TravelWatch SouthWest plea to Cornwall Council on rail

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A rail group has warned Cornwall Council to carefully consider the implications of running the county's rail service.

In a report the council said it was "considering options of taking on devolved powers for the local railway".

The council's scrutiny committee is discussing the proposal which would include setting train times and prices.

TravelWatch SouthWest said the council must be aware of the financial implications before investing.

Gordon Edwards from TravelWatch SouthWest said: "I support the paper, this is an option worth exploring, but I think we have to think what the government is prepared to put on the table."

In a statement the Department for Transport said: "We will shortly publish our command paper on rail reform which will set out our strategy for working with the industry to reduce the cost-base of the railway, producing benefits for taxpayers and farepayers."

Matthew Sidney, a council transport manager, said: "It's all about trying to deliver better local provision, having the ability for the local services in our area.

"You would then work within the budget and you would be responsible for raising revenue to support those services."

He added that the council would "look very carefully" at the benefits before investing.

The Great Western Franchise, currently operated by First Great Western trains, is due to expire in March 2013, with a new 15-year agreement due to start next April to run the county's trains.

The Cornwall Council report is available on their website, at https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/documents/s43107/Cornwall%20Rail%20Strategy.pdf

[Lee]

A wake up call on Page 8 for some in parts of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall who may be under the impression that local authority subsidy will no longer be required once the new franchise starts:

28. The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) states that the new franchise will be tendered on the basis of the current timetable. This was welcome news as Cornwall currently enjoys a level of service over and above the level of service in the existing franchise specification. However, engagement with DfT officials has confirmed that the additional services currently paid for by local authorities (including the additional Truro -Falmouth services) will not form part of the base specification and so Cornwall Council will have to confirm that it wants to continue to fund the services.

29. If local authorities do not confirm ongoing funding of enhanced services within the new franchise they will return to the service specification level at the start of the existing franchise. This requirement will affect the half hourly service on the Maritime Line between Truro and Falmouth. Cornwall Council will have to continue funding this service level until 2015, as a minimum

Are the Appendices online, Chris?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, they are:

Appendix 1: Cornwall^s Rail Objectives;

Appendix 2: Rail Specification for DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) Investigation;

Appendix 3: Conditions relating to the funding of new or enhanced services promoted by local bodies, DfT;

Appendix 4: DfT ^Great Western Franchise Replacement Consultation^ questions.

 

[Lee]

Thankyou sir 

All I will say is this - If they really have submitted all the service improvements contained in Appendix 2 for consideration as priced options, then you cant help but admire their sheer ambition.

[vacmanfan]

Wow great post. Very interesting!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, vacmanfan - and may I offer you a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum? 

[vacmanfan]

Thanks 

[Kernow Otter]

Fascinating document, thank you.  A lot of time and effort has gone into it. 

Re the ambition, I suppose there is a "if you don't ask, you don't get" attitude very similar to the wish list the Plymouth is submitting - probably in the full knowledge that if DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) even respond positively to 1/4 of those requests then us in Cornwall shall feel slightly more involved, and somewhat higher up the pecking order than we do at the moment.

[trainbuff]

That is a fascinating report. Problem will be the funding and additional units. The documents are excelent work though. Be a good dream but dont think will happen for a while at least

[vacmanfan]

A very close source of mine says this has already had a lot of thinking done about it.  Cornwall will effectively become a "branch line" with a half hourly service from PNZ - PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)/EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) with no HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)/fewer HSTs/HSTs with fewer stopping points..

Not sure how much truth is in this but apparently this is the councils proposal to NR^» (Network Rail - home page)..

[Kernow Otter]

While the concept of loosing some of our Hst's or/ HST^▸ (High Speed Train) stops is instantly worrying, having thought it through more, then if this allows a decent clockface service for ALL stations in Cornwall that is timed to meet expresses at Plymouth with only a short wait for the onward service then so be it.  But it should not be seen as an excuse to downgrade the service.  As made clear by Cornwall Council, better stock with greater capacity and comfort would have to follow for it to be popularly accepted.

I would want to see the retention of 4 through London Trains each way daily including the NR^» (Network Rail - home page), predominantly aimed at the Plymouth and Cornwall long distance traveller - fast from PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains), but with perhaps 1 routing through Bristol for onward connections to the North.

[RichardB]

A very close source of mine says this has already had a lot of thinking done about it.  Cornwall will effectively become a "branch line" with a half hourly service from PNZ - PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)/EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) with no HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)/fewer HSTs/HSTs with fewer stopping points..

Not sure how much truth is in this but apparently this is the councils proposal to NR^» (Network Rail - home page)..

I can tell you that that Cornwall's aspiration is certainly for a half hourly service on the main line, but one of these being a Paddington HST with the other a local service.  An hourly Paddington - Penzance service is a key aspiration.

Richard Burningham,
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

 

[Kernow Otter]

That would be paradise...

[FlyingDutchman]

When the article mention Investigating opportunities to improve connectivity between Falmouth, Truro, St Austell and Newquay through a dedicated rail service.

I presume they are talking about the Proposed Loop suggest on the Friends of Atlantic Coast Line http://www.focal.org.uk/index.htm

Guy

[vacmanfan]

Apparently the EU^» (European Union - about) money for the coast to coast service is ready and waiting, scheme has to start moving soon otherwise money will be pulled. 
Also a new station is to be built by the new eco town between SAU and NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) so plenty to be done!