Railwatch 078 - December 1998

North-East

By John Bourn

Key speakers Recent North-East branch meetings have been distinguished by some stimulating inputs from guest speakers, including NEXUS boss (and Chaiman of the Don't Choke Britain campaign) Mike Parker who lived up to his promise to "take his gloves off" as he argued forcefully for radical measures to tackle the congestion seizing local roads. In September, indefatigable Transport 2000 campaigner Don Kent gave his usual witty and provocative overview of the transport scene. There was a cautious thumbs-up for the Government's White Paper. Don felt the intellectual argument has been won, and attention must now shift to lobbying local councils which will have to take forward many of the Government's proposals.

Out and about Responding to an invitation from Mike Parker, branch members enjoyed an absorbing tour of the Tyne & Wear Metro depot at South Gosforth. An afternoon meeting was also held in Newcastle Central Station with local Northern Spirit manager David Bishop, who expressed a willingness to meet RDS on a twice-yearly basis. In October, several members were privileged to hear transport guru David Begg, one of John Prescott's key advisers, lecturing a packed audience at Newcastle University on the need to reform our transport policy.

Could be worse While hardly on a par with the Virgin horror stories, GNER continues to suffer from delays caused by problems with Class 91 power cars. The elaborate promises about station modernisation haven't really been fulfilled, and one does get the impression that a lot of investment is on hold until a decision is taken about franchise extension.

Northern Spirit's punctuality record on North-East local services is commendable. It is a shock when one is late, which can hardly be said of some other rail operators! But with owners MTL up for sale, we wait to see how that will affect the investment that is clearly needed in train refurbishment (the Class 156s are starting to look very shabby) and station improvements. Work has however started on that rural jewel Hexham, with a new ticket office and waiting room promised. Haltwhistle has also been smartened up, with a new transport interchange and offices in the old station yard, and the former station house converted into the town's Tourist Information Office.

Fight for freight In another sign of the Government fulfilling its pro-rail promises, the Department of Transport has granted a £690,000 freight grant to the Port of Tyne Authority. This represents 73% of the total cost of a new intermodal freight terminal and car loading facility.

Other positive developments include new coal freight flows from Butterwell in Northumberland and in the opposite direction to the British Alcan works at Lynemouth, as well as a trial shipment of wood pulp from Hexham to Whitley Bridge in Yorkshire. Hexham's freight yard was closed in the early 90s following the demise of Speedlink!

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