Transpennine Electrification

[whole diary]

[Rhydgaled]

The Disability Discrimination Act has be repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010. The new Act contains provisions for the Secretary of State to exempt rail vehicles 'by exemption order' if he or she so choses

Nice bit of myth-busting there, so Pacers do not in fact HAVE to be gone by 2020, 153s can remain single-car units beyond then also and retained Intercity 125s after 2020 don't need power doors. That changes alot.

Bad news first, passengers may have to suffer Pacers for longer and disabled access will be delayed until this stock is eventually replaced (I hope there's no way anyone can exempt new-build stock from the Equality Act rules). However, there is good news too.

The good news:
1. Keeping Intercity 125s for a short while after the Jan 1st 2020 deadline just got a hell of a lot more viable, since you don't need an expensive refurb to fit power doors. That means they can all be replaced with pure electric units even if the electrification required cannot be done by the 2020 deadline.
2. Similarly, there is a little more time to get wires up to replace Pacers without having to order DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).
3. Some diesel stock released by electrification cascades (particularly Pacers) can still be used to put on extra services (eg. opening some freight-only lines to passenger traffic) that would have not otherwise been possible due to shortage of units.

[JayMac]

I've been saying for some time now on one or two threads on this forum that DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliance could be dead in the water.

It's disappointing that this may be the case, but the new legislation appears to allow the rail industry to continue using rolling stock that would've failed compliance with the old legislation.

With the important caveat, that the Secretary of State has to sign off on allowing non compliant rolling stock to remain in revenue earning service. That's a political decision which comes with all the pitfalls should a SoS decide to use his or her powers. In the current and ongoing financial climate I can quite easily see dispensation given to rolling stock that isn't (in a engineering sense) life expired.

Whilst not relevant to disabled access, we have been here before. The Health and Safety Executive suggested all Mk1 stock be retired from use on National Rail services by 2002. It wasn't until 2005 that this suggestion came to pass. And even then dispensation was given to SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to continue using Mk1 stock on the Lymington Branch.

[John R]

And even then dispensation was given to SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to continue using Mk1 stock on the Lymington Branch.

And heritage stock is still earning its keep on the Cardiff Bay branch, with "Bubbles" looking very smart today at Queen St.

[Tim]

I've been saying for some time now on one or two threads on this forum that DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliance could be dead in the water.

It's disappointing that this may be the case, but the new legislation appears to allow the rail industry to continue using rolling stock that would've failed compliance with the old legislation.

With the important caveat, that the Secretary of State has to sign off on allowing non compliant rolling stock to remain in revenue earning service. That's a political decision which comes with all the pitfalls should a SoS decide to use his or her powers. In the current and ongoing financial climate I can quite easily see dispensation given to rolling stock that isn't (in a engineering sense) life expired.

I'd like to see stock with life left in it given exemptions.  We'd only be talking about a few years afterall before the stock would be retired anyway.  If there is political opposition to granting exemptions, I'd like to think that they could be answered by spending some more money on making stations DDA compliant.  Money spend on upgrading stock is down the drain a decade later when the stock retires, but money spend on something like a ramped overbridge gives benefits for a centuary or more and stikes me as much better value.

[Chris from Nailsea]

   ^
   |

What he said.

Chris from Nailsea (where proper ramp access is required). 

[JayMac]

And heritage stock is still earning its keep on the Cardiff Bay branch, with "Bubbles" looking very smart today at Queen St.

Good call. Forgot about the Class 121 'Bubble Car' plying its trade in Cardiff.

Shouldn't really have forgot seeing as I was travelling between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay only a few days ago:



And for those that may be interested in such things, here's a video of the ride from Cardiff Queen Street to the Bay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJYptUFJ6MQ

There's also a video of the return journey that I may upload once I find a way of editing out the grumpy conductor telling me off for hanging out the window. For the record, I wasn't. I merely had my camera resting on a droplight. That's all of 2^ inches sticking out of the window. Miserable git.

[northwesterntrains]

The Disability Discrimination Act has be repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010. The new Act contains provisions for the Secretary of State to exempt rail vehicles 'by exemption order' if he or she so choses:

As for luggage space or tables, unfortunately there is no legislation, old or new, that compels TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) to provide this!

What you have to note is the 170s and 185s on North TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) currently do have DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliance and quite a bit of luggage space, although it is insufficient for the amount of luggage carried.  If you start making DDA compliant services non-complaint then it will anger disability groups more than not making all trains DDA compliant in the first place.

There was a response to DDA compliance by Philip Hammond not too long ago where he said that trains that only have minor DDA infringements will be allowed to continue in service post-2019.  He didn't define 'minor' but I doubt a Pacer could be classed as only having minor infringements.  Network Rail and PTEs^▸ (Passenger Transport Executive) are looking at Pacer replacement options but they won't be implemented before the next general election.  Likewise, Porterbrook at looking at class 153 options and it's likely they'll be reformed as 155s or permanently attached to other Sprinters.

[Surrey 455]

The Disability Discrimination Act has be repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010. The new Act contains provisions for the Secretary of State to exempt rail vehicles 'by exemption order' if he or she so choses:

For Pacers to be DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliant the following needs to happen:
......
2. New DDA toilet at either front or rear of train (due to door layout) or Pacers to have no toilets and to be kept for short routes only.
.......

Does this mean that existing coaches without toilets could now have a small one fitted taking up just 4 seats if the train operator chose to do so rather than the many more that would be lost with a DDA compliant one?

[northwesterntrains]

The Disability Discrimination Act has be repealed and replaced by the Equality Act 2010. The new Act contains provisions for the Secretary of State to exempt rail vehicles 'by exemption order' if he or she so choses:

For Pacers to be DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliant the following needs to happen:
......
2. New DDA toilet at either front or rear of train (due to door layout) or Pacers to have no toilets and to be kept for short routes only.
.......

Does this mean that existing coaches without toilets could now have a small one fitted taking up just 4 seats if the train operator chose to do so rather than the many more that would be lost with a DDA compliant one?

There isn't a requirement to have a toilet on a train.  There is an expectation that unless it's a local service with a frequent service, such as London Overground, that a toilet is provided.  However, if a new train has a toilet fitted it has to have a DDA compliant one.

[Phil]

That's all of 2^ inches sticking out of the window.

Crikey! Lucky for you that you weren't booked for indecency 

[onthecushions]

A Rail publication has apparently cleared up the fog about wires East of Leeds (to York). NR^» (Network Rail - home page) is reported to have stated that "Manchester - Leeds" actually meant "Manchester - York" but that it sounded better!

From the confusion between Treasury and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) statements, the expensive private education of our betters has left them geographically challenged when venturing North of the London Overground.

Happy Christmas and New Year,

OTC

[JayMac]

The extract from this fortnight's RAIL magazine goes thus:

While Chancellor George Osbourne told MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) the Manchester - Leeds route would be electrified, Network Rail told RAIL that the project was actually Manchester - York, and that the government had decided to name Leeds because it was felt that it was better known than York.

So is government policy to be dictated on arbitrary decisions about how well known a particular place is?  Bonkers.

Actually, thinking about it, politicians saying one thing and meaning another is hardly new......

[IndustryInsider]

I'd have thought that York was well known enough for the statement to have been "Manchester to Leeds and on to York" for maximum effect.

[onthecushions]

Perhaps the significance for us here in the sunny  South is that now, not only will Glasgow - Manchester be electrically hauled but so also will Edinburgh - Leeds, increasing the attraction of wiring Southwards to Oxford and Bristol.

The importance of Leeds - York is very great. P66 of the Electrification RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) published in 2009 showed that the viability of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) wiring rose from 3.4 to 5.1 if Neville Hill - Colton Junction was excluded and the TP wiring BCR^▸ (Benefit Cost Ratio) went from 1.6 to positive return given the same stipulation (even including Hull). Osborne may just have removed the critical element blocking network electrification.

That Osborne didn't know what he was announcing was evident when an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) asked him (after the statement)whether TP wiring included York; he looked confused and mumbled words about some upgrading of lines.

Mince pies all round,

OTC

[JayMac]

Mince pies all round

  Great post!