Rail industry launches thirty year vision

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), Network Rail and the Rail Freight Operators’ Association (RFOA) have jointly published a paper, ‘Planning Ahead’, which sets out a vision as to what the railway should be planning to deliver to both passengers and freight customers during the decade from 2030 to 2039. The paper states that potential demand for rail travel could double during the next thirty years – the paper states that the objectives for the railway for the next thirty years should be to provide:-

1. Passengers with more comfortable journeys, less overcrowding and better stations
2. Better integration with other modes of transport, including additional ‘parkway’ stations
3. Better rail links to airports
4. A ‘green, electrified’ network to carry a minimum of eighty per cent of passengers
5. Additional capacity on the network, including new high speed lines
6. Improved train punctuality
7. Elimination of rail replacement buses during engineering works
8. Doubling of share of fright market conveyed by rail
9. Trains controlled by computer and digital radio technology

The paper concludes that public transport needs to be at the core of the nation’s planning for housing, business and leisure.

Network Rail publishes network-wide route utilisation strategy

Network Rail has published a network-wide route utilisation strategy looking at the impact on a range of different scenarios on long-term demand for passenger and freight services - the scenarios are made up of fairly predictable measures such as population growth and more unpredictable factors such as economic development and energy prices.

New buses for Purbeck

Wilts and Dorset Bus Company, a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group, has invested two million and four hundred thousand pounds in the purchase of twelve new Scania double-deck vehicles, which will be based at Swanage depot. The route between Bournemouth and Swanage via the Sandbanks Ferry will be operated by six convertible double-deckers (where the roof can be fully removed) and three ‘semi open top’ vehicles (with a permanent roof over the front seats on the upper deck and a door separating the ‘enclosed’ and ‘open’ sections) – the service between Poole and Swanage via Wareham will be operated by three ‘conventional’ new buses.

Arriva CrossCountry e-ticketing sales

Arriva CrossCountry has announced that the train operating company has sold twenty-four thousand e-tickets since the initiative was launched in November 2008 – e-tickets now account for fourteen per cent of all bookings through the company’s website ‘www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk’.

Farewell to Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has decided to rename Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) as ‘The Safety Inspectorate’ – the ORR became responsible for HMRI on 1 April 2006. The one hundred and eighty inspectors, employed by the Safety Directorate, will continue to be known individually as ‘Her Majesty’s Railway Inspector’!

First Great Western gain quality award

First Great Western has gained a three-star award from the British Quality Foundation, following a year of improved operational performance.

Network Rail wants new public members

Network Rail is seeking applications for twenty-five new Public Members to replace existing members, whose terms of office expire in November 2009. Full details are available on the company’s website ‘www.networkrail.co.uk’ and applications must be received by June 12.

And finally,

First Great Western has suffered an unexpected loss of revenue as thieves broke into the ticket office at Bath Spa railway station and stole cash totalling thousands of pounds from the safe.