Annual meeting Martin Murphy has been elected chairman in succession to Peter Wood, who did not seek re-election after three years in the post. An excellent presentation outlining Railtrack’s plans for the development of the East Coast main line was given by Jim Devine, head of programme management.
Rail users conference Members of the North East branch and rail user groups in the region attended the rail users conference Strengthening the links organised by the North East Rail Users Consultative Committee held at the National Rail Museum, York, on 4 March. With speakers from the Strategic Rail Authority, the Central Rail Users Consultative Committee and the RUCC itself, and a series of workshop sessions, it was a useful gathering.
Tyne Valley Rail Users An initial meeting aimed at establishing a rail user group for the Tyne Valley line was held in Hexham on 18 April with a speaker from the North East RUCC.
Franchise renewal The views of branch members have
been made known to the SRA and regional RUCC. We expressed general satisfaction
with GNER and Northern Spirit service delivery but want to see at least half-hourly
regular interval services operating on the North East’s core passenger network
during the day from Monday to Saturday inclusive. Such trains should be operating
between
6am and midnight. Other points made include the need for line and station reopenings,
more local services, track re-alignments, scrapping of Pacers, Transpennine
electrification, more information and integration, simpler fares, cleaner trains,
better station facilities (including more staff) and greater accessibility to
ensure everybody who wants to can travel by train.
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