Forum meet up 7 January to discuss GWRF (& Community Rail) consultations

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Seen the vote - just announced 7th Jan, Didcot at the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Stakeholder's meeting ;-)

Venue to follow.

All Saints Youth and Community Hall, Didcot, from 12:30 for 13:00 through to 16:00 (for 16:30).  7th January 2018.
Note that the Didcot Railway Centre is open for static viewing from 10:30, and some members may wish to make a full day out by frequenting a hostelry for early lunch or afterwards.

We're styling this as a public meeting - all welcome and no charge.  However, I've taken a personal risk of getting a decent audience and I'll have a jar off to one side.   If a dozen of you put £5 in there, I cover my costs.   If more do, then I will donate any excess to a TransWilts project as we continue to promote the train services from Swindon to Westbury and beyond. And we'll have our work cut out in 2018 ... with newer longer trains our seat occupant rates are going to need some attention.

The agenda will include

* Welcome

* Short Keynote

* 5 minutes each on the Community Rail Consultation and thoughts on the Coffee Shop for coming years

* Presentation on the consultation, biased towards aspects that are generating interest here in the forum, and laced with that input to test it more widely

* Sessions around the room - will depend on numbers, but looking at taking questions and having people follow through  their interests go look at a concerted view.     I would look at everyone being able to go to at least 4 sessions, and each session being at least 20 minutes.    Offers of leads would be appreciated

* Final wrap up - "do we submit inputs as the coffee shop or leave individual members and groups to do so" and if we're going to submit something, work out the logistics.

All Saints' Youth and Community Hall, Roman Place, Didcot, OX11 7ER (map attached).

The session is intended to be "fiercely independent" so I have not sought and industry or local authority or charity sponsorship. However, it's a public meeting and as such any and all of those groups may attend.

To sign up, please message me here or email me via graham @ wellho . net

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for that update, grahame.

While my shift pattern at work means that I generally work every Sunday, I have now asked whether I could take some time back on Sunday 7 January, on the assumption that by then I will have already worked many hours of overtime over Christmas and the New Year.

If that is agreed, I shall be delighted to attend your proposed forum meet-up, and would be happy to offer to lead a discussion session.

As soon as I have a reply, I'll add details here.

CfN. 

[grahame]

If that is agreed, I shall be delighted to attend your proposed forum meet-up, and would be happy to offer to lead discussion session.

That is lovely thanks Chris ...

[ChrisB]

Sorry, my apologies for something so close to home.

I start the day in Robin Hoods Bay - a quick google will show that 1230/1300 in Didcot is not possible. Indeed, being there for the wrap up idn't easily either, such is the public transport options on a winter sunday. Annoying!

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm sorry that I'll apparently not be seeing you there, ChrisB, but things are looking positive for my own attendance. 

'Work' have indicated that I'll have no problem taking a 'day off in lieu' on 7 January, so grahame is welcome to now add me to the list of attendees - and indeed possible leaders of a discussion group (gulp!). 

[johoare]

Sorry .. I'll be busy returning my youngest to university that day for his second term 

[TonyK]

Sadly (for once) I shall be in Devon.

[Tulyar15]

I should be able to come to this. I've noted it in my diary plus relevant train times from and to Chippenham

[grahame]

I have Paul's keynote slides.   


All I can say is WOW ... if you can make this one, do so ...

[rogerw]

I intend to travel on the 1105 from Trowbridge and 1146 from Swindon - assuming that there are crews available to work them

[Oxonhutch]

I'll be back there !

[grahame]

AGENDA for Sunday 7th January ... All Saints Youth and Community Hall, Didcot.

Public meeting arranged by the Coffee Shop Forum's admin

"Making effective forward looking responses to the Great Western Franchise Consultation"

Question to me: Is there any point consulting on a future franchise when it seems that FirstGroup are just going to keep getting extensions to the current one?

Answer: Even for the cynic, yes there is, as you / we / they (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) can help shape what First (or a. n. other) are required to do

From 12:30 - arrive for 13:00 start; sign in, set up, etc.  No entrance charge, but a donation box will be available if you want to help defray my costs for the hall hire. Any shortfall I will make up, any excess (!) will help our ongoing work.

13:00 Intro, bookkeeping etc, then 5 mins each on
   Coffee Shop update
   Community Rail Consultation
   GWRF Consultation
   Rest of day plan

13:25 Paul Johnson / keynote

14:00 First Groups  (Groups defined below, based on questions in the franchise and forum votes)
   A   What does the franchise want to achieve?
   C   What and we do trains go?
   D   Fares and ticketing

14:25 Second Groups
   B   Admin and structure of the businesses
   C   What and we do trains go?
   F   The Passenger Experience

14:50 Third Groups
   C   What and we do trains go?
   D   Fares and ticketing
   E   Building for the further future

15:15 Fourth Groups
   D   Fares and ticketing
   G   The wider community

15:40 Summarise and where from here

16:00 Close - we may adjourn to a local hostelry.


Groups of topics - numbers in brackets represent votes cast for the coverage at this meeting of each topic


Section A - Where do we start?
GWRF2020-01 Franchise Objectives for the 2020s (6)

Section B - Administration and Structure
GWRF2020-02 Splitting the current franchise area into two franchises (9)
GWRF2020-04 Relationship between Network Rail and train operator (6)
GWRF2020-11 Freight expectations sought (0)

Section C - What and when do the trains go?
GWRF2020-05 Timetable improvements (15)
GWRF2020-08 Direct (through train) service provision (6)
GWRF2020-07 Reducing journey times by reducing intermediate stops (7)
GWRF2020-09 Seasonal and special event services (6)
GWRF2020-03 Future homes for Greenford and Brighton services (2)
GWRF2020-10 Other service enhancements (6)

Section D - Fares and tickets
GWRF2020-15 Fares and ticketing (15)

Section E - Building for the further future
GWRF2020-06 New Stations or lines for the next franchise (beyond 2022) (9)

Section F - The Passenger experience
GWRF2020-14 Stations (4)
GWRF2020-12 Rolling Stock and provision therein (9)
GWRF2020-13 Accessibility (0)

Section G - The wider community
GWRF2020-16 Community Rail (3)
GWRF2020-17 Investment in workforce and skills (4)
GWRF2020-18 Any Other Business (0)


Relevan threads:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19037.0
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19164.0
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19134.0

[ellendune]

Sorry can't be there, but I would strongly be against splitting the franchise for the reasons I have stated in the relevant thread.

[IndustryInsider]

I haven’t met anyone who thinks it’s a good idea yet.  That of course means it is sure to be bulldozed through!

[martyjon]

Keep the franchise as it is now but trim off some of 'the fat'.

1. Remove the Brightons, plenty of alternatives on the Coastway line.

2. Curtail the Great Malverns at Worcester Foregate Street with terminators at Shrub Hill extended to Foregate Street to give connections to stations to Great Malvern and Hereford on LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise)  ? services.

3.Transfer the Greenford, Windsor, Marlow and Henley branches to Crossrail.

4. Maybe hive the Reading - Gatwick service off to a separate company/franchise 'Gatwick Link'.

5. Maybe hive off the Reading - Basingstoke service off to SWT^▸ (South West Trains).