Bristol connections: Metro, Bus Rapid Transit, PTE, ITA and local councils - discussion

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Aha. A few familiar faces there. 

[Red Squirrel]

Aha. A few familiar faces there. 

No sign of red trousers though - George had done an exit stage right, pursued by man asking questions about the RPZ scheme.

[JayMac]

Bit of a shame that the unit in the background is the one named 'Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership'.

[Red Squirrel]

I think it was the 11.16 BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) - SVB, so fairly apt.

[TonyK]

No sign of red trousers though - George had done an exit stage right, pursued by man asking questions about the RPZ scheme.

I think he must have decided aagainst telling him to f*** off again, with so many witnesses, and the Post on hand.

Bit of a shame that the unit in the background is the one named 'Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership'.

Another unwanted interloper trying to get in on the act, hoping for a bit of publicity.

Aha. A few familiar faces there. 

Including at least one who should have been at work!

So they did! Now then, who's that handsome brute with the receeding hairline lurking at the back by the blue cabinet... No sign of a bushy tail though, must have tucked it away somewhere.

Er, Dawn Primarolo?

[Red Squirrel]

Another unwanted interloper trying to get in on the act, hoping for a bit of publicity.
 

Not sure if that's a canard or a calumny. Who it was directed at!

Er, Dawn Primarolo?

Only on weekends... (adopts best Sid James voice): Fwoooooooorrrrr!

[TonyK]

Not sure if that's a canard or a calumny. Who it was directed at!

Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership directed at it was! (said FTN, in the style of Yoda)

[Red Squirrel]

Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership directed at it was!

Ah, see it is that I do.

[TonyK]

Ah, see it is that I do.

Wise are you indeed, young bushy-tailed tufty-eared burier of nuts.

May the Fourth Track Now be with you!

[JayMac]

Not sure if that's a canard

There was a duck there as well?

[TonyK]

There was a duck there as well?

Not sure. I was looking for a control surface from a delta-winged aircraft. (I would have described it as a foreplane had there not been a number of schoolboys on this site, some in their late 50s and beyond)

[Red Squirrel]

From Campaigning for Greater Bristol Metro Rail website:

Four track ^ Network Rail provide update
Posted on May 23, 2013 by commsofficer   

Network Rail is continuing to develop the proposal for four tracking between Dr Days Junction and Filton Abbey Wood. The scheme forms part of its Strategic Business Plan which has formed its ^Control Period 5″ (2014-2019) funding request to Government. They will know if they have been successful in achieving funding in June 2013 when the Office of Rail Regulation publishes its draft determination identifying which schemes it is prepared to fund and how much has been allocated for this.

The proposed new two tracks will provide additional capacity that can be used for expected growth in freight, local and long distance passenger services.

Network Rail say the intention is to have one pair of lines predominantly for the fast CrossCountry services and one pair of lines for the local stoppers in order to achieve the journey time benefits for the fast services.

Assistant Mayor Mark Bradshaw, Bristol^s new Executive Member for Transport, Planning, Strategic Housing and Regeneration, said: ^We continue to work with our partner councils and Network Rail to secure vital investment to replace the missing tracks at Filton Bank.

This and other infrastructure is required to breath life back into our disused railway assets. Four track is essential to delivering, not only high speed intercity connections, but also more local and city region services. A decision on this funding for the period 2014-19 will be made by Ministers next month. The new tracks would help expand local as well as electrified and cross-country rail services; so all passengers, whether travelling long distance or locally, will benefit if the funding package gets the green light. Approval is not guaranteed, so we must all keep up the pressure in cooperation with public transport campaigners and people across Bristol. The Post^s continuing backing for this work is much appreciated and is making a difference.^

[TonyK]

Good that Network Rail is still working on the project. It is, for me, a no-brainer. Without the two extra lines, service levels are likely to worsen, not improve, with scarce paths towards Parkway taken by London trains and traffic headed for the depot at Filton. The electrification project will deliver much greater benefit over Four Track, Now!

[paul7575]

HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) 2012:

The Secretary of State wishes the industry to undertake work to expand the capacity of the railway serving passengers to and from Bristol including increasing route capacity into Bristol from Filton Abbey Wood and increasing station capacity at Bristol Temple Meads by bringing back into railway use the historic station building.

HLOS Illustrative options:

Filton ^ Bristol capacity enhancement (four-track).
Bristol Temple Meads station capacity and incorporation of historic Digby
Wyatt train shed. Station potentially a focus of wider city regeneration.
Route gauge clearance for different DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).

Could someone please explain exactly what local politicians are 'campaigning' about?  As far as I can see they are just making noises to pretend they have some role in the process?

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are 'still working on the project' because they've been told to do so, and funds are allocated, and no-one has told them to stop.  Yes, ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently determining if NR's proposed costs are valid and containable within the overall SofA, but that's not the same as deciding whether to do it, that decision has already been made in principle.

The linked report above implies that NR have asked the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) if they can do this, the reality is it is the other way around...

Paul

[ellendune]

HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) 2012:

The Secretary of State wishes the industry to undertake work to expand the capacity of the railway serving passengers to and from Bristol including increasing route capacity into Bristol from Filton Abbey Wood and increasing station capacity at Bristol Temple Meads by bringing back into railway use the historic station building.

HLOS Illustrative options:

Filton ^ Bristol capacity enhancement (four-track).
Bristol Temple Meads station capacity and incorporation of historic Digby
Wyatt train shed. Station potentially a focus of wider city regeneration.
Route gauge clearance for different DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).

Could someone please explain exactly what local politicians are 'campaigning' about?  As far as I can see they are just making noises to pretend they have some role in the process?

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are 'still working on the project' because they've been told to do so, and funds are allocated, and no-one has told them to stop.  Yes, ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently determining if NR's proposed costs are valid and containable within the overall SofA, but that's not the same as deciding whether to do it, that decision has already been made in principle.

The linked report above implies that NR have asked the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) if they can do this, the reality is it is the other way around...

Paul

All that NR has been asked to do is to increase capacity it does not say how - the options are merely illustrative.
In the somewhat convoluted process for approving the next control period (CP), DfT had the final say in how much money they will provide (Statement of Funds Available or SoFA) and ORR in how much it costs. If the two don't match then DfT has to change the High Level Output Statement (HLOS) to as NR to deliver less.  So in short its not certain until the CP is approved next month.

I recall in the last CP there was an upset because Kemble redoubling was not included because ORR said the HLOS could be achieved without it!