Monday, 30 July 2012
Friday, 20 July 2012
This one I missed.......................
There is nothing which excites the creative thinker more than to set an idea up and watch other folk grab it. I missed this meeting. This today is the first time I have found any report. Was anyone there who reads this? Can anyone provide a report? http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/06/06/north-east-facing-big-decision-on-railway-system-61634-31119960/#ixzz1wzuoFXkC . I wonder how many of the folk at that meeting knew I had been blogging about the subject since September 2010. I am willing to lay out a pint one did.
I then went through the ANEC councils site today and any mention of this meeting and the topic has eluded me http://
(see for this thread the comment I have made to the After the Curry entry below)
I then went through the ANEC councils site today and any mention of this meeting and the topic has eluded me http://
(see for this thread the comment I have made to the After the Curry entry below)
Thursday, 19 July 2012
HIGHD APTIS no politics just a stack of tickets
East Coast Consultation Newcastle Today
I had to miss the East Coast Consultation today. Fortunately Dennis Peel from Tyne Valley Line Rail Users group could be there. I put in his summary highlights, his words:
" The change which may affect us is the suggestion that "feeder" services including N/C to Carlisle might be brought into the East Coast franchise. I asked and it was confirmed that if this were to occur it would be all lines in the North East, not picking and choosing. If this were to happen it would have a big effect on the present Northern Franchise and the date might be later than Dec 2013. Much interest from the users groups present on this topic.
The East Coast Franchise would run for 15 years and with slippage etc would be renewed around 2032 to coincide with HS2 coming to N/C. (As I see it (which I probably wont') HS2 does not cut N/C to London time, but brings in N/C to Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Heath Row) There would still need to be an East Cost route. "
This is a fascinating report. It confirms what in recent weeks we have been able to deduce. There is probably a rail industry turf war going on really driven by Heaton depot! The one depot which services all North East local trains is also a jewel in the crown for East Coast and for Northern's servicing schedules with it specialising in Pacers. If I managed East Coast I would want it and I would take the local services too. But we who live in the North East need our priorities to be heard. It is clear we have not done this very well for the last 5-10 years. If we had, the drive on the Lancashire Yorkshire Corridor or in South Wales would have comparable results here. Are politicians in the North East and Nexus going to belatedly wake up to what is going on? Our own MP Guy Opperman excepted or will we become bit actors in another's franchise for 15 years?
" The change which may affect us is the suggestion that "feeder" services including N/C to Carlisle might be brought into the East Coast franchise. I asked and it was confirmed that if this were to occur it would be all lines in the North East, not picking and choosing. If this were to happen it would have a big effect on the present Northern Franchise and the date might be later than Dec 2013. Much interest from the users groups present on this topic.
The East Coast Franchise would run for 15 years and with slippage etc would be renewed around 2032 to coincide with HS2 coming to N/C. (As I see it (which I probably wont') HS2 does not cut N/C to London time, but brings in N/C to Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Heath Row) There would still need to be an East Cost route. "
This is a fascinating report. It confirms what in recent weeks we have been able to deduce. There is probably a rail industry turf war going on really driven by Heaton depot! The one depot which services all North East local trains is also a jewel in the crown for East Coast and for Northern's servicing schedules with it specialising in Pacers. If I managed East Coast I would want it and I would take the local services too. But we who live in the North East need our priorities to be heard. It is clear we have not done this very well for the last 5-10 years. If we had, the drive on the Lancashire Yorkshire Corridor or in South Wales would have comparable results here. Are politicians in the North East and Nexus going to belatedly wake up to what is going on? Our own MP Guy Opperman excepted or will we become bit actors in another's franchise for 15 years?
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
After the curry and with the MP, a write up (see preceding entry)
The Valley 16th July 2012
A dissemination of
the discussion about Tyne Valley and North East Rail Services.
Notes by Robert
Forsythe www.fionnconsultancy.co.uk
Immediate Concerns
On the whole there are significant levels of satisfaction at
present over reliability and pleasure at investment, like the Ticket Machine at
Prudhoe, and the three interchanges that have opened.
There are important immediate concerns and they largely
focus on capacity at peak hours and on special
events. The gap of over an hour inbound from Hexham during the morning peak was
discussed and I believe Northern understand this could be solved. The user side understands Northern is and has
progressed the last train issue (the new Prudhoe stopper). As ever the
inability to collect revenue when the train is full concerns. This impacts on
the Newcastle
barrier situation.
The new football season starting late summer, and the
Northumberland Show next year, are opportunities for Northern to show they can
rectify problems which have been mentioned over many years. The timetable is
not the challenge at these events if it is operated correctly, it is the
capacity. I concluded Northern were determined to review this. In particular
Gaynor Shotton from the County Show was invited to form
a strong working relationship with the Northern management team and the
Community Rail Partnership/Rail users group.
The need is : sufficient carriages for the NorthumberlandShow and the marketing of travelling by train. If the Show and the Railway
could offer an advance purchase discount ticket, the railway can manage demand
and those who turn up on the day with no ticket have to accept what can be
offered. Robert Forsythe can show Gaynor sales literature for parallel events.
I think Northern were happy that on the performance of peak
hours train like the strengthened 0742, and the 2013 Show and the football day
services, attitudes towards the company in the Tyne Valley could be influenced.
The cost of tickets from stations west of Hexham are
perceived as being disproportionately high. Northern offered to look closely at
the pricing models from stations such as Bardon Mill and Haltwhistle. There are
also issues around commuters who may only use the line 3 or 4 days a week have
no incentive to purchase a season ticket (too expensive for their needs), and
no multi- journey discount exists. A carnet ticket like the Harrogate line is
needed.
There are several large employers in Newcastle (eg
Northumbria University) whose staff travel on Northern. Whereas Nexus offers a
direct sale of season tickets (at a discount) to large organisations who then
sell them to their staff (managed directly through payroll), it was not felt
that Northern offered a similar package.
Medium Term Concerns
Northern Rail will certainly operate the services for at
least another two years. They have a new management team and the Valley side
made the point that a much stronger management presence for the North East
based around Newcastle is most
desirable. My reading suggests the Northern team appreciated this? There could
be changes within the franchise period?
There is an inherent challenge in a stand still franchise
(the present one) experiencing clear and considerable growth. In the medium
term the Northern team indicated there are further initiatives they could
contemplate progress with (does not equal full implementation within the
period). Specifically: much improved services for Dunston and Blaydon could be
examined (this was from the Northern side). Gilsland is a candidate for
re-opening with its World Heritage Site and Long Distance Path hub capability.
Guy Opperman is ready to liaise with several parish councils and Rory Stewart
MP over this, also Hadrian’s Wall
Heritage. Commissioned studies have already indicated its viability.
The role of the Class 142 four wheel Leyland
bus based Pacers will always be discussed at a meeting like this. They are not
popular with passengers especially when crowded or on the curves at Newcastle. The Northern side did throw open the
possibility that for cost effectiveness, they might be rebodied. Robert
Forsythe suspects the Rail User side will wish to see this discouraged mightily
in the future, from now forwards.
Longer Term
From 2014, there will be a new local train franchise for our
area. This was actively discussed by all the parties. Before this discussion however, everyone
noted the 16th July 2012
Government news about further rail funding. Universal agreement that this
is good for the country and for the rail industry. It for instance removes all
Pacers from the South
Wales Valleys
making the Tyne
Valley and other
North East lines good candidates to use them last of all. There was also round
table agreement that the investment news offers very little to the North East
in terms of schemes. The Northern Hub concept
has spin off benefits, it might bring electric wires to Middlesbrough. But the North East has been marginal
through the Northern Hub process and the further investment does not change
this. All round the table agreed that the North East had not been good through
the franchise period in progressing the several rail investment schemes
possible in its area.
As a result, three probabilities post 2014 exist. Northern
continue as our operator or another company on exactly the same patch. The
Valley side articulated the view that could only work if there was a strong Newcastle management and a programme in the franchise
for the North East. The present Northern franchise had started with a North
East management team and it had been diluted.
The second option which current East Coast consultation
allows for is that the new East Coast franchise takes Heaton depot including
its local train work in North East England. Heaton is a jewel in the crown
depot (Nick Brown MP), it is important to both local and mainline train
operators out of Newcastle and it has
a specialist maintenance record. The user side can see that within the industry
there will be well hidden moves about the future of Heaton!
The third option is that the North East community organise
themselves in advance of the DfT consultation and argue for a Northumbria franchise for all the Heaton local train
work. This is around 20 trains and even with expansion the probability is that
no more than 35 trains are needed. It is not a large business but it is a
natural geographic and business entity. It seemed that the Northern team could
understand this thinking and that within their own business the powerhouse that
is Lancashire and Yorkshire sets agendas?
There was considerable discussion about how successful first
Manchester and then its neighbours had
been in securing investment and in now adopting the Decentralisation
philosophy. There was discussion about what the North East would need to follow
this example. There are agencies who might lead: Nexus, North East Chamber of
Commerce, Association of North East Local Authorities. So far no-one with
authority had taken the lead role in a regional discussion. Guy Opperman is
probably the most senior North Eastern politician leading a debate on it. It
has to go further if it is to work with a local entity and soon.
The industry side suggested the community side needs to
generate a “compact”, possibly through the vehicle of an LEP. A specific follow
up to this Valley meeting could be a high level regional day conference on the
future of local rail in the North East. Would the North East Chamber of
Commerce lead? How would transport providers and politicians current react to
that? This has to be scheduled before the DfT issue the consultation over the
franchise and that is scheduled for later in 2012. MPs like David Milliband or
Nick Brown who have so far not become involved may need to be.
THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH IS CRUCIAL
This discussion the lead into the blue sky of what the North
East asks for in its next franchise. There is quite a long shopping list.
Peterlee Station and Tees Valley Metro (James Cook station) are at
implementation or very near so). Leamside (Washington) and Ashington
re-openings have all been talked about and studied in detail for years. SENRUG
has a massive and explored vision over what could come from the Ashington
project. The Northern side threw open the blue sky idea that Trans Pennine
Express could terminate at Ashington.
On the Tyne Valley, Gilsland and Blaydon have already been
spoken off by the rail users as priority. A Northern team member said think
bigger. Ask to be electrified as part of the fleet renewal. Remember the
importance to East Coast of the line as a diversion. Then you think the future
has to be an electric Tyne Valley and Coast and Saltburn Bishop lines to get a
thoroughly 21st century local rail network. All local trains would
then be electric apart from Whitby. This opens the idea that part of what holds
the Tyne Valley back is infrastructure. The present diesel trains have a speed
in excess of most of the line speed. Improve the line speed limit and even with
the present trains schedules could improve.
The evening ended then with three challenges: to Northern to
deliver much closer and stronger local management connected to North East
communities, to the User side to go out and get the North East community itself
better connected to lobby for its own connectivity, the third challenge being
to combine these two forces to create the next local train franchise on an
expansive and not stand still basis.
Present
Guy Opperman MP (the inviter)
From Northern Rail
Alan Chaplin Chief Operating Officer
Richard Allan Area Director for Yorkshire and Humberside,
Tyne Tees and Wear.
Both above from 30th May 2012 http://www.northernrail.org/news/7044
Drew Halley Client and Stakeholder Manager Northern Rail
From Tyne Valley Rail Users Group/Community Partnership
Robert Forsythe
Prudhoe
Fiona Forsythe Prudhoe
John Gillott Heddon TVCRP partnership officer
Julie Gibbon Bardon Mill
Minnie Fraser Mickley
Alastair Fraser Mickley
Tony Geary Wylam
Tina Geary Wylam
From Northumberland Show (moving Corbridge>Bywell (Stocksfield Station)
Gaynor Shotton
From North East Chamber of Commerce
Mark Scandle
Facebook References Please ensure that you like these pages
Northumbria Rail Franchise Lobby Group
Tyne Valley Line Rail Users Group
Tyne Valley Line Community Rail Partnership
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
A working curry with Northern Rail and our MP at Corbridge
If you check out Guy Opperman MP's facebook or his blog http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/good-news-on-trains.html you will see that he has taken the initiative to get 15 people around a table to discuss the future of train services. The Northern management team sent senior representatives who live in Skipton, Malton and Harrogate so you can judge they thought it important to be in Corbridge until a last train which would not get them home. Cross your fingers you will hear a lot more beginning to flow from this encounter. Daraz and his team at the Valley Restaurant in the old station building (they bring in about 10,000 folk a year by train) were impeccable in every way.
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Prudhoe and its drains
Will
the new town centre have porous pavements? Friday the 13th Courant's
lead letter is from Jennifer McGee on the subject of drainage. Her
points are not new, she dates the various occurences. The problem and I
tend to agree with her: what is being done about the matter apart from a
style of development whose track record
makes these issues worse? We were promised a study in November 2011,
where is it? Porous pavements are one 21st century solution to the
problem. They cost more money I guess, will we get them? The new
development promises a surge tank, Castlefield's has them and they have
failed. If you are for the new development why not take time out and
explain how it is going to help Prudhoe's flooding problem? What other
drainage improvements (not maintenance which really amounted to the
South Road incident last year? are likely? How will the Station "sump"
be sorted? RF
Neil BradburyThe groundwater flows on the site will be diverted from the Castlefields system where they have caused problems and instead into the Station road surface system, which will be rebuilt where necessary. All of this is part of the 82 special conditions imposed on the development by Councillors. I am not sure any level of reassurance will convince Cllr McGee, who has a massive conflict of interest with her family ownership of McGees. Her real objection, perfectly understandably, is the demolition of the block where her families shop is.9 hours ago ·
Robert Forsythe
I appreciate the clear statement about the Station Road sewage system and how that will be rebuilt. Regarding McGee's shop. A clear statement over who owns what would clarify a lot of things about Prudhoe. Nonetheless Neil, my belief is that Mrs McGee is not as closely connected to that shop in question as you suggest. I think Jennifer will as likely as not read this post and a clear clarification about how far her personal interest is from the business in question would be fine. Like I say, I am ready to discover it is not as close as at first imagined.
5 hours ago · · 1
Adrian Porter I understand the furinture unit on Princessway has been flooded again yet the unit is still up for rent how can the landlord rent this building out knowing it is suseptable to flooding,have they got to tell any interested persons.
Robert Forsythe
I think there is a serious issue of transparency in this. I accept that there are 82 planning conditions intended to safeguard this development. I would be very surprised if from this town of 12500 people anyone could produce more than 10 people who were able from memory to itemise say 20 of those conditions. What this says is that the town needs a reference point now that three plus weeks have passed since the decision. I know that if I blutter my way through the planning website I can find much of this stuff. But if those for this development wanted to make friends of their neighbours and this community they would have a website accessible 24/7 setting out in plain English the main features of what is going on. (They did a consultation last summer and I cannot find any results). I have been suggesting this through my blog for several years now and I find it odd that those who want this development are not much more pro-active in trying to show why it is benefiical and offering a FAQ which deals with the difficult questions. The lack of this then leads one to the thought, does the Duke's estate and others behind the scheme really WANT us to know what is being planned? And now implementation follows permission, the need for such a site is really important. It may even convert at some point to an empty shop becoming a development info point.
Neil Bradbury The developers will do what they need to do to make it happen and nothing more. People might not like that but they are businessmen
Robert Forsythe that may be so but it up to politicians to press them to do much more and to make sure that the community gets what it needs.
Adrian Porter I think we can only wait and see and trust the people we voted in to makesure the development is the best for Prudhoe we can get.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Railway Carriage Prints
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
For Northern in Northumbria should you read East Coast?
Regular followers will know that since autumn 2010 I have been exercised by who will run local trains in Northumbria from Heaton depot once the existing Northern franchise is re-let in 2014. There are now two related Government consultations going on and each pulls in a slightly different direction. One on Decentralisation of Local Rail, the other on a new East Coast franchise which specifically asks what further services East Coast should be given for which read connecting local services others don't want. At this link it is all being discussed with links given to the DfT documents.
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