The next branch meeting will be at the Assembly House in Norwich at 2pm on Saturday 18th September. Instead of
having a speaker, it is intended to invite all rail groups to talk about their local issues and concerns. Each
group will have five minutes to speak. If any representative of a group with a particular concern or issue
wishes to have a 5-minute slot please can they contact Nick Dibben in advance. Groups who have confirmed are
ESTA, March-Wisbech Bramley Line and CAST.IRON.
The Railfuture office has moved to yet another different room at The Colourworks. This time it's Room 205.
The Bedfordshire and Railway Transport Association, who successfully saved the Bedford-Northampton route
around Olney, are holding a conference on Saturday 2nd October, 11:00-16:30, at the De Parys Hotel, Bedford.
There are four guest speakers, including Allan Dare, Business Development Manager at Chiltern Railways and
Steve Deane from the Wensleydale Railway Association, who will give an illustrated talk on the reopening
success they are enjoying and how they came to achieve it, the problems they faced along the way. Conference
costs £15, which includes lunch. Book now - BRTA, 24c St Michael’s Road, Bedford, MK40 2LT.
ESTA will be having a stall at Ipswich Transport Museum on 3rd October.
Railfuture member Derek Langslow has been reappointed as chairman of Rail Passengers Committee for Eastern
England for the next two years. He has been chairman for the past four years.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Ipswich tunnel reopens on time
Ipswich tunnel reopened on Sunday 5th September as planned. There were no problems handing back the line to 'one'.
However, Network Rail scored an own goal by offering passengers free packets of mints as compensation. The
well-intentioned "miserly" gesture was seen as insensitive especially by the national tabloid press.
RAIL MEETINGS
Rail Passengers Committee holds meeting in Cambridge
The Rail Passengers Committee for East England met on Tuesday 14th September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Cambridge, CB2 3DT. Central Trains were quizzed about massive "unacceptable" fare increases, including
abolition of cheap day return fares. The positive news from Central was:
* CT has plans for a staff member at Cambridge to deal with issues and ensure passengers get their flights at
Stansted
* CT hope to have five spare trains and crew on "hot standby" at key locations
* 10 Class 170 trains have been hired in from Midland Main Line to help capacity issues
* Additional toilet cleaning facilities to be installed
* Toilets on Class 158 units are to be replaced.
WAGN confirmed improved performance (over 90% punctuality) and route director James Adeshiyan commented
that a year ago people were criticising the lateness of trains, but now it's faulty vending machines at the
stations.
Network Rail hailed the Ipswich tunnel work as a success - RPC and passengers were happy at way the work
was handled. They are considering annual two-week blockades on the Great Eastern main line, and will seek
views. They also announced:
* Joint Network Rail and One control centre at Liverpool Street station by December 2004
* Colchester-Clacton resignalling due to start soon. It will be done on a like for like basis
* NR expect leaf fall season to be worse in 2004 compared to 2003 owing to heavy summer rain
* NR has no plans to sort our Ely North Curve as they can operate the timetable without it.
The meeting ended with a brief discussion about Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, with CAST.IRON giving a
10-minute talk about its plans. Cambridgeshire County Council was not invited to comment.
RAIL FRANCHISES
Stagecoach-Virgin re-enter race for ECML franchise
On 1st September Stagecoach Group PLC and Virgin Rail Group announced that they would be rejoining the bidding
for the East Coast Main Line franchise, which commences in 2005. They had withdrawn when Deutsche Bahn had
pulled out. They are not deterred by the government's announcement performance of the current franchisee
would be taken into account when awarding franchises, which was widely seen to help GNER's bid.
ST.IVES LINE
Richard Bowker confirms that SRA did not assess Cambridgeshire Guided Busway before offering support
In a letter to a CAST.IRON member on 8th September, Richard Bowker, chairman and chief executive of the SRA, confirmed
in writing that the SRA did not consider CAST.IRON’s proposals at all when giving support to the guided busway scheme.
Mr Bowker wrote: "The decision to support the guided busway scheme was taken after considering information contained
in the Cambridge – Huntingdon multi modal study, (CHUMMS), together with information supplied to the DfT and SRA by
Cambridgeshire County Council which is in the public domain. The SRA’s decision was made in April 2004 and CAST.IRON’s
documents were not reviewed as part of this process."
It is notable that the SRA, which regularly spends fortunes on consultants, chose not to independently consider
the use of the St.Ives railway line, instead relying on the much criticised CHUMMS report and the applicant’s (CCC)
biased view of the guided busway.
Hunts Post newspaper announces its alternative to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
On 12th August the Hunts Post newspaper, which has been running an anti-busway "Boot out the [guided] bus" campaign
since 2001, published its ideas for an alternative transport solution. It consists of two parts:
* a beefed-up conventional bus service between Huntingdon, St Ives and Cambridge, with an express component between
Fenstanton and Girton Corner
* a light rail system between Longstanton [rather than St.Ives] and Cambridge, serving villages along the currently-disused
railway line and the Cambridge Science Park.
It would make use of the already-planned local road running alongside the widened A14 between Fen Drayton and
Girton Corner and using the eastern part (Longstanton-Chesterton Junction) of the existing, but disused, St.Ives
railway line.
The Hunts Post also suggests reinstating and electrifying the chord from the Science Park to the main Fen Line
at Chesterton junction to allow through trains to London.
Hunts Post Plans: http://www.huntspost.co.uk/man/news/story.asp?datetime=12+Aug+2004+11%3A58&tbrand=HPTOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=News&
brand=HPTOnline&itemid=CMED12+Aug+2004+15%3A07%3A28%3A990.
Guided busway supporter admits that buses will not be enough to tackle Cambridge congestion
According to a Cambridge Evening News article on 4th August, more than 42,000 extra journeys will be made in and
out of Cambridge every day by 2011. Councillor Colin Shaw, Labour's transport spokesman, fears was quoted saying
improved bus services (including the guided busway) and cycle lanes would not be enough to tackle the congestion.
He said: "The problem in Cambridge is big and it is going to get bigger - we are the fastest growing area in the
country". Surely a strong economic case for a reopened railway complimenting improved bus services? However, Mr
Shaw is calling for a feasibility study to look into congestion charging, although Conservative cabinet member
Shona Johnstone prefers physical demand management, such as rising bollards.
News item: http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/story.asp?StoryID=59119
Inquiry details: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/sub/eandt/planning/raptrans/inquiry.htm.
CAST.IRON launches more merchandise to help fund fight against the guided busway
CAST.IRON is confident it can raise funds to reopen the railway line. However, rather than asking members to renew
memberships prior to seeing the busway defeated, CAST.IRON has some brand merchandise for sale: T-shirts with the
'No Mis-Guided Bus' logo on the front.
These can be purchased on-line for £15 (including postage and packing) using debit or credit card by visiting
http://www.saveourstation.co.uk and clicking on "SOS SHOP". Although
Save Our Station is not officially linked to CAST.IRON, as a licensed reseller for CAST.IRON merchandise, it has
promised that profits from the sale of T-shirts or any other items on the web-site will be donated to CAST.IRON.
STATIONS
Beccles station area could become more welcoming
The run-down area around Beccles station was voted the town's worst eyesore in 2003. Plans to be submitted to Waveney
District Council in September include a landscaped courtyard in front of the station; a new car park and bus bay;
better pedestrian access to the station; and new homes nearby. The old maltings would be converted to homes or
business premises. If approved, work could commence in early 2005.
RAIL SERVICES
Harwich branch to see through trains to London
From December 2004 'one' intends to run direct trains from London to Harwich town, meaning that passengers will
not need to change at Manningtree.
'one' has also confirmed that from 12th December the last train from London with a Southminster connection
will be around 15-25 minutes later.
Televisions to be installed on trains
Central Trains has announced plans to install television screens on its trains, like Heathrow Express. However,
these will initially only be on local trains in the West Midlands rather than the CityLink services that go
to Norwich and Stansted Airport.
The 21-inch television screens, which some people consider to be an intrusion, would supply travel information,
news, sports and entertainment. Central Trains claim an 80% approval of passengers in the Class 323 trains that
piloted the service.
According to the Cambridge Evening news on 29th July, WAGN is also to install flat-screen TV's on its trains
having signed a contract with TNCI UK (same supplier as Central) to install its TV systems on all its 98 trains
and expects to start installing them before the end of 2004. Programmes will include ITN news and weather and will
be funded through advertising. Passengers who were stuck on WAGN trains for up to four hours in August when a
potential suicide occurred at Cambridge station would have welcomed a news service - WAGN didn't tell their
passengers anything.
CEN article: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/search/dispstory.asp?id=58814&db=1.
Trolley service on Norwich-Cambridge trains is withdrawn
It has been announced by 'one' that the loss-making on-train mobile trolley service on Norwich-Cambridge trains,
which has operated on all bar the early and late trains since it commenced in September 2002, will be withdrawn
from 6th September 2004. It has not been revealed whether 'one' considered utilising the trolley more efficiently
e.g. by swapping trains at a half way point such as Thetford.
'one' Anglia InterCity phase out Class 86s
On Saturday 30th October 'one' is to run a special farewell tour for the 100mph 1965/66-built Class 86 electric
locomotives, which have hauled InterCity passenger train services between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London
electrification in 1985 (to Ipswich, and 1987 to Norwich). The fares are £45.00 Standard and £70.00 First Class.
Tickets can be booked only by calling 'one's special booking line on 01603 675102.
'one' press release: http://www.oneanglia.com/latest-information/news-detail.asp?id=599.
STATIONS
Derby Road station gets new footbridge
Passengers at Derby Road station near Ipswich will have noticed temporary fencing and a temporary
scaffolding-supported ramp from the road to one of the platforms, whilst the westbound platform building has
been in pieces and fenced off.
A new pedestrian bridge, which also carries utilities across the track, has been installed. The regularly
vandalised westbound platform building has been demolished. A bus shelter to replaces it.
Ware station gets enlarged car park
Ware station, which is just outside the East Anglia branch area, now has a better 100-space car park with CCTV,
a help point and lighting. The old car park area will be used for new housing.
RAIL PROMOTION
Central aims to get people back on trains for first time in years
Surveys show that many people in Great Britain haven't used the train in more than 20 years.
Central Trains has tried to get more people on trains by launching their biggest ever summer campaign called
"Do more than just travel this summer". They aim promote awareness of Central Trains and its Citylink services.
Central considers it a success having surveyed more than 1,000 of its passengers aged between 18-65 whilst
on-aboard, with many saying they were surprised and impressed on how the trains had changed since their last trip,
which for many was many years earlier. Central have followed up their promotion with billboard posters at roadsides
and on buses advertising value fares. More than 600,000 homes in cities on Central Train's routes have received
leaflets. The promotion has coincided with substantial fare rises (See RPCEE report above.)
RAIL ROUTES
East Suffolk line Community Rail Partnership formed
The 'East Suffolk Community Rail Partnership' comprising 'one', Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District
Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Waveney District Council has been formed to promote the Ipswich - Lowestoft 'East
Suffolk' line. There will be a new dedicated line guide and the line will be promoted through links with local tourist
attractions and other forms of public transport. The Community Rail Partnership has asked locals to design a logo
for the line, which will be used on the partnership's official stationery and displayed on station signs, leaflets,
timetables and other promotional material. The competition is over but the winner is still to be judged.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
Mid-Norfolk Railway accredited as "Quality Assured Visitor Attraction"
The Mid-Norfolk Railway has recently been classified as a "Quality Assured Visitor Attraction" by the East of
England Tourist Board for delivering a good overall standard of visitor experience. Volunteers were praised for
their enthusiasm and friendly nature.
WEB-SITES
Southminster branch has web-site
David Kirby has launched a web-site about the Southminster Branch that is operated by 'one' Railway. It is at
http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk, and is
not obvious how long it has been in operation, but appears to have been launched in July 2004.
Bluebell Railway web-site shows how quickly a railway line can be relaid
A section of the Bluebell Railway web-site http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/personal/jon-bowers/extension/
shows before and after photographs of their northern extension that will eventually link up with the national rail network at
East Grinstead. This excellent interactive web-site shows just how quickly a wilderness can be transformed back into a railway.
The images can also be seen on http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/personal/jon-bowers/extension/pics1.html
although this single-page may take some time to download (2MB).
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