Railway Magazine June 2018

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EDITORIAL

Editor: Chris Milner Deputy editor: Gary Boyd-Hope Senior correspondent: Ben Jones Designer: Tim Pipes Picture desk: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Publisher: Tim Hartley Production editor: Sarah Wilkinson Sub-editor: Nigel Devereux Editorial assistant: Jane Skayman Consultant editor: Nick Pigott Classic Traction News: Peter Nicholson Operations News: Ashley Butlin Narrow Gauge News: Cliff Thomas Metro News: Paul Bickerdyke World News: Keith Fender By post: The Railway Magazine, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529589 Fax: 01507 371066 Email: railway@mortons.co.uk © 2018 Mortons Media ISSN 0033-8923

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Not the best month for railways

I

T’S BEEN a bad month for our railways. In fact a very bad month, with so much adverse publicity stemming from a variety of problems – some of them self-inflicted.

The big news was the Government’s decision to pull the plug on the Virgin/Stagecoach joint operation of the East Coast franchise, reverting to state control again until a new operator can be chosen in around two years time.

It is the third failure in 10 years, so starts to raise many questions about the Government’s franchising model. As the Virgin East Coast franchise was one of several facing financial problems over what it promised to deliver in respect of premium payments, to what can be achieved, it begs the question whether the current process remains fit for purpose.

Making the headlines for all the wrong reasons was the May timetable changes – the biggest for a generation. The changes should have been seamless.

However, in reality, it was anything but, with passengers on Govia Thameslink and Northern describing it as a nightmare.

In short, the problems stem from a combination of late project completion, poor planning, incomplete driver training, a driver shortage, insufficient trains, and late notification of timetables, leading to chaos on the busy lines of two of the country’s biggest franchises.

Passengers have faced daily cancellations (see right) and many have been left behind because trains had fewer carriages. The national media called it ‘a meltdown’. On occasions, it seemed there were more cancellations and delays than trains running to time.

Prior to the timetable change, engineering work on the Brighton Main Line over the May Day Bank Holiday led to ‘bustitution’ for passengers trying to get to and from Gatwick Airport – the UK’s second busiest – with queues of two or more hours, because Southern failed to provide sufficient buses. Then, some drivers were ‘lost’ and had to be directed by passengers.

During these chaotic delays, passengers who have dared to complain about cancelled and late trains via Twitter have found themselves blocked by the train operator’s social media department.

On the Midland Main Line, some passenger journeys under the revised timetable have actually been extended in duration (giving passengers a slower service than some years ago) to allow all the extra Thameslink trains to run – but as it happened, many of these extra trains were cancelled in the first weeks of the new timetable for reasons noted above.

The national press has – rightly – vilified several train operators for mismanagement and poor communication over the barrage of cancellations stemming from the lack of trains and lack of drivers with the required route knowledge. On-going strikes and distortions of fact through social media by operators haven’t helped calm the situation either.

Having written about railways for 30 years, I cannot recall such an unmitigated shambles at a previous timetable change. Yes, there is often some minor disruption as things settle, but the net result of these latest changes is that the tremendous work achieved over many years across the industry building

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Editor’s Comment

up the profile of rail travel has spectacularly unravelled.

Northern and Network Rail have announced an independent inquiry into the preparations and process leading up to the implementation of the timetable change.

Govia Thameslink said it has ‘painstakingly prepared’ for the new services and some are being ‘progressively phased in’. These changes have been known about for a long time, but it raises many questions, including: Is the infrastructure up to the task? Was the timetable too ambitious? Do the trains have the required reliability for such an intensive service?

Did Thameslink have enough driver resources for the planned timetable, and if not why not?

Scenes of overcrowded trains and platforms in the first week of the timetable (see p6) were an embarrassment to the rail industry and no manner of apology will suffice. Another worrying factor is the number of Thameslink services are not up to the 24 peak-time trains per hour through the ‘core’.

Like Northern, an independent review of what went wrong at Thameslink is very much needed, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Transport Select Committee takes a close interest as they have done with the failed East Coast franchise.

CHRIS MILNER, Editor

June 2018 • The Railway Magazine • 3

Contents

June 2018. No. 1,407. Vol 164. A journal of record since 1897.

Headline News

In early-May Stadler unveiled the first completed 'FLIRT' electro-diesel Class 755 for Greater Anglia at its factory in Switzerland.

CHRIS MILNER

LNER reborn as Grayling pulls the plug on Virgin Trains East Coast, massive May timetable change causes disruption on Northern and GTR, Network Rail launches digital railway strategy, former SWT and CAA chief named as new Network Rail CEO, discussions underway for London to Bordeaux high-speed services.

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE: BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 No. 73156 steams pastt Woodthorpe on the Great Central Railway destined for Leicester North on May 20.

ROBERT FALCONER

INSET 1: Another chance for Skipton to Colne?

INSET 2: Quadripartitee arches restored at London Bridge. RHT INSET 3: Formidable four-coupled performances in the 1950s. COLOUR-RAIL

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 66 Steam & Heritage

Gloucs-Warks Broadway bridge suffers yet another lorry strike, Ashburton 50th anniversary reunion, No. 75027 back in green, KWVR 'Mickey Mouse' tank steams again, forgotten Furness Railway 0-4-0T to be restored, GCR gala delivers the goods.

71 Industrial

72 Irish 74 Steam Portfolio 78 Narrow Gauge 80 Classic Traction 83 Classic Traction Portfolio 85 Metro 86 Heritage Trams 88 Railtours 93 Railtour Portolio 94 World 96 Network 98 Traction & Stock

Stadler unveils first bi-mode 'FLIRTs' for Greater Anglia, Great Northern Class 717s on test in Germany, testing underway on new Class 385 windscreen designs, first Vivarail Class 230s being prepared for West Midlands Railway.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T is back in steam ready to celebrate the line's 50th anniversary this month.

102 Stock Update 103 Traction Portfolio 105 Operations

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With Lord Berkeley.

12 Railways in Parliament 24 Subscription Offer

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64 From The RM Archives

Find out what The RM was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago.

audited circulation of makes it by far the

12 Multiple Aspects

Our regular gallery of the best railway photography from around the world.

The Railway Magazine’s 36,072 copies per month

Regulars

42 Readers’ Platform 56 Meetings 60 Panorama

Main Image: GWR's 06.41 PlymouthGunnislake is reflected in the River Tamar far below as it crosses Calstock Viaduct on the gloriously sunny morning of May 7. RON WESTWATER

Panorama: No. 35018 British India Line hauls the ‘Great Britain XI' railtour across Sheriff Brow Viaduct, near Helwith Bridge, with the York to Carlisle leg of the multi-day railtour on April 20. PETER FITTON

110 Heritage Diary

Details of when Britain’s unique collection of heritage railways and railway museums are open.

122 Crossword & Where Is It?

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Features

14 Pre-Grouping Perfection

Keith Farr looks at the performances of pre-Grouping 4-4-0s, which still handled a considerable amount of passenger traffic under British Railways in the 1950s and 1960s.

22 Summer Timetable Changes

Ben Jones runs through the many service alterations that happened, or didn't, at last month's timetable change - the biggest for many years.

24-hour-a-day services on Transport for London's Underground and Overground networks.

44 Wonderful Memories of a Famous Railway Journey

33 617 Publications so far...

Maurice Burns recounts more than 50 years of travelling over the Settle-Carlisle Line, memories of which form the basis of his new book, A Passion for Steam on The Settle & Carlisle.

Howard Johnston meets Vic Mitchell, a preservation pioneer, and owner and co-author of hundreds of Middleton Press books. Aged 84, he is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.

38 Safeguarding Britain's Railway Heritage

52 Rebuilding a Missing Cross-Pennine Link

Peter Brown looks at the considerable planning and organisation that went into delivering

No country in the world has a greater railway heritage than Britain. Ben Jones meets the experts working to ensure it is protected and gainfully employed.

After a long grassroots campaign, the Skipton to Colne line looks closer to reopening than ever before. Graeme Pickering takes a detailed look at the plans.

FOURCOUPLED FINALE: pre-Grouping 4-4-0 performance in BR days - p14

IN HERITAGE WE TRUST: Safeguarding Britain’s historic railway structures - p38

MISSING LINK: Major support for Skipton to Colne reopening plans - p52

27 Night Tube: Late, but very successful

June 2018 • The Railway Magazine • 5

HeadlineNews

Summer timetable change brings chaos to GTR and Northern

By Ben Jones

MAJOR changes to timetables across the country brought disruption to Thameslink Southern Great Northern (TSGN) and Arriva Northern passengers from May 20.

More than four million services had to be rescheduled, six times the usual workload for planners, as various infrastructure enhancements were due to be completed.

However, delays to key projects such as the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Manchester-Bolton-Preston electrification, and non-delivery of new train fleets, has forced a series of late changes to the planned timetables, creating significant staffing and train planning issues.

The suspension of rest day working by Arriva Northern also created driver shortages, causing further delays and cancellations, particularly in the north-west of England.

Thameslink’s intensive new timetable, which should see up to 18 trains per hour (tph) in each direction pass through the double-track tunnels between St Pancras International and Blackfriars (the ‘core’), failed to deliver on its promises, causing widespread disruption across the south-east of England.

The planned introduction of a

24tph service had already been re-phased, and will now start in December 2019, but the problems took the shine off a much-trumpeted new timetable that should deliver 400 extra trains per day and new journey opportunities across London.

Every TSGN train, and many from other operators across the south-east of England, had to be rescheduled to accommodate the recast Thameslink timetable.

Teething troubles

By the start of the evening peak on May 22, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) had reported 160 cancellations (around 7% of the total timetable) and 213 delayed trains. GTR chief executive Charles Horton apologised for the delays, saying: “There have been some teething troubles. I’m sorry for anyone caught up in the disruption.”

Despite TSGN blaming unspecified ‘operational incidents’ for much of the disruption, other sources point to an ongoing shortage of drivers with the requisite route knowledge for the cancellations.

A revised timetable is expected to be in force until June 11.

There was also anger from passengers in northern England after timetable changes affected

90% of Arriva Northern services.

Rather than the longer and more frequent trains expected, the region was affected by widespread delays, cancellations and overcrowding.

More than two years of planning a new timetable was rendered redundant in February when Network Rail announced further delays to the Bolton route electrification, meaning Northern and TranPennine Express would not be able to introduce electric trains, releasing DMUs to boost capacity elsewhere. Timetables, crew rosters and train diagrams had to be rewritten at short notice, adding extra pressure on already overstretched planning teams.

Further stock shortages have also been caused by delays to the completion of the Edinburgh to Glasgow electrification and the windscreen issues preventing the introduction of Hitachi-built Class 385 EMUs in Scotland. ScotRail’s timetables and diagrams also had to be revised at a late stage, affecting 1,700 trains each day.

Arriva Northern said the delay in completing the Preston to Blackpool North electrification left too little time to refresh the route knowledge of more than 400 drivers ahead of the new timetable.

The problems heaped further pressure on Arriva Northern, which

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is already facing calls from local stakeholders to have its franchise terminated early.

Indepdendent report

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has written to Transport for the North (TfN) asking for an official investigation in Arriva’s poor performance, and enquiring whether Northern is in breach of its franchise agreement.

Network Rail and Northern have commissioned an independent

report into the preparation for the timetable change.

Martin Frobisher, managing director of Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “We recognise how tough it has been for customers since the May timetable change and we’re sorry for that.

“We are working hard with Northern to get service back to where it needs to be and will work as one team to achieve this.”

Keolis/Amey win £5billion Wales & Borders franchise

July comeback for Tornado after inside motion repairs

REPAIRS to the inside motion of ‘A1’ Pacific No. 60163 Tornado are nearing completion at the Nene Valley Railway following the Peppercorn 4-6-2’s failure on April 14’s ‘Ebor Flyer’.

Investigations into the cause of the incident are now drawing to a close, and the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is hopeful repairs to the motion will be completed during June.

This has been made possible thanks to suppliers, who have responded swiftly to manufacture new components for the loco, and in particular by the loan of the inside combination lever and union link from ‘A2’ No. 60532 Blue Peter by the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust.

If all goes to plan Tornado will undertake a main line test run during late-June or early-July before resuming charter operations with the ‘RAF 100’ train from Lincoln to London on July 10.

A scene more like the evening weekday rush hour, but this is 15.00 on Saturday afternoon as passengers on platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly wait for news on whether their train has been cancelled, delayed or is on time. Situations like this also create platform safety issues. PHIL MARSH

Barrow Hill gets ready for East Midlands servicing role CONSTRUCTION of new servicing facilities for East Midlands Trains HSTs and Class 222s is well underway at Barrow Hill depot in Derbyshire.

Two former storage sidings alongside the HNRC depot have been relaid to a high standard to accommodate five-car Class 222s, and will feature access platforms and lighting, enabling cleaning and light maintenance to take place.

The depot access line is being repaired and relaid to a higher standard by Network Rail contractors, with other storage sidings being relocated to create additional space

6 • The Railway Magazine • June 2018

A CONSORTIUM of Keolis and Amey has won the Wales & Borders franchise.

It is worth £5billion and was awarded by the Welsh Government for a 15-year term.

They beat the only other contender, MTR, after incumbent Arriva withdrew last December, and a fourth bidder, Abellio, also withdrew following bid partner Carillion’s fall into administration.

Keolis is 70% owned by French state-owned railway operator SNCF, with the remaining 30% owned by Canadian pension fund Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec. Keolis is a minority partner in the Southeastern and Govia Thameslink franchises, operates Nottingham Express

Transit, and runs the Manchester Metrolink and Docklands Light Railway with Amey.

The new franchise will begin on October 14 and run until 2033.

No specific details of what the franchise bid will provide for passengers will be released until a 10-day standstill period has elapsed, which allows time for a challenge from MTR. Details are expected early-June and will be on The RM website It will include development of the South Wales Metro around Cardiff and an order for new trains to replace the Class 142/143 ‘Pacers’.

The Welsh Government is also committed to keeping a guard on every train.

for servicing facilities. A large concrete pad has been installed as a base for new fuelling equipment, including new road access and storage tanks.

Water and controlled emission toilet disposal facilities will also be provided on the access line.

Costing well into seven FREIGHTLINER has revealed its new logo, figures, the work is being which is an adaptation and alignment of funded by Network Rail as part parent company Genesee & Wyoming’s of its Derby remodelling project, style. G&W owns, or maintains an interest which runs for 70 days between in, 120 railroads in five countries, and July and October. bought Freightliner two years ago.

Several EMT trains will visit Rebranding in the UK will be phased and Barrow Hill each night for focus on intermodal and bulk rail freight servicing, rather than their terminals initially, followed by trucks, with usual base at Derby Etches Park. locomotives and rolling stock later.

New logo for Freightliner

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

Transport minister ends Virgin East Coast franchise

TRANSPORT SECRETARY Chris Grayling has called an end to the loss-making East Coast franchise, jointly run by Stagecoach and Virgin, under the Virgin Trains East Coast brand.

From June 24, the franchise will be run by the Department for Transport (DfT), using an operator of last resort, which will revive the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) name. All staff and most of the management will transfer to the new company. The former managing director of John Lewis and current West Midlands mayor Andy Street has been drafted in to advise LNER. Branding of the trains will change, with a red LNER logo, designed to blend with current liveries, applied to publicity, rolling stock and on the new Hitachi Class 80x trains that are due to enter service later in the year.

It is possible the ‘Azuma’ name for the new trains, derived by Virgin and Hitachi, may not be retained.

Stagecoach owned 90% of the company, Virgin 10%, but used the Virgin brand because of its prominence.

It would seem the DfT has clearly had this move in the back of its mind for around three months, as a company called DfT OLR1 Ltd had its name changed to LNER on February 14.

It is no secret the franchise has been losing money, and Stagecoach admitted they overbid for the £3.3billion franchise.

Financial problems started to emerge within three months of taking over, not helped by the Brexit vote, a downturn in business, tourism and leisure travel after terror attacks, plus cheap fuel that has benefited private and company car drivers.

Planned enhancements by Network Rail to the East Coast Main Line that would have allowed an increase in services are well behind schedule, making it more difficult for Virgin to make the agreed premium payments, which rise towards the end of a franchise.

Virgin took over the franchise on March 1, 2015 with an eight-year term, but earlier this year Mr Grayling said he was planning on terminating it three years early to allow a partnership approach to take over from 2020.

Because of the financial shortfall, Stagecoach has shored up the franchise with more than £180million of its own capital, and Mr Grayling said the losses could not continue.

Negotiations had been taking place with the DfT with a view to Stagecoach/Virgin running the franchise as a direct award for a fixed fee, but in a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Grayling said his department had spent two months analysing the benefits of a direct award or invoking an operator of last resort.

He said: “The analysis suggests the case was very finely balanced, with some elements favouring a contract and others favouring the

All change: HST power car Nos. 43311, 43306 and 43319 with on-test Class 800 No. 800103 at King’s Cross on May 15. GEOFF GRIFFITHS

operator of last resort. Neither was superior. Another factor I have taken into account is I want to make the smoothest possible transition to the creation of the East Coast Partnership, so given the finely balanced judgement, I have decided to use the current difficulties to drive our long-term plans for the East Coast Partnership.”

Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said: “We are surprised and disappointed the DfT has chosen not to proceed with our proposals.

“The Government rigorously tested our plans and financial assumptions before awarding us the East Coast contract... it decided we offered a high-quality and realistic bid... indeed, I was personally told at the time it was the highest quality bid they had ever seen.

“The bid was based on the information and trends available at the time, including economic forecasts used by Government. An unprecedented combination of circumstances mean our financial plans have not worked out. It’s been a very painful experience.”

With three failures of a flagship franchise in just over 10 years – and problems with other franchises – it raises new concerns over the future of rail franchising, which still doesn’t create the competition it was supposed to.

Mr Grayling has said he wants the East Coast Partnership up and running by 2020, but giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on May 21 into the failure of the ECML franchise, rail consultant Iryna Terlecky questioned the timescale for a new partnership competition, suggesting 2020 was too tight

a target. Even with the failure, the Transport Secretary has said Virgin and Stagecoach would be permitted to bid for future franchises if they wanted to.

Over the next two years, LNER will run the ECML while the DfT prepares for a new franchise competition, during which time Arup and SNC Lavalin will advise the Government.

■ At the end of his statement, Mr Grayling confirmed the huge Govia Thameslink franchise of Great Northern, Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink would be split into two or more franchises after the end of the current term in 2021. He added that some services could transfer to London Overground and there may even be an operational case for integrating Great Northern services from King’s Cross into the new LNER operation.

Rocket is returning to Manchester as MOSI exhibit after absence of 180 years GEORGE and Robert Stephenson’s iconic Liverpool & Manchester Railway 0-2-2 Rocket will make an historic return to one of the cities it was built to serve after an absence of more than 180 years.

The remains of the much-rebuilt 1829 loco, which famously won the Rainhill Trials and paved the way for steam locomotive development for the next 140 years, will be exhibited at Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) from September 22 until April 21 next year.

Not only will this see Rocket back in Manchester, but actually on the site of the Liverpool & Manchester’s Liverpool Road terminus that MOSI now occupies.

MOSI director Sally MacDonald said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this iconic symbol of the Industrial Revolution in the city where it sparked ‘railway mania’.”

Rocket will move to Manchester directly after its June 22-September 9 appearance at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum, as part of the Great Exhibition of the

Derby’s new island platform taking shape

2018 will be an historic year for Rocket, seeing the world-famous locomotive return to the both the cities of its construction and of its work. It will be in Manchester from September until April. SMG

North, tickets for which are now on sale.

■ MOSI will undergo a change of identity from September, becoming the Science & Industry Museum, to align

it with the Science Museum Group’s revamped identity policy that has also seen the National Railway Museum become simply the Railway Museum.

THE face of Derby station is changing rapidly as construction of its new island platform progresses rapidly.

Part of Network Rail’s £198million remodelling programme, the new 320-metre long platform will increase the number of through platforms from five to six.

Step-free access will be provided by new lifts from the footbridge as well as new staircases to platform level.

The platform is built on former freight loops, which

have been sacrificed to create more capacity for passenger trains as part of the remodelling.

Midland Main Line, CrossCountry and regional services through Derby will be disrupted between July 22 and October 7 while NR replaces 17km of life-expired track and signalling, and remodels the layout of the station to reduce conflicting moves, which cause delays and reduce capacity.

More info at: www.derby2018. co.uk Picture: STEVE DONALD

June 2018 • The Railway Magazine • 7

HeadlineNews

Network Rail reveals ambitious ‘digital railway’ programme

By Ben Jones

SIGNIFICANT capacity increases, cheaper upgrades to signalling and control equipment, and a more reliable railway are among the benefits of new digital systems set to be rolled out across the UK rail network over the next 15 years.

Network Rail launched its ‘digital railway’ strategy at York Railway Operating Centre (ROC) on May 10. The company says 70% of passenger journeys could be made on routes with European Train Control System (ETCS) and Traffic Management System (TMS) by the 2030s.

Digital-enabled routes offer a mix of lineside equipment and in-cab displays, issuing Movement Authorities (MAs) and instructions on maximum speeds to drivers.

This gives the potential to increase line capacity and offer metro-style frequencies.

Passengers in London will be the first to benefit, from December 2019, when Thameslink’s central core tunnels will go over to Automatic Train Operation (ATO) using ETCS laid over signalling and safety systems. At the same time, the full Crossrail service is due to start, also using ATO in the new tunnels under central London.

Congested

According to NR, 45% of Europe’s most congested railways are in Britain, and that congestion is a major cause of train punctuality problems.

The first inter-city route to go digital will be York-LeedsManchester, which is being modernised as part of the

Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade.

The southern end of the East Coast Main Line will also be an early beneficiary, taking advantage of the availability of ETCS-fitted Class 700/717 and IET trains now being introduced, with the need to renew life-expired signalling equipment dating from the late-1980s.

Waterloo suburban routes are also seen as a priority, and NR expects to convert 40 miles of lines out of the London terminus to digital operation within 10 years, starting with an ETCS-ready major renewal around Feltham.

The planned reconstruction in and around Crewe, ready for the introduction of HS2 services, will also be designed with digital operation in mind.

The initial deployment focuses on specific routes during NR’s

next Control Period (CP6) between 2019 and 2024, and will be followed by major regional resignalling schemes in CP7 (2024-29), replacing life-expired equipment.

Lower costs

NR says more than 60% of current signalling will need to be replaced over the next 15 years, at a cost of around £20billion. Digital systems will allow renewals to be achieved at a lower cost with fewer lineside signals envisaged.

All future resignalling projects will now feature digital technology or be ‘digital ready’ according to NR, with all new trains due for delivery over the coming years fitted with ETCS equipment, or pre-wired to accept it.

NR is confident the technology is now sufficiently developed

and stable enough to deliver the promised improvements in capacity and reliability.

NR chief executive Mark Carne said: “There is no ‘do nothing’ option. This is a chance to change the way we operate our railways.

“Shall we spend £20billion to replace life-expired signalling with the same limitations we have now, or shall we invest in a transformation of the network?”

While much of the launch centred around busy passenger routes, work is already underway to prepare freight locomotives for the widespread installation of ETCS equipment over the next few years.

Provision will also be made to accommodate a limited number of non-ETCS trains, such as on-track plant, charters and engineering trains.

Alstom to use Class 321 for hydrogen power trial

First ‘Pendolino’ to Blackpool is named VIRGIN Trains took the opportunity of naming the first scheduled ‘Pendolino’ to arrive at Blackpool North on May 21.

Set No. 390013 was named Blackpool Belle by Virgin Trains driver Martin Gurr (right), who is also general manager of Heritage Operations at Blackpool Transport, and is seen with Michael Stewart, general manager of Virgin Trains Anglo-Scottish routes.

The set is seen getting a fanfare departure to London Euston with the 10.53 service.

trains zero carbon, they are near-silent and emit no particulates.

“We think the potential long-term application of hydrogen in the UK is very significant. Less than 50 per cent of the UK network is electrified, and what isn’t electrified is unlikely ever to be so.”

On April 30, Rail Minister Jo Johnson wrongly told the Transport Select Committee a hydrogen train was on trial in the Lake District, when there is no such train in the UK. ■ Greater Anglia has just completed a £1million refurbishment of its Class 317 fleet, with new seat covers, new trim and carpets, re-sprayed interiors, new signage, and a deep clean throughout.

MPs to pursue Grand Central Borders Railway bidding for extension more paths

Both: PETER FITTON

Andrew Haines takes top job at Network Rail FORMER South West Trains managing director and First Group rail chief Andrew Haines will replace Mark Carne as the chief executive (CEO) of Network Rail later this year.

Mr Haines has enjoyed a wide-ranging career in the transport sector over the last three decades and joins from

ALSTOM has announced it will develop a prototype hydrogen train using a Class 321 EMU as the donor unit.

Alstom is working with Eversholt Rail in response to the Government challenge of removing diesel trains by 2040, and will modify a ‘321’ by fitting hydrogen tanks and fuel cells.

In September 2016, Alstom was the first manufacturer to unveil a hydrogen-powered unit, its ‘Coradia’ iLint at InnoTrans, which has been undergoing trials in Germany. In April, the Rhine-Main Transport Authority has invited tenders for a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell multiple units for regional services from 2022.

Nick Crossfield, managing director of Alstom UK & Ireland, said: “Not only are hydrogen

the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), where his tenure as chief executive expires this summer.

His appointment has been widely welcomed across the rail industry, many senior figures pleased to see someone with extensive railway experience taking the role.

Mr Haines – a former left

8 • The Railway Magazine • June 2018

luggage clerk at London Victoria – said he was “delighted to be joining Network Rail to build on the excellent work of Mark Carne”.

Mr Haines’ annual salary will be £588,000, including performance-related pay, but is 27% lower than the current CEO’s package of £820,000pa.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle have met with the two MPs who represent the beginning and the end of the proposed new line.

Carlisle MP and Borderlands growth deal champion John Stevenson hosted John Lamont MP and representatives of the Campaign for Borders Rail to discuss the potential of extending the line to Carlisle.

Both MPs have now agreed to pursue the issue with the Government, and make sure extending the Borders Rail is considered as part of the Borderlands growth deal.

OPEN access operator Grand Central has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road for additional services.

They include an additional mid-morning Sunderland to King’s Cross return, an afternoon Bradford Interchange to King’s Cross return working, an early morning Wakefield Kirkgate to King’s Cross train to arrive in the capital before 07.30, and a late-evening departure from London, formed of two Class 180s, one serving Wakefield, the other York.

Grand Central also wants to make additional calls on some services at Peterborough.

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

North Yorks vandals let off with fines

Kenilworth station frontage on May 30 (right), contrasts with the derelict station in the 1980s. PICTURES: STUART WINSOR AND CHRIS MILNER

Kenilworth rejoins national network after 53-year gap KENILWORTH station opened for business on April 30, services being a hourly Class 153 DMU shuttling between Leamington Spa and Coventry.

In a project costing more than £13million, the new station

design is based on the previous one, with the new building housing a cafe, toilets and retail unit, which sells tickets on behalf of West Midlands Railway.

There are plans to use redeployed Class 172 DMUs

from London Overground late this year or early in 2019, with the service eventually connecting through to Nuneaton.

The station currently has a single platform with

a four-carriage capacity, but there are long-term plans to build a second platform when the line is re-doubled to Milverton Junction, Leamington, which could be 10 years away.

See also p22.

Royal wedding crowds flock to Windsor by train SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR) got into the Royal Wedding spirit on May 19, providing additional services for well-wishers heading to and from Windsor.

Around 45,000 passenger journeys were made on SWR services to Windsor & Eton Riverside, which were doubled to four direct, 10-car trains per hour from London Waterloo.

Extra staff and volunteers were on hand at key stations on the route to keep passengers moving.

Meanwhile, over on GWR’s, Slough-Windsor Central (renamed ‘Harry & Meghan Central’ for the day) branch, special crowd

control measures had to be put in place at each end of the line, and the maximum possible service of four-car DMUs every 20 minutes ran all day.

More than 200 additional GWR staff were deployed across the network to keep people moving.

GWR also took the opportunity to decorate one of its Class 165 DMUs with ‘Just Married’ decals to celebrate the big day.

'385' windscreen trial success TRIALS of a replacement windscreen fitted to Hitachi Class 385 No. 385004 have been deemed a success.

It was back in February when drivers reported vision problems, with the screen curvature showing multiple signal images.

Rail union Aslef said its drivers would refuse to operate them.

A flatter replacement screen has been extensively trialled in association with the union, drivers and Hitachi.

Perry Ramsey, ScotRail Alliance operations director, confirmed the modified screen was “fit for purpose”.

Driver training has restarted,

with the target of the introducing the Class 385s into service over the coming months.

As yet there is no indication when that may be as rectification work for completed units to get new screens is needed.

The Class 385 introduction has been delayed by both windscreen and software problems.

With ScotRail having to release Class 158 and 170 DMUs to other operators, a short-term plan to use a fleet of 10 Class 365s for Edinburgh to Glasgow services would still go ahead, a ScotRail spokesman told The RM on May 25.

Stadler aims for more UK orders

Chinnor closes in on Princes Risborough platform OPERATION of public trains by the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway into platform 4 at Princes Risborough, creating a cross platform interchange with Chiltern Railways, is gearing up to happen later this summer.

The railway has been rebuilding the missing platform,

and installed a new ticket office, but need to allow volunteers time to complete outstanding tasks, so during June and July trains from Chinnor will terminate at Thame Junction.

Clayton Class 17 No. D8568 sits in the run-round loop at Princes Risborough on May 8.

extensive work to house up to 30 items of rolling stock on seven tracks that have been laid in the former warehouse.

Locomotive Storage Limited is working closely with Hornby, whose visitor centre continues to occupy part of the Margate site.

STADLER’S first Class 755 bi-mode units for Greater Anglia are nearing completion, as are the Class 745 inter-city EMUs. The Swiss manufacturer has indicated it wants to win more business with the CrossCountry, Chiltern, East Midlands and West Coast Partnership franchises on the horizon.

Stadler is also working on alternative energypowered rail vehicles, with diesel engines being swapped for battery or hydrogen cells.

PHIL MARSH

King’s Cross model helping The Railway Children charity

SIDELINES Passenger success at Cambridge North

MORE than 320,000 passengers have used Cambridge North station in its first year of operation.

Averaging 6,000 passengers per week, Greater Anglia now says the number using the station each week has swelled to more than 10,000.

Man dies after car crashes onto platform A 78-year old man died in hospital after his car crashed through railings at Larkhall station, veered down an embankment and onto the platform.

Bittern moves to former Hornby site

GRESLEY ‘A4’ Pacific No. 4464 Bittern was scheduled to arrive at the former Hornby Hobbies factory at Westwood on June 2, where it will be stored, but later put on public display.

Locomotive Services Ltd bought the site earlier in the year, which has undergone

TWO teenagers, part of a larger group, who went on a rampage through the North Yorkshire Moors Railways Gresley teak stock in July last year that caused nearly £28,000 damage, have been given fines. Benjamin Terry, 19, pleaded guilty of the theft of food and drink worth £247, but a criminal damage charge was dismissed. He was ordered to pay £30.88 to the NYMR for the theft, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Mollie Dawson, 18 (aged 17 at the time of the incident) pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage. She was told to pay £30.88 for the theft, costs of £85, £500 compensation for the damage and a £20 victim surcharge. The pair were both given a 12-month conditional discharge.

A MODEL railway, based on London King’s Cross Station in the 1950s, will be displayed at Frampton Mansell Village Hall (between Stroud and Cirencester) during the summer.

The model railway is the product of many years of hard

work by villagers Paul Walker and his wife Pepita.

The event takes place over the weekend of August 18-19, between 10.30 and 16.00.

Admission is £3 (u18s free), with proceeds in aid of The Railway Children charity.

11th Eurostar set sent to Kingsbury for scrap

THE 11th Class 373 Eurostar set, including power car Nos. 3201/02, was sent to EMR Kingsbury for scrapping on May 25.

June 2018 • The Railway Magazine • 9

HeadlineNews

Vivarail battery powered train ready for Long Marston launch

By Keith Fender

VIVARAIL has developed a new battery powered version of its Class 230 train.

The new two-car train – No. 230002 – has battery modules, each containing 60 24-volt lithium-ion batteries, replacing the diesel power-packs used on the earlier diesel version.

The battery train has no diesel fuel tanks, but otherwise uses the same traction equipment, motors and bogies as the diesel trains. Two battery packs are fitted per car instead of four diesel power units, giving a similar net weight, although diesel trains will also have the fuel tank and the fuel in it.

Short distance

Vivarail plans to launch the unit with public display and demonstration passenger

service at this month’s Rail Live event, which is being held at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Long Marston. It will be tested on the UK national network later this year.

Vivarail says the battery powered train is designed for relatively short distances, with an anticipated range of 30 miles in between charging stops, which can be undertaken in around five minutes.

In addition, Vivarail has developed a new rapid-charging system for use at charging stops incorporating power supply via conductor rail, which is only live when the train is stationary above it.

Early test runs have demonstrated the battery powered unit can accelerate at around twice the speed of the diesel-powered one.

A short test ride on the train

in the yard at Long Marston demonstrated it has the acceleration characteristics of an EMU, and is very quiet – rather like the trains when in use on London Underground – except, of course, there is no need for electrification as it carries its own batteries.

Hybrid

A part-diesel/part-battery hybrid version of the train has been designed as the diesel power packs and battery modules have been designed to be interchangeable.

These trains have been offered to companies bidding for future franchises and would feature regenerative braking options.

They would be configured to operate as pure battery trains in areas where diesel traction is not desired or permitted for noise or emissions reasons

The battery powered Class 230 train No. 230 002 outside Vivarail’s workshop at Long Marston on May 10. KEITH FENDER

A diesel train can be converted to battery (or vice versa) in one day, using a fork lift track as both diesel and battery modules are designed around standard forklift pallet sizes.

The diesel fuel tank can be added or removed as necessary

as part of this conversion.

The company is working with industrial gas specialist BOC to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Class 230, and has applied for UK Government research funding to develop a prototype train.

Photographer GE Transportation and Wabtec in multi-billion merger hurt at German steam event

By Keith Fender

AN ENTHUSIAST was seriously injured and operations briefly suspended at the recent Dampfspektakel event in Germany on April 28 when he fell into the path of Pacific No. 01 202, which was running light engine next to the platform, writes Keith Fender.

It is believed the man was trying to photograph a steam loco at the end of a busy platform.

The station was partly evacuated while the emergency services dealt with the situation.

Following the accident extra security personnel were deployed

by DB to ensure platform areas were not too overcrowded.

AMERICAN locomotive builder GE Transportation, a division of the bigger GE (General Electric) Corporation, has agreed a merger with fellow US-based railway industry supplier Wabtec.

The deal will see GE being paid $2.9billion in cash and receive 9.9% of the shares in the new company. GE’s shareholders will receive 40.2% of the shares in the new business, which will be called Wabtec and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The new Wabtec will combine the business activities of both companies, with a combined turnover of around $8bn, and where necessary rationalise them.

Wabtec has a significant business supplying signalling (including Positive Train Control) systems in the USA, and has service and component businesses supplying many parts of the North American and the global rail industry.

Both GE and Wabtec have a range of new ‘digital railway’ control and automation products, with the new company taking the opportunity to maximise each others’ technology.

The new company will be based at Wabtec’s corporate headquarters in Wilmerding, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while the new freight business unit will be based in Chicago (as GE Transportation is currently).

The company will also have a global transit business unit based in Paris.

GE has been building locomotives since the beginning of the 20th century, with electric locos for use in North America built between 1904 and the 1930s.

Diesel locos from GE first appeared in numbers in the 1930s and since then the company has delivered tens of thousands of locos, mostly for freight operators, to railways around the world, as well as setting up manufacturing subsidiaries

in several countries. Earlier this year, GE Transportation said US loco manufacturing would move from its historic base at Erie, Pennsylvania to Fort Worth in Texas.

GE has built few locos for European operators in recent decades – the British Class 70 is the most recent example – but currently has an order book for around 1,800 new diesel locos for customers worldwide.

Wabtec was formed in 1999 from the merger of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation and loco builder Motive Power Industries.

In the UK, Wabtec has bought several British firms, including Brush Traction, Loughborough, and the LH Group (Barton-under-Needwood), and operates Doncaster Works and the former Andrew Barclay site in Kilmarnock.

The company is heavily involved in modernising and rebuilding UK rolling, including the Class 769 'Flex' conversion programme.

New services from London to Bordeaux ‘in next couple of years’?

By Keith Fender

UK PRIVATE infrastructure manager High Speed 1 (HS1) is working with Eurotunnel, LISEA and SNCF Réseau to develop ‘ready-to-run’ paths from London to Bordeaux.

Lisea is the French concessionaire for the Tours to Bordeaux high-speed line.

HS1 says it is also developing direct routes to Geneva and Frankfurt from London.

The infrastructure managers are working to offer pre-planned and agreed timetable paths and routes, meaning any new international train operator will be able to get the route up and running in a couple of years.

HS1 says the Bordeaux route is

almost ready for a train operator to begin as soon as the UK and French Governments agree on border controls.

“With the right commitment, we could be looking at new services in the next couple of years,” a spokesman said.

Detailed discussions

The four infrastructure managers met in Bordeaux in late-April to discuss how Bordeaux St Jean station could be equipped to handle international trains to the UK. Eurostar said last year it was no longer interested in the London to Bordeaux route, and has declined to comment about the development.

Reports in France suggest

10 • The Railway Magazine • June 2018

Eurostar here soon? SNCF TGVs cross the River Garonne, outside Bordeaux St Jean station, on September 5, 2017. KEITH FENDER

Eurostar is interested and has held detailed discussions about the introduction of services.

With liberalisation of domestic services in France planned from December 2020 it is possible other operators such as Thello (wholly owned by Italian operator Trenitalia) may look at these types

of services as it already operates international trains in France, and Trenitalia has spoken previously about running trains to London.

Security controls

The cost and practicalities of immigration and security controls to meet the needs of both the

UK and French (Schengen) authorities have stymied plans for service expansion by both Eurostar and DB in the past.

HS1 also announced in April former Group CEO at Go-Ahead Keith Ludeman will become its chairman from September 2018, succeeding Rob Holden

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

New hope for Tralee line revival HOPES of a revival for the beleaguered 3ft-gauge Tralee & Blennerville Railway on the west coast of Ireland have been raised after Kerry County Council (KCC) announced it is applying for funding for the restoration railway this autumn.

No trains have operated over the abandoned heritage line since 2008, and in spite of efforts from a number of groups to revive the line, the rails have continued to rust, and the rolling stock – including original Tralee & Dingle Railway Hunslet 2-6-2T No. 5T – left to decay at Blennerville.

On May 14, a meeting of Tralee Municipal District councillors motioned that KCC should support the efforts to restore the railway as a tourist attraction; KCC officials having already had

SIDELINES ScotRail performance improves as station skipping is cut THE four-week period to April 30 saw Abellio ScotRail achieve its best performance since September 2017, with 92% of all trains arriving within five minutes of their scheduled time.

The improved performance coincides with ScotRail changing its ‘skip-stop’ policy to cut out the unpopular practice.

The Tralee terminus of the Tralee & Blennerville Railway as seen on July 16, 2015. Kerry County Council is seeking funding to reopen the line.

GARY BOYDHOPE

a number of meetings with Fáilte Ireland and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, regarding the project.

In 2016, KCC submitted a proposal for a grant to restore the line and upgrade the Blennerville Windmill Visitor Centre but was unsuccessful. However, it has been invited to submit a revised application when the second phase of funding of large projects reopens in the autumn.

Apology…as train in Japan leaves 25 seconds early!

THE West Japan Railway Company issued an apology to passengers at Notogawa station on May 11 after a train left 25 seconds early.

The early departure caused one person to miss their train. The operator said in a statement: “The great inconvenience we placed upon our customers was truly inexcusable.”

NRM loses lottery funding

An artist’s impression of a Revolution VLR.

Eversholt joins Revolution ‘very light’ consortium LEASING company Eversholt Rail will join an industry consortium that will develop, manufacture and market the Revolution VLR (very light rail) vehicle.

The consortium, led by Transport Design International Ltd (TDI), includes the University of Warwick, Cummins and other companies from the automotive and rail sectors. The DfT, through RSSB (Rail Safety & Standards Board), is also investing £3million in the project.

The Revolution VLR is a bi-directional, 18-metre-long

railcar, with seating for 56 passengers and standing room for a further 60.

It will be manufactured out of lightweight materials using a modular structure while retaining crashworthiness to achieve a tare weight of less than one tonne per linear metre and able to run on lightweight modular slab track.

The vehicle will be self-propelled, with zero-emission launches from stations but featuring regenerative braking and optimised hybrid propulsion.

Bombardier bi-mode concept WITH an eye on the next Midland unlike Hitachi’s Class 800 IETs, Main Line, CrossCountry and West which were not designed for the Coast franchises, Bombardier sustained high-speed running has revealed a 125mph bi-mode on diesel to which they are now variant of its ‘Aventra’ multiple subjected. unit. The train would feature a higher-quality interior for intercity work, and doors at the ends of vehicles. Bombardier says the train could also be built to run on batteries, rather than diesel engines, away from electrified routes, and would be capable of 125mph operation in diesel mode,

A BID for £13.4million of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) by the National Railway Museum to redevelop the Great Hall and build interactive attraction has been rejected.

Back in 2011, the NRM failed in a bid for £7m from the Regional Growth Fund that also would have been used to re-vamp the Great Hall. The latest rejection comes less than 12 months after a bid by the Great Central Railway to build a new museum – an NRM outstation – at Leicester North, with £9.5m of HLF money, was declined.

However, the NRM is still planning to go ahead with the redevelopment as part of its £50m overhaul of the museum to fit in with the surrounding York Central redevelopment.

Putting a brave face on the latest disappointment, Judith McNicol said: “While we are disappointed to receive the news, we remain completely committed to our vision.

“We will now take some time to review the phasing for the projects that form our vision and how these best fit with the exciting plans for York Central.”

Funding pledges for new-build Gresley 2-8-2 pass £3million mark MORE than 60% of the required £5million to complete new Gresley ‘P2’ Mikado No. 2007 Prince of Wales has now been pledged to the project, the equivalent of just over £3m.

More than 860 people have signed up to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s ‘P2’ ’for the price of a pint of beer per week’ (£10 per month or more) covenant scheme, while the now-closed Founders Club brought in more than £450,000.

Other ‘clubs’ dedicated to funding specific parts of the ‘P2’ have also met with great success, including the Mikado Club (£250,000), the Cylinder

Club (£125,000), while the Boiler Club has attracted 156 people of a 300 target, who have eached pledged £2,000. Furthermore, a dedicated donations scheme has raised more than £225,000 through supporters sponsoring a variety of components.

In April, the A1SLT launched the Motion Club to fund the manufacture of the motion for No. 2007. The fund target is £210,000 from 175 supporters, each donating £1,000, plus Gift Aid. So far more than £1.7m has been converted into metal, and the trust is confident that the ‘P2’ will be wheeled this summer.

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DETAILS

Heritage plaque for Wemyss Bay station

A PLAQUE denoting Wemyss Bay station as winner of the 2017 National Railway Heritage Awards was unveiled on May 25 by Donald Stevenson, senior programme manager for Network Rail Infrastructure Projects; National Railway Heritage Awards trustee Andy Savage; and ScotRail contracts manager Jacqueline Rae. The A-listed station emerged from a £5million, two-year restoration in 2016.

Meade appointed to Irish Rail top job

JIM Meade has formally taken over as the new chief executive of Iarnród ÉireannIrish Rail, after taking on the role in an acting capacity.

He succeeds David Franks, who stepped down on March 20 to pursue a career Australia.

A life-long railwayman, Mr Meade started his railway career as an apprentice fitter back in 1979, joining Córas Iompair Éireann in 1983 and working his way to director in 2013.

RCTS offers free membership

THE Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS) is offering free membership for the remainder of 2018 as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.

The offer includes all normal benefits, including the monthly magazine The Railway Observer.

Details at: www.rcts.org.uk

Rail replacement buses impounded

FOUR coaches intended for rail replacement services from Preston on May 5 were impounded because of dangerous faults, and given stop notices by Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency examiners.

June 2018 • The Railway Magazine • 11

Multiple Aspects

with Lord Berkeley

Is overbidding for the ECML franchise the whole story?

THE East Coast Main Line franchise debacle is depressingly familiar. Having had three failures in 10 years, it must be very unsettling for the staff who hear all the sales pitch from their new operators and end up working for a company that cannot carry on.

Ministers blame Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) for the current failure; clearly their bid was too high, but is that the whole story?

Network Rail was supposed to have delivered upgrades to improve speed, capacity and reliability, all listed in the franchise tender documents and,

without these, VTEC clearly could not run the trains and therefore get the revenue they expected.

At a recent rail conference in York, operators on ECML stated if a small proportion of the funds already spent on the HS2 Project had been allocated to the ECML, these problems would have been resolved, and the imminent failure of the East Coast TOC franchise avoided.

The other issue is franchises are now so tightly specified the only variable open to bidders is to take a punt on the future revenue – which is

Leaf it alone: Ministers should not meddle in safety issues

RAIL minister Jo Johnson has instructed Network Rail to pause its current tree clearing work. Nobody likes seeing trees felled, but Network Rail need to do it not only to prevent the annual autumn misery of leaves on the line, but also because there are hundreds of instances of trees falling on the track and being hit by trains.

According to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne, the company does make sure trees which are used for nesting are not cut in the nesting season, but the current, more radical approach, should keep the tracks ‘leaf-and-tree’ clear for longer; they do after all grow again.

I sometimes wonder whether those who complain most vociferously, including Environment Secretary Michael Gove, have ever been delayed by leaves on the line or put on buses because a train hit a fallen tree.

However, if ministers start instructing Network Rail on safety critical issues and a tree falls on a train and injures someone, the minister will be to blame. They would be better to keep off the detail and allow the professionals to run a safe railway.

Reluctant to refund?

GWR make it very difficult to claim a refund of the cost of a ticket bought on their website.

I had to seek a refund of a sleeper train ticket, and the online form gave rather conflicting messages: ‘Status – awaiting refund’ and ‘you can’t amend or refund this booking’ for a super-saver two days before the journey.

So, I’ve posted it off anyway and await the result!

closely tied to the economy and the fact passenger numbers are currently reducing.

However, many operators tell me there is another, more subtle hand at work – DfT officials who encourage companies to bid ‘competitively’ and take risks, hinting the winner will be ‘seen OK’. Nothing in writing of course, but you can be quite certain if things go wrong, the TOC will be blamed rather than the main cause of the trouble, Government-owned Network Rail, starved by its owner of funds to do the necessary works.

Network Rail and HS2 are equally to blame for keeping bad news away from ministers; I have previously recounted the GW electrification story, where NR/GW said it would cost £1billion, but NR HQ put the estimate to Government of £800million ‘because they thought ministers would like it better’.

This is a disease which is now endemic in the industry – and probably is equally so in the road building industry – but it is time we brought some transparency and honesty to such estimating.

Freedom of Information delays raise suspicions SINCE last November I have been pursuing through various FoI (Freedom of Information) requests a copy of a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, completed sometime last year and commissioned by HS2, into ‘comparative costs of developing and constructing high-speed lines on the Continent’.

The latest ministerial refusal stated: “The request raised complex public interest considerations. As allowable under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the department extended the response time limit by 20 working days in order to assess whether the public

interest was in withholding or disclosing the information”. Moreover, I am still chasing them five months later.

Of course, the real reason for refusal is they are trying to find a way of arguing we are better and cheaper in the UK than high-speed lines in France, Germany or Italy, when we all know costs are higher here, particularly land and property costs, compensation and construction through built up areas between Birmingham and London.

No doubt these are the ‘complex public interest considerations’ which actually mean ‘how can we best massage the figures’?

****************************************** AT A recent All Party Rail Group meeting, The distances are too short, and the costs too Transport for the North gave some interesting high, to justify high-speed trains. comments on future plans to increase passenger That TfN is trying to cater for freight is capacity and frequency between major northern questionable, especially as HS2 and Network Rail cities. Clearly, the new trains will help, but TfN’s are seeking to develop a new layout at Crewe, objective was to increase train frequency to the which will cut freight capacity towards Preston. extent main flows were almost metro style in So why is HS2 involved at all with frequency, and passenger seats per hour could trans-Pennine flows? Surely, HS2 Ltd has enough increase four- or five-fold. to do to develop Phases 2A and 2B and control They saw this as a much more preferable their costs? We are close to reverting to the solution compared with high-speed rail tunnels, Victorian days when several companies built which HS2 are apparently pursuing. competing lines often side by side, but this time For the comparatively short distances the taxpayer is paying for the folly of duplication. involved, I've often thought putting back the four tracks Beeching cut to two on so many routes – berkeleyafg@parliament.uk for fast and slow stopping trains plus freight on the ■ (The independent views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of same corridor – was the most logical solution.

The RM or the Rail Freight Group, of which Tony Berkeley is chairman).

Railways in Parliament

by Jon Longman

West Midlands surge

JIM Cunningham (Coventry South) asked in the House of Commons, what measures are being taken to increase the number of passenger rail journeys in the West Midlands.

Transport Minister Jo Johnson replied: “In the past decade, the total number of rail journeys in the West Midlands region has increased by more than two-fold: 39.8 million in 2006/07 to 91.5 million in 2016/17.

“The new West Midlands franchise, which commenced in December 2017, includes numerous initiatives that will further improve and increase passenger journeys in the West Midlands.

“There will be more than 180 new carriages for the West Midlands, creating more space for people. This includes investment in 100 new carriages on the Cross-City line and 80 new carriages for the Snow Hill line, offering longer and

more spacious services.

“There will also be a number of additional passenger journey opportunities, including more trains between Birmingham and Shrewsbury, with two services per hour from December 2018; a regular two trains per hour service between Birmingham and Rugeley via the Chase Line, also from December 2018; and an extension of CrossCity line services from Longbridge to Bromsgrove upon the completion of electrification this summer.”

Class 717 solution

THERESA Villiers (Chipping Barnet) asked what discussions have taken place with Govia Thameslink on the implementation of its RailPlan20/20 timetable.

Mr Johnson replied: “I have instructed my officials to investigate Great Northern Line rail services at Oakleigh Park with Govia Thameslink representatives.

12 • The Railway Magazine • June 2018

“I understand that the issue that you have raised with Govia Thameslink will be resolved by the end of 2018 when the new Class 717 trains are introduced.

“Govia Thameslink has been keeping the department updated as to preparations for the introduction of the new timetable. The next timetable iteration commenced on May 20 and begins to introduce the many benefits of the Thameslink project.”

Suicide concerns

BRIDGET Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) asked what information the Department for Transport holds on the number of suicides on UK railway lines in each of the last 15 years.

Mr Johnson said: “Official statistics relating to the number of suicides on the main line railway network in Great Britain are published by the Office of Rail

and Road on their website at: https:// dataportal.orr.gov.uk/browsereports/5 “Government and the rail industry are jointly engaged in many strands of activity to reduce the number of suicides on the rail network.

“Last year, more than 1,800 lifesaving interventions were made, with 2016/17 having the lowest number of suicide events recorded on the railway since the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme began in 2010.”

Digital advances

ANDY McDonald (Middlesbrough) asked what the plans are to publish a detailed infrastructure plan setting out the key enablers of the digital railway.

Mr Johnson said: “We will be publishing a Digital Railway Strategy with Network Rail and a public announcement on this strategy will be made shortly.”