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TRAIN OPERATORS

'one' Railway rebranded as National Express East Anglia

On 27th February the ludicrously named TOC 'one', in the opinion of many, was renamed National Express East Anglia. This was the decision of Richard Bowker, who became NX Chief Executive in 2006, and was the head of the now-defunct Strategic Rail Authority, when the 'one' brand was launched on 1st April 2004 with Tim Clarke as Managing Director. Bowker claims that the rail industry is now stable and will not harm the National Express brand, hence the wish to now use the name in all rail operations. An official launch ceremony was held at Liverpool Street station, with smaller ones taking place at Norwich and Cambridge stations.

NX Press Release: http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx1/media/news/sub_news/pr2008/2008-02-27.

Train punctuality hits new high for 'one'

The moving annual average (MAA) punctuality for all the 'one' train services has reached 901%, which is the highest that 'one' had reached in its four-year history. The definition of "on time" is within 5 minutes of the published arrival time at the destination (regardles sof punctuality along the route) apart from the London-Norwich intercity service where the measure is 10 minutes. The TOC-wide perofrmance figure comprises the following route results:
* Metro services from Southend/Shenfield to London - 88.3%
* Mainline services - Norwich/Ipswich/Harwich/Clacton/Colchester/Braintree/Chelmsford to London - 87.9%
* Stansted Express services - Stansted Airport to London - 89.2%
* Rural services - Norwich to Cambridge/Sheringham/Lowestoft/Gt. Yarmouth and Ipswich/Cambridge/Peterborough/Lowestoft/Felixstowe - 91.9%
* West Anglia services-Cambridge/Harlow/ Hertford/Enfield/Chingford to London - 92.8%.

RAIL STATIONS

Cambridge station is now gated - with policy of no entry without a ticket

From 7th February 'one' railway was refusing to allow anyone through the new barriers at Cambridge station onto the platforms without a valid ticket. This puts many facilities of out of reach of customers who are not travelling that day, including people waiting for passengers who cannot now access the toilets. The introduction of barriers has resulted in some business having to move: Trainseurope have relocated to the Hertz office at the front of the station.

RAIL FREIGHT

Seed potatoes from Doncaster delivered to Eccles Road

Rail freight has returned briefly to the sidings at Eccles Road in February when EWS ran train loads of seed potatoes from Doncaster to Johnson Logistics’ depot at Snetterton, with the sidings at Eccles Road station used as a rail head. This is a very short-term flow, which will cease in March with the number of trains dependant on the quantity of seed potatoes available.