Regular news updates on rail campaigning are now available at http://www.railfuture.org.uk
More than 75% of the British public wants the railway network renationalised. According to a Guardian/ICM poll published today, only one in four voters back the Government's idea of public-private partnerships.
"The voters have finally consigned the Thatcherite idea of wholesale privatisation to the dustbin of history," commented The Guardian. Only 6% of voters are now prepared to support the idea that private companies should always or usually run public services.
The public also feels strongly that those who work for public services are underpaid and undervalued. Even 61% of Conservative supporters say they do not believe public services should be run for profit. More than 70% of Tory voters want to see the railways renationalsied.
04.01
Transport 2000 has tried to stimulate the argument over what the future of the railways with its report The Railways: Where do we go from here? Authors looked at six different ways forward.
Evolution not revolution. An industry agreement on what the goals should be. Government to take a direct interest in Railtrack and should refocus on engineering and operations. Establish a research and development capability. Open up expansion of the network to financial and technical input to others. Jim Steer, managing director, Steer Davies Gleave
Renationalise. Pay Government public sector obligation grant and access charges direct to Railtrack. Railtrack to be taken into public ownership by the Government issuing interest-bearing bonds to replace shares. Government or SRA to take control of Railtrack. Rail franchises taken over by the SRA once existing franchises end. Infrastructure contractors to be absorbed back into Railtrack. Jimmy Knapp, general secretary, RMT
Regionalisation. Based on the German system. Democratic control of rail services. Control of co-ordination, interchange and ticketing for all public transport modes. Full involvement of the private sector as part of a wider, integrated whole. Finances channelled through directly accountable bodies, not through private companies trying to make profits. Professor John Whitelegg, Liverpool John Moores University
Power to train operators. More vertical integration with train operators controlling their own infrastructure but with the infrastructure in public ownership and some functions, like network operation, infrastructure renewals, property management and network enhancement being handled by Railtrack. Richard Brown, ATOC chair and National Express chief executive
Railtrack Trust. Railtrack should become a non-profit making trust with access to private capital via bond issues. John Ward and John Earwaker, Oxford Economic Research Associates
Simplification. Reduce the seven Railtrack zones to five. Longer term maintenance contracts. Ideally one contractor per zone. Roger Ford, editor, Rail Business Intelligence and technical editor, Modern Railways
If you want more information or would like to give your thoughts on the options: platform@transport2000.demon.co.uk
04.01
Virgin Trains is considering reinstating the March-Wisbech rail line if it is awarded the East Coast main line franchise. Steer Davies Gleave is carrying out a feasibility study and North East Cambs MP Malcolm Ross is reportedly keen to set up a group to investigate the idea. Railtrack is said to be happy to keep the line intact "for the time being".
Wisbech community website http://www.thisiswisbech.co.uk has been promoting the possibility of reopening and has set up a section on the community noticeboard to canvass opinion: http://thisiswisbech.community.everyone.net/commune_v3/scripts/directory.pl
Jerry Alderson 11.03.01
An alliance of 14 national environmental organisations, including the Railway Development Society, is launched today to try to stop the Government taking the road to ruin.
The alliance argues that an expanded roads programme would undermine Labour's claim to put the environment at the heart of government. It would also work against its objectives of reducing social exclusion an promoting access for all.
The alliance estimates that road schemes currently under discussion could damage at least 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (many of which are also designated as being of European or international importance), five current or planned National Parks, eight Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and two World Heritage Sites.
The threat is revealed in a report also published today by Transport 2000, CPRE and Friends of the Earth. It comes shortly before Transport Minister Lord Macdonald is expected to announce a further expansion of the roads programme, and on the day before a major 'green' speech by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The Roads to Ruin alliance has also published a joint statement detailing their opposition to damaging road schemes.
Roads to Ruin: The environmental impact of Labour's new roads programme highlights more than 50 of the most damaging road schemes that are planned or could get the go-ahead soon.
As well as damaging environmentally sensitive sites, the highlighted road schemes could increase traffic on surrounding roads, with more noise, air pollution and accidents. They would increase pressure for green field development and undermine efforts to encourage greater use of public transport.
The scale of road building that could result from current Government plans would be comparable to that of the previous government in the 1990s. The Government's change of tack appears to be a panic reaction to claims that it is 'anti-motorist'.
Roads to Ruin: The environmental impact of Labour's new roads programme is available from Transport 2000, price £10.
Some of the schemes identified in the report are firm commitments. Others are likely to emerge from a Government request to regional planning bodies to draw up a roads 'wish list'.
Others may come out of a series of multi-modal studies covering much of the country. Final decisions on many of the scheme are still to be made, but they are a best guess at what a new roads programme could contain.
The Roads to Ruin Alliance is supported by the Railway Development Society, the Civic Trust, the Council for National Parks, CPRE, CTC, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the Pedestrians' Association, the Ramblers' Association, RSPB, the Slower Speeds Initiative, Transport 2000, the Wildlife Trusts and WWF.
The North Somerset Railway which had plans to reinstate the Radstock-Frome line has been evicted from its base within the old railway station/goods area by Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Norton and Radstock Regeneration Company.
Although the railway had letters of intention from both the land owners and the old local authority (Wansdyke), these "gentlemenÕs agreement letters" proved worthless at the end of the day.
The railway planned to build a station in the heart of Radstock which is now a satellite town for commuters to Bath, Bristol and Frome. Between the hours of 07.00 and 09.30 and 15.00 and 18.30 the town centre is near to grid lock as the four roads into the town have cars and buses fighting to gain access to the mini roundabout system that controls the town centre.
The town of Radstock is steeped in history of its once thriving mining industry, but all that physically remains is a wheel in the town centre and a museum both of which are within 60 yards of the proposed station. The land that the railway has been evicted from is now earmarked for either housing, or a supermarket.
The regeneration company's directorsÕ identities are known but they have been unavailable for comment or open to negotiation on any of the matters concerning the railway and the future of its operation.
At a recent meeting over 100 local people turned up to hear the dreadful news. Not only have they been evicted, and forced find a home for their Thomas Hill Vanguard locomotive but they now face a legal bill in excess of £7,000.
More details: http://www.north-somerset-railway
Phil Morris
The attractions of trains and the drawbacks of flying are becoming increasingly apparent around the world. This summer Air France is planning to withdraw its five daily flights between Paris and Brussels.
Many people are asking why a highly polluting aircraft should be operated when the high-speed Thalys rail service has departures leaving Paris at half-hourly intervals during peak periods and hourly for the rest of the day. It takes only one hour 25 minutes by train.
The Thalys trains could easily call at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, timed to connect with Air France long-haul flights. Thalys has already cornered the Paris-Brussels inter-city market and could easily take Air FranceÕs "interlining" traffic from Belgium too. In Germany Lufthansa and German Railways are planning to replace planes between Stuttgart and Frankfurt by trains.
One of the important factors for international travellers will be devising ways to handle checked baggage on plane-replacement trains. But generally trains offer more congenial travelling conditions than planes and better connections in town centres.
And even though there are vast hidden subsidies for air travel, Stuttgart-Frankfurt is a loss-maker. If the Stuttgart-Frankfurt plane-trains are successful, Dusseldorf, Koln and Bonn could get them too.
Even in America, people are beginning to wake up to railÕs environmental advantages. In Time magazine of 19 February, correspondent Roger Griffith of Lombard, Illinois suggests, to prevent gridlock in the air, "constructing high-speed rail systems to serve the needs currently met by the many short airline flights of only a few hundred miles".
He added: "We donÕt need to build more airports and add runways. A short trip between urban centres (say, Chicago and Detroit) on high-speed rail would be as fast or faster than a short-haul plane flight. "LetÕs put our tax money into a transportation system that would be faster, more efficient, better for the environment and less affected by the weather than airline travel."
23.02.01
Two special trains are being run in May, highlighting the part the steam engines have played in breathing new life into the railway. The first - on 1 May - will help to celebrate the Settle-Carlisle railway 125 celebrations. In fact the 125th anniversary of the Settle-Carlisle being opened to passenger traffic on 1 May 1876 is to be marked with a range of celebratory events in May, June and July.
The train will be hauled by LMS Stanier 'Black 5' no 45157 "The Glasgow Highlander" (actually Black 5 no 45407 in disguise!), and will start from Manchester Victoria, and picking up at Bolton, Hellifleld, Garsdale, Appleby, and terminating in Carlisle. The loco will be serviced before hauling the return journey too.
Ticket prices will be £45 from Manchester and Bolton, £35 from Hellifield, £25 from Garsdale and Appleby. Credit card bookings are being taken by:Dalescrest Travel, 4 Church Street, Settle, N. Yorks BD24 9JIE, tel: 01729 825400. Bookings by cheque or postal order, payable to 'FoSCL', should be sent to:FoSCL Railtour, 17 Montgomery Street, Skipton, N.Yorks BD23 2ER. Telephone enquiries about the train: 01253 347764 or 01756 797190. A leaflet describing the full range of events, exhibitions, station open days, music, guided walks and other trains will be available by sending a sae to:the Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Settle, N Yorks BD24 9EJ, tel: 01729 825037.
Friends vice-president Pete Shaw said: "Our special anniversary train offers over 200 miles of steam haulage, and is a must for all those interested in this famous route with its viaducts, tunnels, and wayside stations set amidst the panoramic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian Fells."
Media contact: Pete Shaw, FoSCL, tel: 01274 590453 Also running in May - on the 19th - is the Capital Castle. Over the last few years there have been a number of excursions from the national railway system on to the West Somerset Railway but this train reverses the usual form by starting at Minehead and running through to London Paddington with steam haulage by "Castle" 5029 "Nunney Castle".
After departure from Minehead (0700), the train will pick up at Dunster (0705), Blue Anchor (0710), Washford (0720), Watchet (0730), Williton (0745), Stogumber (0755), Crowcombe Heathfield (0805), Bishops Lydeard (0835), Taunton (0900), Bridgwater (0915), Highbridge (0925) and Bristol Temple Meads (1050). There will be four hours or so in London (1400- 1800) and arrival back in Minehead is due for 2300 (Return haulage will be by diesel locomotive) Standard class tickets cost £56 (£28 junior).
If you would like to book via the WSR please write for a booking form from the Commercial Office, West Somerset Railway, Minehead Station, Somerset. The future of railways on the Isle of Wight will be under scrutiny on Wednesday 28 February 2001. Passengers, residents, businesses and local associations are being invited to a conference in Ryde so they can say what they want from their local railway.
20.02.01
Ventnor Railway Association is keen that as many people as possible attend so that rail chiefs know how important the railway is to the island. The society says that time is running out because the Government have left off the Island Line from the franchising process. It says the rolling stock is nearly at the end of its life and action is needed now to keep the railway.
The conference is being organised by the official watchdog, the Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England. The RPC's aim from this conference is to find out whether people want the system expanded or if they would feel better served by a light rail (tram) system.
This conference on the island has come about because as part of a delegation Valerie Taylor and Jim Ruby asked the RPC to come and hear for themselves the views of our members and others on the future of the Island line as well as the extension of the railway to Ventnor and other parts of the island. The event is to be held on Wednesday 28 February at the Ryde Castle Hotel, on Ryde sea front, starting at 09.30.
This is a public event and it is very important for the future of rail on the Isle of Wight that as many people as possible attend so that the RPC can see for themselves the strength of feeling and support there is for the railway. The Ventnor Railway Association wants as many people as possible to attend this meeting because it says: "This could be our last chance to air our views."
The VRA has been asked to speak at the conference. Other speakers are Chris Austin from the Strategic Rail Authority, Keith Wilkox, South Hampshire Rapid Transport Project, Grahame Eccles, Executive Director Stagecoach, David Walker, Business Development Manager for Railtrack Southern, Transport 2000, Tim Addison, Isle of Wight Tourism,Stuart Linn, Southern Vectis, Adrian Searle, Wight Track, and the Isle of Wight Council.
There will be an open forum and a question and answer session which will give people an opportunity to make their views heard. It is a most unusual step for the RPC to put on such an event. Contact: Valerie Taylor, Chairman Ventnor Railway Association. Tel 01983-852576 or email valtaylor@ukonline.co.uk
20.02.01
A key rail link – closed by Mrs Thatcher’s government 20 years ago – may reopen if Arriva wins the Trans-Pennine Express franchise. The company plans to buy 26 new 125mph trains and to reopen Woodhead tunnel along with 20 miles of track to provide a new 35-minute service from Sheffield to Manchester via Barnsley, Penistone and Guide Bridge. That would improve on the present 52-minute journey and provide four trains an hour in each direction.
The scheme - to include park and ride and to allow for freight - could be in operation by 2007 after a £200million investment programme. Arriva is submitting its bid for the franchise to the Strategic Rail Authority in mid March. "This is an exciting and innovative proposal which will enhance the quality and frequency of rail travel between these two major connurbations," said Arriva chief executive Bob Davies. "Our bid for the Trans-Pennine Express rail franchise will committ Arriva to providing a rail service which is safe, efficient and reliable with better infrastructure and more emphasis on integrated travel."
31.1.01
The Strategic Railway Authority - which rail campaigners fought for - comes into existence today (1 February 2001). The SRA must create a world-class railway out of the mess resulting from an ill-thought –out privatisation process and the chaos following three serious crashes that should never have happened.
Billions have been poured into the railways in the past few years but still we, as ordinary passengers, are left with often rundown stations with few or no staff, delays, high fares, appalling information systems and fears over safety. The rail network is less of a national public transport backbone now than it was under BR because of the conflicting interests of the many companies now running trains, with some opting out of Super Saver fares, some refusing to carry bikes, some closing on-train buffets, some having dirty lavatories and some even ripping out maps of the rail network which showed competitors’ routes.
Rail campaigners expect the SRA to deliver a vision of what the rail network should be and give the competing companies help and direction to achieve a nationally integrated system which works for the passenger. We want to see new high-speed lines, more electrification, lower fares , welcoming stations and more reopened routes. A little more command and control.
The Railway Development Society's campaigns director Alix Stredwick issued the following press release to coincide with the SRA "going live". RDS, (1) the independent voice for rail users, welcomes the launch of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) after months of being in the shadows.
However, RDS is disappointed that the SRA has postponed its national strategy until the autumn. "After Hatfield, we were expecting great plans to get the railways back on track to delivering a first-class service," said Alix. "Sir Alastair Morton's Eight Commandments (2) are what our members (3) and the rest of the public have wanted for a long time, but there is still no comprehensive plan that will unite the rail industry and reverse the damage that fragmentation has done."
RDS calls for the SRA to include in its national strategy plans for essential re-openings and electrification, to meet Britains future transport needs. Key projects should include: The East-West rail link from Oxford to Cambridge A new high-speed French-style TGV line from London to Scotland New lines for freight, like Central Railways proposals (4) "The SRA must not forget the role rail has to play in providing a more environmentally-friendly alternative to the car and lorry," says Alix Stredwick.
"The real question now is: will the SRA will be strategic or authoritative enough to deliver the kind of rail network we need for the future?"
Notes
(1) The Railway Development Society is the largest independent voluntary organisation campaigning for a better rail network.
(2) These commandments aim to make our railways: accessible, integrated, reliable, safe, useful, comfortable, desirable and affordable.
(3) RDS has 20,000 affiliated and individual members.
(4) Central Railway Plc plans to build a route from Liverpool to Lille, France, mostly using currently disused track-bed. However, current legislation surrounding the public enquiry-based approval process, under the Transport & Works Act, means that the government cannot express support for the scheme. But it is possible for schemes such as this to get government backing. For the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the government was able to be clear about its support by using a Hybrid Bill through parliament.
1.2.01
One of Britain's biggest rail user groups is calling for 13 miles of track to be brought back into passenger use to provide a new 120-mile long-distance train service. A through service from Manchester to Carlisle via Hellifield in the Yorkshire Dales is the aim of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line who want to see it as a supplement to the present Leeds-Carlisle service.
The 13 miles between Hellifield - on the Settle-Carlisle route - and Clitheroe is already used for occasional special trains and has track and signalling in place. "At the moment there isn't any form of public transport between Hellifield and Clitheroe," says Philip Johnston, chairman of the Friends.
But there are already regular passenger trains from Manchester to Clitheroe and at Hellifield to Carlisle in the north and Leeds in the south. The Friends have joined with Ribble Valley Rail, the Aire Valley Rail Users Group, the Lancaster and Skipton Rail User Group, the Wensleydale Railway Association and the Yorkshire branch of the Railway Development Society to urge the Strategic Rail Authority to include the 13-mile stretch in the passenger service requirement of the new Northern Railway franchise.
The campaigners say the service would be useful for travel to work, business, education, leisure, shopping and access to Manchester airport. "A full service between Hellifield and Clitheroe is long overdue," said Peter Shaw, vice president of the Friends. "And a new Manchester-Carlisle service would also enhance the service on the Settle-Carlisle line which currently has gaps, at times, of up to three hours between trains."
The 13-mile stretch of track will be in use on 3 March 2001 when Virgin will use it as a diversionary route when the West Coast main line is closed for engineering work. Lancashire County Council already supports the idea of a regular service and the rail campaigners are expecting other local authorities, MPs, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and tourist boards to add their support. Media contact: Pete Shaw 01274 590453
8.2.01
News that Britain's biggest rail freight company is up for sale has alarmed rail campaigners. EWSR, which moves around 85% of all UK rail freight, has clocked up several years of astonishing success in increasing the amount of freight carried on rail. Railfuture urges that whichever company buys EWSR must ensure that the recent gains in rail freight are not wasted.
Between 1998 and 1999, freight on rail increased by 6% to 4.6 billion tonne-km, within an overall increase of 25% since privatisation. But this still represents only 5% of all freight carried in the UK - the rest goes by lorry or ship. Railfuture wants to see a greater proportion of freight carried by rail rather than road, but is concerned that we might see a reversal back to the old British Rail days of declining freight if the wrong strategy is imposed by the new owner of EWSR.
It is rumoured that two European rail companies - Deutsche Bahn and SNCF - are interested in buying EWSR. While Railfuture does not wish to express a preference, we want to point out that there may be some advantage to bringing in a European company. The "explosion" in inter-European rail freight that was promised with the building of the Channel Tunnel just has not happened. Some integration in the rail industry would be very welcome – especially after the well-known disasters that have recently illustrated how fragmented our system is. Having a European company on board with the biggest freight company in the UK may well help rectify this fragmentation.
Explanation & history: Wisconsin Central RR, a huge rail freight company based in the USA that currently owns 48% of the British firm EWSR (English, Welsh and Scottish Railway), are now selling EWSR, who move 85% of Britain’s rail freight. Under British Rail, rail freight was declining, after BR abandoned its ‘speedlink’ scheme of moving freight. (This was a ‘wagon-load’ service, where individual wagons of freight from different companies could be amalgamated into one train that took the whole lot.) BR replaced this system with one that required one company to supply the entire train-load of freight – something that few companies outside the coal and steel industry could do.
The result was that rail freight plummeted and we can see the effects of this in the massive growth of lorries on our roads. However, after rail privatisation, the creation of EWSR and a number of smaller rail freight companies led to some astonishing gains in UK rail freight. One reason for this increase was that EWSR launched its ‘enterprise’ scheme, a compromise between BR’s ‘speedlink’ and the ‘full-train’ requirement. Enterprise amalgamates several medium-sized freight consignments into one train. Deutsche Bahn is Germany’s railway and SNCF is France’s railway - both are state-owned.
10.2.01
The Government proudly announced yesterday that it has given £184 million in VED refunds paid to hauliers", shows that this government is proud to give in to the fuel duty bullies. RDS was disappointed that after the fuel protests last summer, taking goods by rail was made even less competitive by the Chancellor’s announcement in November that VED on lorries would be immediately lowered.
RDS believes that this latest press release, reminding hauliers of the rebate they can claim, is simply trying to placate the fuel protesters so that they do not cause civil disobedience in the run up to the general election. During the ‘fuel crisis’ last summer, protesters held the country to ransom when they blockaded oil refineries– a side-effect of which was that some diesel trains were left high and dry.
Surely it is embarrassing for the government to be reminding the public that they gave in to the protesters? This paves the way for the protesters to demand yet more reductions in road fuel -the fastest growing source of climate-changing emissions- for nothing but their own selfish aims. RDS wants to see real investment in rail freight so that more goods can be taken by road rather than rail. But there must be a 'level playing field' in terms of the costs of taking goods by each mode for rail freight to really fulfill its potential.
8.2.01
Railway staff in over 50 countries are planning a day of action to remind politicians, railway chiefs and the public of the importance of keeping railways safe and accessible. "Rail is one of the safest and most environmentally efficient ways to travel on land and we want to keep it that way," said Mac Urate of the International Transport Workers Federation which is organising the day of action.
"Rail's good record is under threat because of under-investment, staff cuts, privatisation and outsourcing. Safety demands investment in maintenance, in training and in staff numbers. Workers worldwide want to be fully involved in running safe and popular railways, not to be blamed as soon as anything goes wrong." The day of action is planned for 29 March 2001. With the increasing concern about rail safety in Britain, perhaps British rail unions should be involved.
Last year hundreds of thousands of people in 42 countries took part in a similar day of action. In Canada and Zambia, discount tickets were issued. In Austria, Hungary and Slovenia, unions and management signed a joint declaration to promote the railways. In the Ukraine schoolchildren visited railway plants. In Ghana. Namibia, New Zealand and the Ukraine, safety inspecions and clean-ups were organised. Demonstrations also took place in Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latvia, Malawi, Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
4.2.01
A car which uses both battery and petrol for power has been named Car of the Year by the Environmental Transport Association. The Green Apple Awards go to manaufacturers whose cars limit the damage they inflict on the environment. The Car of the Year award went to the Honda Insight.
The ETA's Car Buyers' Guide which was launched at the same time as the awards helps people make an informed car purchase, listing the environmental credentials of over 500 car models. "The green motorist is demanding that manufacturers offer vehicles which have less impact on the environment, " said ETA managing director Andrew Davis.
"To remain a major player in the volume car market a motor company will have to provide models which green motorists will buy." Of course, Railfuture has a slightly different vision. In an ideal world, people would walk, cycle and go by bus and tram to their local rail station. But if people really need to use a car to get to the station, they should at least try to minimise the effect their action is having on other people. The ETA Car Buyer's Guide costs £5 and also gives advice on greener driving. More information about the ETA: patricia.mariotte@eta.co.uk Tel: 01932 828882 Fax: 01932 829015 www.eta.co.uk
9.2.01
Trains might soon be able to run through to London from the North Norfolk preserved steam railway. The idea is to reinstate tracks and a level crossing at Sheringham to allow three-car Anglia Railways trains into the old Sheringham station. Since the 1960s, trains on the public network have terminated at a "bus stop" style station separate from the old Sheringham station by a road where there used to be a level crossing.
The "bus stop" station is, however, too small for three-car trains so Anglia now wants access to the old station by reinstating a short section of track and the level crossing. If it can gain access, Anglia is hoping to run a three-car train from Sheringham old station to Norwich where it will link with another three-car train from Yarmouth and run on to Ipswich where it could link up with a third three-car train for London.
Anglia may be able to save money by parking a train overnight at the North Norfolk Railway rather than running the last train empty back from Sheringham to Norwich depot and back again in the morning. The local council is hoping Anglia will agree to run through the extra eight miles to the steam railway terminus at Holt. Arup Transport is conducting an engineering feasibility study into the idea. There are four suggested solutions which can be seen at http://www.nnrail.co.uk/track_proposals.htm <\A>
12.2.01
The recent shave offer by Wensleydale Railway plc has been so well received by investors that the directors have resolved to keep it open until fully subscribed. An amount of £50,000 needed to be raised by the end of January. but due to the high level of Interest this amount was raised In less than one week and the total sum invested to date now exceeds £350,000. The offer is designed to fund reopening of the railway from Northallerton on the East Coast main line to Garsdale on the Settle-Carlisle line
The response has come from all parts of the UK with the size of investments ranging from the minimum of £100 up to significant five figure sums. The demand for shares shows no sign of reducing and the company is receiving many new requests for the prospectus on a daily basis.
"The applications for shares that we have seen to date have given us great encouragement. Given the recent difficulties faced by the railways. It is satisfying to see that investors have faith in our approach" said Mr Scott Handley, Wensleydale Railway plc chief executive. "We have been invited to meetings at the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Strategic Rail Authority in London this week. This will allow us to present our proposals in detail to them, confident in our ability to provide the required level of investment."
The sum received to date means that the company can commence progress on its development programme In line with its expectations and may be able to accelerate some parts of it. Further copies of the prospectus can be obtained from the company web site at www.wensleydalerailway.com, by calling our FREE CALL investors help line on 0500 824166 or by wntlng to Wensleydale Railway plc, 35 High Street, Northallerton. North Yorkshire, DL7 8EE. More information: 01609 779368
9.2.01
A new tunnel could be built under London to link Victoria to King’s Cross or Liverpool Street if GNER is successful in its bid to take over the South West Trains franchise from Stagecoach. The tunnel would allow some Waterloo-bound services to be diverted across London via the tunnel from near Clapham Junction to Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and onwards.
The ambitious plan is not likely to be implemented before 2010. In a £4.5billion package GNER also wants to build a new multi-level Clapham Junction station to the east of the present site, a new nine-mile long fifth track between Surbiton and Clapham Junction, a tunnel under Wimbledon station, a revamp of Waterloo, and platform lengthening at many suburban stations to allow for longer trains.
The plan which involves introducing 2,000 new coaches with on-board CCTV is already with the Strategic Rail Authority. New inter-city style trains will operate on the long-distance services to the coast from 2009 and double-deckers on outer suburban trains from 2010.
5.2.01
Railways throughout Europe should be boosted as part of an EU energy policy. "We must revitalise the railways, reorganise the road transport sector, rationalise the use of conventional private cars, and promote more environmentally friendly and efficient modes of transport," said a green paper issued by the Commission.
The paper also calls for "redressing the growing imbalance between road haulage and rail" and for a "truly alternative transport policy". It adds: "Could corrective action be taken, however unpopular, notably to encourage lower use of cars in urban areas?" The green paper was launched by transport and energy commissioner Loyola de Palacio.
Transport campaigners are calling on the European Union to develop green tourism as part of an EU sustainability strategy, expected to be published later this year. Tourism and leisure traffic accounts for half of all European transport, but the share of leisure rail travel is down to 15% and falling while air travel is growing rapidly.
In an attempt to shift more holiday journeys on to public transport, it is suggsted that there should be road charging per kilometre, increased take-off and landing charges for flights shorter than 500 miles, a tax on aviation fuel, higher parking fees at tourist venues and promotion of door-to-door luggage transport by rail.
2.2.01
A Bill to return Railtrack to public ownership is to be introduced by Green party peer Lord Beaumont of Whitley.
The Greens are currently drafting the Bill after consultation with rail unions and it could be in Parliament in weeks.
"Rail privatisation was Thatcherite dogma taken to extremes," said Lord Beaumont. "New Labour has lacked the courage to renationalise, yet has also failed to ensure the proper standards of service which people have a right to expect. The least they can do now is to renationalise Railtrack as the first step to giving Britain the rail network it needs."
The Take Back the Track campaign, representing rail unions ASLEF, RMT and TSSA, has welcomed the move.
"A hundred Labour, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru MPs already shown their support for this demand by signing an Early Day Motion," said ASLEF's Andrew Murray.
"We hope politicians of all parties will support it, because it clearly expresses the wishes of the public."
Green Party Transport Speaker and author of the Bill, Alan Francis, said: "The recent nervous breakdown of rail services has shown clearly that privatisation didn't work."
Three times as many people in favour of the renationalisation of Railtrack as against it (69% to 23%)," according to an ICM poll for BBC2's Newsnight earlier this month.
The cost of renationalisaton would be in the region of £5billion, which could be phased over a number of years by the issue of bonds.
Railtrack is being given £3.5billion just to upgrade the West Coast main line for which the public gets no stake whatsoever. The Greens believe it is better to spend a bit more and get the ownership of the whole network.
They say the Government received an unexpected £22billion from the sale of mobile phone licences so it has the money if it has the will.
"Once Railtrack was back in public ownership the Government could invest in the rail network and know that none of the money would be creamed off for shareholder dividends and directors pay rises," said Alan Francis. "The rail network would once again be publicly accountable."
Contacts: Alan Francis (Green Party Transport Speaker) 01908 316921 or 07803 040699 ahfrancis@gn.apc.org
Spencer Fitz-Gibbon (Green Party press office) 0161 225 4863
For the second year running, rail was completely ignored in the pre-Budget statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8 November 2000.
Instead more than £2billion was dished out to road hauliers who stopped some train and bus servives and caused widespread problems when they blockaded oil supplies in September.
Yet, as the Government's own statistics show, left, it is rail and bus travellers who have seen their costs rise while cars and lorries have been protected.
Even though the tax on lorries fails to recover the cost of the damage they do, the Chancellor has reduced their vehicle excise duty by about £750 a year and cut their fuel costs. That will make it even more difficult for rail freight to compete.
An official study published in September showed that each big lorry causes about £28,000 worth of damage each year while contributing only £25,000 in tax and excise duty.
RDS investigations show that the discrepancy is even greater if all the environmental damage lorries do is taken into account. Friends of the Earth agree. The graph comes from the Government's own 10-year plan for transport which was published in July. In the same pre-Budget statement statement, the Chancellor gave £1billion to inner cities, ignoring the fact that his concessions to the road lobby will worsen the inner cities' biggest problem - pollution and congestion caused by too much traffic.
European studies now show that air pollution - mainly particulates from road vehicles - kills more people than road crashes. Last year crashes on Britain's roads claimed 3,423 lives, half of them pedestrians and cyclists. There is never any real investigation into how many of them are accidents and how many are caused by negligence, carelessness or deliberately dangerous driving. Most of them are avoidable but British drivers are now among the most aggressive in the world.
10.11.00
Railtrack should be taken back into the public sector as a practical way of overcoming the rail industry's problems, says Mick Rix, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef. He said Railtrack's reaction to the Hatfield crash, closing down lines at a moment's notice and warning that the railway will not be back to normal for two years has created an impression of panic which will drive people back on to the roads. One way of bringing Railtrack more into line could be for the Government to receive shares in return for the enormous amount of public money going to Railtrack. Railtrack could also be converted into a public trust, and given a much clearer remit - to maintain and expand the network to a high standard.
15.11.00
More than £50,000 has been raised in CKP Railways' second bond issue. It means the offer is now unconditional, allowing the company to start issuing certificates. The offer of bonds can now remain open until 28 April 2001. CKP Railways has authority to raise up to £2.5million through the bonds. £1million will allow the work necessary to obtain a Transport and Works Order - to reopen the line from Penrith to Keswick - to be completed. "We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received," said managing director Cedric Martindale. "Now the real work can begin."Applications received before 15 December should allow certificates to be despatched in time for Christmas.
The prospectus containing full details of the bond issue and an application form is available from: CKP Railways plc, 1 Solway Park, CARLISLE CA2 6TH
or e-mail: ckp@cmartindale.fsnet.co.uk
27.11.00
The Wensleydale Railway is offering members of the public the chance to buy shares in a bid to raise funds to bring trains back between Northallerton and Hawes - and eventually to Garsdale on the Settle-Carlisle line.
The minimum share subsription is £100 and shareholders will receive various travel benefits tailored to the size of their purchase. Copies of the prospectus can be obtained by writing to Wensleydale Railway plc, 35 High Street, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 8EE
Or it will be soon be available at http://www.wensleydalerailway.com
27.11.00
Plans to improve the signalling at Norton Fitzwarren to enable more trains to run through from the Railtrack network on to the West Somerset Railway have been boosted by grants from local authorities. But Railtrack say it cannot do the necessary work until 2002 or 2003.
14.11.00
Hopes of reopening the line from Cheltenham to Stratford on Avon are being complicated by Sustrans' plans for a cycleway between Cheltenham and Bishop's Cleeve. More info at http://www.honeybournedebate.fsnet.co.uk/
14.11.00
An exhibition about the work of the great railway engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel is at the Design Museum, near Tower Bridge, London, until 25 February 2001. Admission is £5.50 and opening times are 11.30-18.00. Tel: 020 7940 8790
14.11.00
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum is now open in Brunel's Temple Meads railway station at Bristol. Info: 0117925 4980 or http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk
14.11.00
The London Waterloo to Exeter line is to be included in a new Wessex franchise, the Strategic Rail Authority reported this week
"The needs of passengers on the route west are distinct from the commuter-dominated South West Trains franchise, and demand is growing rapidly," said SRA chief executive Mike Grant. "It is also strategically important as an alternative to the main route operated from Paddington."
Scientists have urged that rail and coach travel should be expanded as an alternative to air travel which is producing increasingly harmful pollution.
A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said removing airlines' subsidies and increasing taxes might be necessary because future improvements in aircraft and their engines will not be enough to offset the growth in harmful emissions.
"This report proves aeroplanes are a significant threat to the world's climate," said Friends of the Earth.
Entitled Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, the report has been developed over two years by a group of more than 100 scientists from around the world.
By 2015 airlines would be consuming 300 million tonnes of fuel - more than double the 1992 figure - with corresponding high emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapour as well as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides.
Estimates showed that up to 10% of travellers in Europe could be transferred from aircraft to high-speed trains.
Simon McRae, aviation campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "Airlines pay no duty on the fuel they use and therefore have little incentive to conserve fuel or control their emissions.
"It's time for the UK Government to show the commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by pressing the Americans to agree to an international aviation fuel tax."
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere was published on 4 June.
A high-speed rail link being built to Marseilles will make Britain only six hours away from the Mediterranean.
In two years time, new TGV trains will cut the 500-mile journey from Paris to the Riviera from five and half hours to just under three hours.
Eurostar trains from London to the French capital also take three hours but when the Channel Tunnel fast link is completed, the London-Paris time will be cut by half an hour - the time needed to get across Paris.
The head of French Railways said: "Passengers will soon realise how much time they can save by not travelling out to an airport an hour before a flight, then suffering all the usual airport delays."
Twelve people died in Illinois when an Amtrak passenger train crashed into a lorry on a level crossing in March 1999. The lorry driver was reported to have driven across even though the lights were flashing to warn of an oncoming train. It is also reported that he was driving on a provisional licence after being caught three times in one year exceeding the speed limit. The news of the rail crash was carried in many newspapers in Britain but the lorry driver was not mentioned in many of the reports.
Railtrack produced figures showing that travel by train is 100 times safer than by car when it was summoned by the Commons Transport Committee to an inquiiry into safety. David Williams, Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, said overall crime on Britain's railways had fallen 25% since 1990. He spoke of the importance of closed circuit TV in catching criminals.
Shares in Dutch airline KLM increased by more than 3% when it announced it is forming a passenger transport alliance with Schiphol Airport and Dutch Rail.
The Government's plans to reorganise London's Tube network into a public-private partnership were decided in too much secrecy, MPs have decided. Both a Price Waterhouse report and advice from London Transport to the Government, evaluating the financing options for modernising the underground, should be made public, said MPs in a report from the all-party Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, published on 16 July. The committee is also worried about a funding gap which might afflict the planned Greater London Authority which will be responsible for the Underground network. There needs to be a "clear statement as to the level of debt for which the GLA will assume responsibility", said the MPs. They call for a review of the relationship between the Underground, train operating companies, the proposed strategic rail authority and the Office of the Rail Regulator. They also criticise the £65 million to be spent on consultants fees and administration. "This is money that could otherwise be invested in the modernisation of the network," said the report.
North Western Trains is to run an experiment selling rail tickets via the Internet. If it is successful, Great Western and Great Eastern will follow suit.
One commuter train can keep 800 cars off the road at any one time.
The car is such a serious polluter that it takes 140 trees to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by one family car during a year's average use. If you own a car, perhaps you should consider planting a tree ˜ or 140 of them.
Almost 50% of the train travellers in Denmark use a cycle to get to the station, not a car.
An intercity train is 400% more energy efficient than a car. A freight train with 21 containers uses the same energy as a lorry with ONE container.
A new guide to rail user groups throughout Britain has been published by the Rail Regulator with help from the Railway Development Society. More than 150 local, regional and action groups are included. The directory can be obtained from RDS Sales, 89 North Wallington, Fareham, Hants PO16 8TJ.
Ten nuclear power stations would have to be built if electric vehicles replaced Britain's existing fleet of petrol and diesel cars, RDS member Hugh Walker has calculated. This so-called "environmental solution" to road pollution is yet another road lobby distortion. Return to the Railwatch home page.
You can email Railwatch editor Ray King at editor@railwatch.org.uk (or just click on this link), e-mail Deltic Design with comments about the Railwatch Web pages, or visit their web site.
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