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East Anglia Branch News - Snippets Issue 43 - 19/06/2000

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

Railfuture News Snippets 43 - 19/06/2000



At the East Anglia Branch Committee Meeting on the morning of Saturday, 17 June 2000, Peter Lawrence stepped down as Branch Chairman in order to concentrate on his new position as Railfuture National Chairman. Peter Wakefield will be new Branch Chairman until the next AGM and Ivan Ivanovic will be the new Branch Vice Chairman. Peter Lawrence will continue on the Branch Committee as an ordinary member and will represent Railfuture interests in Norfolk and also continue to publish "Snippets".


CHUMMS - A14 CORRIDOR STUDY
Overwhelming public backing for St.Ives rail line at public meeting

Over 100 people attended a public meeting on Saturday afternoon, 17th June 2000 at the Parkside Community Centre, Cambridge, organised by the RDS to discuss the future of the Cambridge to St Ives route. There was 100 per cent backing for the rail re-opening between Cambridge and Huntingdon.

Messages of support were read out from local MPs Anne Campbell and Andrew Lansley. The meeting applauded Anne Campbell's message when she wrote "The Government have pledged to make the resources available for the recomendations which arise from the study so it is important that the study comes to the right conclusions" The meeting expressed its concern that the A14 multi-modal study (NMS) would not consider the railway running through to Huntingdon. Railfuture East Anglia Branch Secretary, Nick Dibben told the meeting: "Although re-opening to St. Ives will provide a valuable local train service, we need to extend the route to Huntingdon. Yes, it will be difficult but the benefits of creating a new regional rail link are enourmous. This link must form part of the study". Railfuture has written to MMS consultants Mouchel on this matter.

Presentations at the meeting were by: Nick Dibben - rail, Peter Wakefield - busways, Ivan Ivanovic - multi-modal studies.

Reports of the meeting have been included in the Cambridge Evening News, "Business News" a weekly industry newspaper for the Eastern Counties have contacted Railfuture EAB for its views and Nick Dibben was interviewed on Radio Cambridge for the Monday Morning Breakfast Show.


RAIL FRANCHISES
Prism Rail would like to give-up part of the WAGN franchise early

Keywords: [WAGN]

A new company may run train services from Peterborough, King's Lynn and Cambridge to London from April 2001 if the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority agree.

Prism Rail, who currently operate WAGN services have announced they wish to give up the Great Northern routes from King's Cross. They will, however, retain services from Cambridge to Liverpool Street. The change is needed as part of the Thameslink 2000 project that will see direct services from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire through London to the South Coast. Railfuture EAB has generally welcomed the move as a sign that Thameslink 2000 is moving forward. Railfuture does, however, have a number of concerns and have written to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on the following issues:

1) Concerns that the new Great Northern franchise will have to be let before Thameslink 2000 scheme gets final approval. This could result in a loose franchise document as there will be many unknowns.

2) Concern that WAGN will not carry out existing agreements such as improved cycle facilities at stations as a result of the new peak hour cycle ban on trains into Cambridge.

3) The need to retain through services from King's Lynn to Liverpool Street on the West Anglia route when franchise is split.

4) The need to retain inter-available tickets valid on both operators between Cambridge and London.

5) Bidders for the Great Northern route to include for new stations at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Chesterton Interchange and the re-opening of the St Ives route.

Commenting, Railfuture East Anglia branch secretary Nick Dibben said: "The new rail franchises will be running for 15-20 years so it is important that bidders come up with major plans to improve train services. Companies bidding in other parts of the country have included ideas for new lines and stations, we want to see the same thing around Cambridge. Two train companies running services between Cambridge and London will result in competition and lower fares for users for some tickets, but we must retain tickets at current prices which are valid on both operators services".


Railfuture East Anglia Branch News Snippets 43 - 19/06/2000

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