extend Thameslink services to Cambridge Science Park but that is foue years away and so it is expected some will do so eventually. This was elucidated by questioning.

Topics that Railfuture introduced and had discussed were:

  • Foxton Level Crossing / bridge. Interchange and park and ride
  • Cambridge Science Park capacity both there and at Cambridge station
  • Ownership/operation of the Cambridge and the Science Park station was discussed. Govia agrees with Railfuture that patronage will continue to rise
  • Railfuture asked for the afternoon return from London restrictions to be lifted
  • Leg pricing of fares will be introduced to allow people to mix and match different peak/off-peak time restrictions for outward and return journeys
  • Govia introduction of a smart-card called "the Key" is to be rolled out gradually from September 2015, plus a new phone App that indicates 'loading' on approaching services.
  • Cambridge buses and bus interchange was briefly mentioned - Govia said that working with Stagecoach "shouldn't be a problem"
  • Overcrowding on trains NORTH of Cambridge in the peaks is a problem - new self-weighing trains will enable loadings to be established, but as pair of eyes will do that! Selective door operation could allow longer trains to serve stations with short platforms at Waterbeach, Littleport, Watlington. Railfuture stressed that the timetable might be compromised by overcrowded trains being difficult to alight from at those stations combined with the single line stretches north of Ely. Railfuture stated that those platforms should be lengthened
  • From 2018, seating capacity from Cambridge will double with 50% of this being to Ely and King's Lynn
  • Railfuture is very concerned at the lack of of seat back "tables" on class 700 trains - a solution may be possible
  • Wi-Fi absence is largely down to lack of off-train transmitters and line side kit. Retro-equipping Class 700s won't be cheap, but 4G phones have far less of a problem except through certain tunnels
  • Gatwick Express new rolling stock is still not approved by DfT (probably a Class 387 follow-on order from Bombardier)
  • A radical improvement plan to Stevenage station will be possible when various funds can be brought together
  • Network Rail and Govia hope to improve speed of the slow lines out of King's Cross, which seldom rise above 80 mph, unlike the routes out of St. Pancras and Euston
  • Train congestion approaching Cambridge was raised and that 12-car trains take far too long from being slowed near Trumpington by Approach Control to clearing the points opposite Cambridge University Press building to gain access to Platforms 7 or 8. Once Cambridge Science Park station opens a similar problem may be created at the northern approach as well. It will be a medium to long-term problem to resolve
  • Plans for encouraging Community-lead stations, especially Meldreth, are on the agenda.

Unhappy Great Eastern Mainline passengers meet Abellio Greater Anglia and Network Rail management at Westminster

Keywords: [GreatEasternMainline]

People: [Jamie Burles]

In early July Norwich MP Chloe Smith, who is leading a taskforce currently writing a report to make the case for investment in the Great Eastern Main line (GEML), chaired a maeeting in London between disgruntled commuters and senior management from Network Rail and Abellio Greater Anglia, including its managing director Jamie Burles. The select group of unhappy commuters had been identified through their regular correspondence with the region's MPs on Twitter. They were invited to Westminster to spell out to the railway bosses their experiences of life travelling on the GEML. Their complaints were numerous but all related to comfort, cleanliness, reliability and value for money.

Some of the complaints related to poor service by the operator, such as the cleanliness of trains and faulty on-board facilities. However, most related to delayed trains on the line, which is vulnerable to infrastructure failures and has no spare capacity. The root cause has been a franchise where the government syphoned off the profits and allowed no investment in new trains and a mainline that cannot cope with the level of traffic, again through lack of investment over decades.

According to the Ipswich Star newspaper, a spokesperson for Abellio Greater Anglia said: "We outlined initiatives the company was already planning and implementing to make further improvements in some of the key areas mentioned - such as punctuality, reliability, train cleanliness and customer information. Another key point discussed was the importance of continuing to lobby the Department for Transport and ministers to ensure that major upgrades to trains and infrastructure in this region are secured as part of the next Greater Anglia franchise process and investment plans agreed for Network Rail. The Norwich in Ninety Taskforce, of which Abellio Greater Anglia is a key player, is preparing a report which will recommend the best way of achieving many of the upgrades which everyone wishes to see on the Great Eastern Main Line."


Abellio Greater Anglia Managing Director expects significant improvements in the region's rail services over the next 15 years

People: [Jamie Burles]

Perhaps it was no coincidence following the meeting with disgruntled passengers, but on 8th July the East Anglian Daily Times reported that the recently appointed Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) managing director Jamie Burles was confident that the railway, especially the Great Eastern Mainline, would be see investment over the next 15 years with new trains, improved infrastructure and faster journeys. AGA had previously announced a major refresh for the intercity trains used on the Norwich-London route to be completed as part of its new short franchise through to October 2016, although that would only extend the life of the trains until the early 2020s.

Mr Burles said "I think the fabric of the network in terms of rolling stock and the nature of the service will have changed measurably. We are developing a coherent and cohesive voice that can influence the Department for Transport and politicians that Greater Anglia, the region, is overdue the type of long-term focus and investment that has been seen on other lines. Now it is our time for that." Jamie Burles will be speaking to Railfuture East Anglia at its Norwich meeting on Saturday 27th September.


GUIDED BUSWAY
Motorists keep getting stranded on the Cambridge guided busway

The guided busway has been open almost three years and still road vehicles are being driven onto the busway track and become trapped there. According to the Cambridge News, which obtained the information using a Freedom of Information request, there have been 38 such incidents in the 18 months between January 2013 and June 2014. Of these, 31 incidents required a full or partial closure of the busway, with many occurring on the southern section. These incidents are classed as those where emergency procedures had been activated. It seems that fewer are now occurring. For example, in the six months between July and December 2012 emergency action occurred on 56 occasions.

Vehicle trespass is the main cause of incidents. However, there has also been signal failures, fires, and bus breakdowns. Specific incidents include a collision between a bus and a dog that was loose on the track near Fen Drayton, a two-bus pile-up at Swavesey and a crash between a bus and a cyclist at Addenbrooke's hospital.

The busway seems to have far more incidents than any railway line in the country, although it is still less than the heavily used A14 within Cambridgeshire where there are 100 incidents a year.

Deliberate trespass also occurs on the Cambridge guided busway

One assumes that all examples of vehicles being trapped on the busway were accidental. However, some trespass is deliberate. The Cambridge News reported that children have been paying 'chicken' on the busway, jumping in front of the 56mph buses and then leaping off the tracks just before the vehicles hit them. Busway operator Whippet says that a few of their drivers have been put-off driving busway services because of fears of hitting a child.


WEBSITES
Website shows progress of the Chiltern Railways and Network Rail 'Evergreen 3' collaboration project

Although it wouldn't be obvious from the www.bicestertooxfordcollaboration.com URL, where the word 'rail' is omitted, this is a website about the reconstruction of the railway between the new chord at Bicester and Oxford, which was formerly know as Chiltern Railway's Evergreen 3 scheme. Intended primarily to inform locals about road closures and diversions, it has a wealth of information about the progress of the construction project and plenty of photos and track maps/diagrams too.


Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 255 - 31/07/2014

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