Railwatch 078 - December 1998

East Anglia

By Trevor Garrod and Nick Dibben

International links Members of the branch and local rail users associations are working on a report on rail and bus links to the region's international airports (Stansted and Norwich) and Harwich International Port. Issues being covered include how these could be better promoted, ease of ticketing and scope for inward tourism by rail. For example, on the high-speed ferry between Harwich and the Hook of Holland it is possible to buy a ticket to any Dutch station, but not to British stations. The rail-link coach from Colchester to Stansted Airport is only advertised by one train operating company, but is potentially useful for the customers of four companies. It is planned to publish an RDS report on the matter, with short-term, medium-term and longer-term recommendations in the New Year.

Lowestoft Airshow Nearly 2000 passengers arrived at Lowestoft station on the main day of this summer's airshow, and Anglia Railways laid on extra staff and rolling stock. Yet contractors working for Railtrack chose this very day to cordon off half the platform area on the pretext of resurfacing it. The East Suffolk Travellers' Association (affiliated to RDS) has taken up this lack of co-ordination with Railtrack management; while entering into dialogue with all concerned to try to ensure that rail plays an even bigger role in bringing visitors to the 1999 show.

Parallel lines The branch has taken part in a two-day seminar organised by the Highways Agency to discuss the future of the A14 road. We put forward the rail alternative, noting that the Cambridge to St Ives line and the proposed East-West rail link run parallel to the A14. One problem still to be resolved by the Government is that it is not possible to transfer funds from the Highways Agency to the railways in cases where rail development can avoid the need for new road construction. The branch continues to put the case for reopening this line with a series of meetings with local MPs and councils. Further public support for the scheme was received when the branch had a stand at a green fair in Huntingdon during October. The local bus company has increased services between Huntingdon and Cambridge to four per hour and introduced a new evening service. This does not affect the case for reopening as the railway will serve different parts of Cambridge and will be able to offer cross-city journeys not possible by bus. It does however weaken the case for the guided busway alternative as the busway will not offer any improvements to the existing bus service.

Not on a Sunday The branch has complained to both WAGN and Railtrack regarding engineering works which will affect Sunday services on the King's Cross to Peterborough route. Sunday morning services were reintroduced on the line this year but will go in January 1999 when new engineering works start. The branch has suggested that WAGN run an additional fast train to London to relieve overcrowding and to give an earlier arrival in the capital. Railtrack has stated that it will investigate reopening the line at 5am on a Sunday rather than 9.30am. When we raised the issue at the Rail Users Consultative Committee it made the local ITVnews.

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