Freight by rail more - assessing government long-term pledges

05-02-24 Update news:

re: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68180047?at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&at_format=link&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_medium=social&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=CBF474F0-C335-11EE-A1EF-DEC754826ABF&at_link_origin=BBC_London&at_bbc_team=editorial&fbclid=IwAR2bAO8rYShHyTLKvT4roYds9oPQIeBRcBcHSrTtqL8gqYBMt4XgL364L8I

Please support BRTA as we advocate this sort of thing and more. Thank you. The Dudding Hill Lines could also facilitate a new bay at Luton Airport Parkway Station, a regular Luton-Reading 'South Chiltern' Rail Passenger Service, cutting changing and tube to get across London from North to West and vice versa.

Join and/or donate now! https://ertarail.co.uk/become-a-member/ The respective councils, quangos and leaders need to be encouraged to have the vision and get on with it. Heathrow Southern Rail Link could have arms to Reading, Paddington and Old Oak Common/Chiltern Main Line for a Milton Keynes/Aylesbury/Banbury arc to Woking/Guildford and beyond too. All standard conventional rail links can be used for passenger and freight operations, we just need more of them and joined-up-ness for optimum network benefits on and off the rails.

03-02-24

re: https://railuk.com/rail-freight/gb-railfreight-launches-new-rail-freight-service-connecting-london-gateway-to-iport-doncaster/

This is a good-news story, despite many saying no capacity along the East Coast Main Line (ECML)! 

If the slow lines either side were made x6-tracking - you agree the idea and start now x 10 years for delivery, with a new Ickleford Curve to the Hitchin - Royston Line and with curves at Tempsford for East-West Rail physically linking ECML and vice-versa, you enable utilization of stock, more scope, revenue and business for all rail lines and the benefit also of more lorries off our roads, cutting emissions and freeing up road space for those who have to drive and drive safely too. 

It is BRTA's conviction that East Bedfordshire must have a full through rail-based access to Bedford County Town and vice versa. Rejuvenation requires sustainable footfall and spend in all these places and rail is the way to go, hence our call for trains to enter and go through Bedford via St John's and that onwards also direct of the Oxford corridor. 

Please give us your support and help usher this option. We need more people and goods by rail and more tracks for more trains is exactly what is needed on existing networks and reopenings/new-builds as well. HS1 does multi-tasking whereas HS2 is not being designed for comprehensive usage and versatility. The lack of M25 orbital rails to enable Channel Tunnel-radial rails is a big issue, which needs a champion to lead on strategically and government has a pivotal role to play, but seems gormless from a number of policy, joined up and honesty issues like pretending HS2 to Crewe cancellation would cascade to local rails more, it is a pittance deployment, money majoritively has gone to non-rail projects or the Treasury for Tax Cuts before an election. Meanwhile Colne-Skipton which has ticked all the required boxes including business case, is not being given the go-ahead yet and other pressures could scupper it unless a bold, a strong determined lead from the Secretary of State is given. The model repeats elsewhere sadly.Northampton-Market Harborough (N2MH) is another case in point.

https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

re: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-ambitious-target-to-grow-rail-freight-by-at-least-75

Laudable stocking filler for what campaigners like us may wish for, but how accountable is the pledge? For example, anything with 2050 immediately rouses suspicion, even as half a loaf is better than none. On the one hand irreversible climate change cut off is 2030, I'd like to know what progress between now and then that is 'new' beit money, infrastructure, grants reorientation to favour rail connectivity and lines-side plans for nurturing freight by rail, which because of its nature, is not necessarily an overnight thing, but 30 years may seem extravagant. On the other hand, we have a general election within about 12 months, so a new government may have another agenda, does this one remain or rapidly changed, from what to what? If we have a consensus amongst Opposition and Government that we must nurture modal shift from road to rail as a clear goal, then we should expect to see specific plans for where extra tracks for more trains will go and what timescale and what of cascading. Two examples yea, three:

1. Ely Rail Bypass in the system, but will take time, along with hopefully redoubling tracks along the Soham line. But March-Peterborough is already intensively used, how may extra trains can be accommodated without squeezing passenger demand or indeed, the Wisbech rail reopening with through trains? 

2. Bletchley-Milton Keynes has been identified by Network Rail, but timescale is unknown. Trains have been cut back to Watford from Gatwick/East Croydon due to a lack of capacity. So we excellerate capacity for East-West Rail into Milton Keynes Central and that of Bedford-Bletchley trains, but what about other enhancements? Infill electrification between Bletchley and Bedford may not have a strict 'business case' (I hate that whole system as costly delaying tactics when common sense cries out for rail investment for environmental and good efficiency reasons), but would enable Watford-Corby electric hauled freight and a semi fast peak time passenger service exploiting the end-to-end potential for a speedier transit. Yes, keep the shuttle and add another station for Kempston Town and Retail Park. But the agenda must be rail, what can we put on it, all sizes open to consider from containers to Post, Pallets and Parcels for example. Every station should have a parcels outlet, which could tie-in with information and sell stamps upwards and outwards. With Universal Pleasure Parks seeking permission to develop between the proposed Wixams and existing Kempston Hardwick Stations, both should benefit, so upgrading with lengthening platforms for 3-4 coach trains as a norm should be where the plan goes to ensure rail serves these big developments from day one, not like the Retail Park, 40 years and nil delivery! https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/breaking-news-universal-studios-confirm-they-are-planning-a-theme-park-in-bedford-borough/

3. Northampton. If we are to get a Northampton-Market Harborough rail link, more track capacity apart from that, is needed through Northampton with additional platform capacity. This is why developing non rail development right to track-side is ludicrous if we are serious of modal shift from road to rail. 

Please help us by:

1. writing to your local MP, relevant council

2. Stay with us and give us whatever support you can please.

3. Our new Westminster Team coordinated by Tony Houghton, is open to all to collaborate with us. We want pro-rail people to attend the various meetings and speak up credibly for more and better rail solutions, reopenings, and select pieces of new build.

Government started by allocating £27 billion new roads and a mere £500 million for the Rail Reopenings Fund. It is not therefore new money we need, but a reallocation of existing funds to show forth better intent to rebalancing our transport system and enabling more by rail. 

New Stations example and our tabling opportunities to work together

14-12-23

Some of you may be interested in this: https://enroutecic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Two-towns-multiple-approaches-Observations-from-Daventry-Rushden-1.pdf

ERTA supports a number of new stations, but we can't just keep adding to existing networks, we need more tracks and reopenings for more stations to engage wider audiences. 

Please see:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/contractor-appointed-for-new-station-on-scottish-rail-line-28-11-2023/

Please note that as far as Stations North of Bedford go, our Wellingborough and Beds Forum respectively are two meetings to tap into. Identifying and protecting a site for a station is critical and working out the 3-5 population catchment distance likewise. 

Please see: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

Ampthill (Thameslink), Kempston (London North Western Train Operating Company) and Sharnbrook, Irchester, Desborough and Kibworth would be East Midlands Electric shuttle service between Bedford and Leicester on the slow lines and if Bedford-Bletchley was electrified could run semi-fast to Bletchley and likewise to Watford (especially peak time)? Let us have your feedback. Note, we do not support Northampton-Wellingborough as too far gone and Finedon and Burton Latimer, may have a case, but would they detract from the close proximity of Wellingborough and Kettering?

On the Corby issue, we are pleased the electrified railway is being used and would like to see a study into Melton Mowbray-Nottingham to see how the old railway could link that way to the East Midlands to free up more capacity through Leicester for passenger and more freight trains by rail? Corby-Nottingham was once part of the Midland Main Line, serving Rutland areas and connecting with Peterborough-Leicester services for example.

Maybe an all encompassing study or series of studies could look at scope and tell powers that be what we would like and seek less costly and bureaucratic means and ways to achieve successful outcomes of more and better railways? It can be done. Fast trains remain on fast lines, however feeder stations and local services being restored, could provide a handy parking capacity expansion and more overall rail usage, cutting associated roads-only congestion in some cases.

Archive Call Appeal from 07-12-23

Archive Call Appeal: Richard Pill has files and other archive of the former ERTA and previous BRTA eras (going back 20+ years) and would love them to go to a good home. Likewise, some dry, safe storage of old magazines and stock for selling on-line or teaming up to cover sales stalls would be welcome to entertain asap please. 

Contact Richard Pill with enquiries via richard.erta@gmail.com or phone him (see front page for details). It will be junked if no interest is forthcoming sadly. Plastic containers provided, but must have own transport.

ERTA Supports Electrification of the Peterborough-Spalding-Doncaster Rail Link and associated bigger picture of where the trends are pointing!

06-12-23 Coming the other way, Southampton-Oxford-ECML-Doncaster cannot happen without more track connectivity at design stages and capacity with spades on the ground now and going forward: 

Got this article in a rail freight publication. I did send a second draft correcting a typo or two, but the original was done instead! However, I hope it makes some salient points and we welcome any support.

re: https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/major-report-reveals-ambition-to-electrify-railway-line-9342791/

4 December 2023

Press Release

 

ERTA Supports Electrification of the Peterborough-Spalding-Doncaster Rail Link and associated bigger picture of where the trends are pointing!

 

Re: https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/major-report-reveals-ambition-to-electrify-railway-line-9342791/

 

ERTA supports calls for electrifying the Peterborough-Doncaster line. More freight by rail is increasingly on the agenda across the whole network and in an environmental context makes more sense if only we have a more joined-up and comprehensive infrastructure.

 

It is ERTA’s view that we were calling for this before the Pandemic alongside a study into a new-build March-Spalding rail link. Development blight on old railway corridors should be seen as unacceptable and poor stewardship and Councils and Governments who permit such when there is a growing demand for rail-usage generally should pay compensation commensurate to what needs relocation to enable a rail link to get through.

 

Moreover, electrifying Peterborough-Doncaster makes more sense if:

1.      If Felixstowe-Peterborough is also electrified as that is where a lion’s share of freight comes and goes to and from.

2.      The East Coast Main Line/ECML lacks capacity between London and Peterborough that also needs a review and capacity enhancements to enable more.

 

End Press Release

 

Media Comment: Richard Pill ERTA CEO 01234 330090 or richard.erta@gmail.com

Mobile: 07752 096392

Oxford-Witney Rail Reopening-New-Build Let's have it now!

re: Bring it on! Oxford-Witney rail reopening. Cheap at the price, given all the on-off rail benefits such may inform. ERTA has long called for it.

Now Lord Cameron alias 'Dave' has come back to Cabinet, maybe as a local he can be persuaded to advocate for this reopening: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-67487149

This terminal branch as such, is one of many likewise which would bring enormous social benefit to the people of Witney and surrounds by providing a rail alternative to the busy A40 and reduce congestion to and from Oxford along the corridors it would intersect. Elsewhere Croxley near Watford, Bridport, Padstow and many other coastal areas also need re-railing. 

Cannot do them all, but a top 10 in a decade would inform more all-year-round footfall and spend and help sustain jobs and the local economy. Please write to your MP and call on the Government to see this is a case of 'a stitch in time saves 9'! 

There are many who rubbish local rail reopenings, so-called 'professionals' amongst the mix. However, most rail reopenings have exceeded expectations and there's no reason why this and others similarly would not and saves road wear and tear too. 

Our railways are fixed assets and so medium-long term benefits grow as flows follow what transport is available. Please give us your support.

 Join ERTA and help make our voice stronger: https://ertarail.co.uk/become-a-member/ Thank you.

Devon proves it... local rail reopenings are the way to go and investment should be made to be available to inform x nationwide more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-67484900

Northampton2Market Harborough (N2MH) Rail Link - a call to action!

03-02-24
BRTA Northampton Working Group Meeting (to be held Saturday 10 February) will be held at the Northampton Quakers in the Emmeline Davies Room (upper floor), Quaker Meeting House, Wellington St, Northampton NN1 3AS 2-4pm business https://www.quaker.org.uk/contact-us Main contact: Mr Simon Barber BRTA T: 0208 940 4399   E: simon4barber@gmail.com
Agenda:
1.     Apologies for absence
2.      Northampton-Market Harborough (N2MH) (introduction and where things are at with Professor Andrew N. Williams Patron and Officer of ERTA
3.      What needs doing? Compilation of a list/brain storming,
4.      Who is prepared to cover what – genuine and reliable offers only
5.      Cycle/leisure interests as well as itself (being green transport option)/route protection needed
6.       Market Harborough – land west of Midland Main Line – ensuring development does not scupper what the railway needs to duck under Midland Main Line.
7.      Brixworth - 10,000 houses
8.      Northampton Station – more platforms and track/redesign needed and the twin northern bays interim usefulness.
9.      Brackmills Branch connectivity and role (including St James Mill Link Road)
10. 6-tracking Bletchley-Milton Keynes
11.Capacity through Leicester creation
12.Getting more public support
13.Any Other Related Business
14.Date of next meeting: suggest the same place ant format and meet thrice yearly (May)
 
Note: Public Meeting at Market Harborough details/all welcome: BRTA Market Harborough Public Meeting – Saturday 16 March – 12pm food and 2-4pm business Lunch Venue: The Sugar Loaf, 18 High Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7NJ W. https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/leicestershire/the-sugar-loaf-market-harborough Agenda: 1pm set-up, 2-4pm business and vacate by 5pm. Meeting Venue: Market Harborough Methodist Church/Hall, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9HE www.harboroughmethodistcircuit.org

T: 01858 -467666/ 01858-462077 All others: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

17-01-24

re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQT4MFK7dKU

What provision if any for the railway to be rebuilt, road to go over or under railway? We need rail-care now, not abandonment please!

We need your help and support via richard.erta@gmail.com

29-11-23 Bad News from West Northants Council - poor stewards of the rail agenda!

The planning reference numbers in regard to the Northampton North-West Relief Road is (Ref.No.19/00045/CCDFUL) when it was under the control of Northamptonshire County Council (developmentcontrol@northamptonshire.gov.uk) and the person at that time was Peter Moor which was made in June 2020. This was their response:

   Please find attached a letter relating to the application 19/00045/CCDFUL: The construction of new roads (Northampton North West Relief Road) on land South of the A5199 Northampton Road between the Brampton Health Golf Centre and the River Nene, including two new roundabouts and links bridging over the River Nene to Brampton Land and over the Northampton loop of the West Coast mainline to connect with the Dallington Grange development at Land Off A5199 Northampton Road, Northampton.
 Kind Regards
 Development Control
 Northamptonshire County Council
 Planning Services
 NCC Place
 One Angel Square
 Angel Street
 Northampton NN1 1ED

Recommend you write to them and DfT and ask for the road proposal to be called in and for the railway to be supported? https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/ and https://members.parliament.uk/government/department?DepartmentId=23

21-11-23 They are saying all the right things but fall short of specific advocacy and funding studies to make the case for rebuilding a Northampton-Market Harborough rail link - why? https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2023/11/21/uk-midlands-connect-spotlights-the-need-for-increased-regional-capacity/

Update on the ground - we need pro-affirma rail spades, not blocking tactics! 15-11-2023

re: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/incredible-drone-footage-shows-transformation-of-countryside-in-northampton-to-make-way-for-new-homes-and-ps545m-road-4409997

Government issues housing demands to councils who then find land and seeks to build to meet quotas - not unlike fishing in the sea! The process means cheap land, non controversial land and using the demand to supply but making other compromises along the way, the political fix. NIMBYs don't want a railway, whilst many do see the strategic need and justification and studies indicate potential benefits on and off the tracks if we do reopen. Bedford-Northampton had that development adjacent to Delapre Abbey, whilst not on the trackbed, leaves no room for a full-bodied electrified railway and objections of trains in close proximity does not stretch imagination.

Now we see similar tactics on Northampton-Market Harborough (N2MH), whereby the sacrifice of the railway corridor based on either a belief it can never reopen or a determined will not to reopen is the political fix of what we appear to be dealing with as far as Northamptonshire and elsewhere informs.

I would urge you to please write to West Northants Council and object and write in favour of the railway which could balance demands for development with sustainability issues. Block the line and you have development without better public transport and congestion unadulteratedly grows and proliferates and Northampton's air pollution is amongst the worst in the country.

So please:

1. Object: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/

2. Write in favour of the railway: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/councillors-and-committees/find-your-councillor

3. Work with ERTA and join if not a member, informing our fighting fund more/donate: https://ertarail.co.uk/become-a-member/

4. Read the study: https://ertarail.co.uk/elementor-1581/

5. Ask the government to intervene: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport

6. England's Economic Heartlands - fine talk is easy, gritty issues blocking railway corridors or making reopening harder, is exactly what we need going forward whilst making the case/further studying credentials justifying efforts to nurture policies for a railway x nationwide elsewhere too: https://www.englandseconomicheartland.com/

7. Your local MP, can he/she have a word with the Northampton MP's and get them suitably actioning efforts for the railway more?https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

Scroll up, scroll down and please don't accept defeat. ERTA is organising a Working Group and making progress is exactly what we need. The planting of housing and roads on trackbeds or prohibitively adjacent to rail requirement going forwards, is nonsensical from a social, economic and environmental stand point and in the interests of public health needs to be abated: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-66939602

ERTA and my role is one of coordination and delegation. You are our voice to get things done principally on the ground. Please wade in and help us. Remember what we said about Christmas and Summer Holiday periods being time to bury bad news! 

Dear All,

I am pleased to say that our colleague Professor Andrew N. Williams has done sterling work to advance the cause  of a reopened Northampton-Market Harborough Railway. He managed to persuade his local MP to ask a question in the House of Commons (HOC) to which the Rail Minister gave the following reply:

"Answer:

Huw Merriman:

On behalf of sub-national transport body England's Economic Heartland, Network Rail previously prepared a feasibility study into reinstating a railway connection between the West Coast Main Line at Northampton and the Midland Main Line at Market Harborough. I encourage him to engage with England's Economic Heartland further on this.

The answer was submitted on 25 Oct 2023 at 09:46."

Therefore, we encourage people to write in support of the railway and similar ERTA supports - which is not every railway that ever was despite some detractors (!) - to make England's Economic Heartland aware of support for reopening the rail link and make a bee-line to their annual conference in Cambridge on 1st November see: https://www.englandseconomicheartland.com/

and work with Andrew (see cc) to multiply support especially as per your local MP where you live for example.

You can write to Huw Merriman MP Minister for Transport at the Department for Transport giving support to ERTA and our calls. Although not exhaustive, we call for:

1. The government (and ask opposition parties) for lists and commitment to an on-going programme of local, conventional rail reopenings, rebuilds and select new-builds x nationwide with all the benefits.

2. That the study -see https://ertarail.co.uk/elementor-1581/ - and whilst the list is not exhaustive, gives a flavour of what we are focusing on. Northants MP Andrea Leadsom whose constituency covers Brackley recently wrote in favour of a new Silverstone Station, whereas we call for a new Brackley East Station with connecting buses. I am unsure what connecting railway her station would be, but HS2 ruled it out ages ago and our suggestion is a new spur off the emergent Oxford-Bletchley rail link (East-West Rail) and via a new alignment parallel to HS2 alignment, have a new station to serve what is the growing area of Greater Brackley and cream off commuters from the busy dual carriageway A43 for example. Silverstone is part of the jigsaw, but hopefully such a line as a Phase 1, could go on to Rugby Central as a Parkway for access by rail to Oxford and Aylesbury for example with maybe another station in between as well. Little acorns, but expediency or for real, the MP's raised a pertinent point which at very least calls for a bluff to be called, or letters from constituents in support to get a study underway as to feasibility, which encompasses a multitude of things potentially.

We do need more members, donations and people offering to volunteer and help fill niches, support and help multiply our work and both quality and quantity. Making demands unless one is prepared to be part of the answer, is a vacuous thing, whereas we are stronger together in these endeavours.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill

ERTA CEO 

 

ERTA Kempston Station Report and Campaign

I have been invited by Kempston Town Council to speak to their elected representatives on the matter pertaining to a new Kempston Station on the Bedford-Bletchley Line. It is 14th November 7.30pm Council Chamber - see

https://kempston-tc.gov.uk/contact/

There is a public gallery and supporters are both welcome and please also feel free to email/write in support to the Town Council as well. My report is freely available - email richard.erta@gmail.com for a pdf copy.

Kempston area stands to gain, with access to the Oxford-Bedford emergent rail corridor for multi-purpose rail-based access, footfall and spend/visitorship to Kempston sustaining local economy and well-being and as for the Retail Park, it is land-locked and so optimising more trade by non-car methods would surely be worth some interest for the wider operational good on and off the local roads which feed it? Capacity is what it is all about and this station and bridge would give more options and through ticketing, feed bus-rail via Orchard Street connections.

I would welcome your kind interest and support and maybe it can make more progress in the emergent theatre of opportunity. 20 years ago a study showed 100 extra users if the station was built, but at planning stages was defeated on the back of a handful but adamant opposition. I believe careful management could lend to dissipate that opposition and nurture widespread local support. Not having to drive into Bedford Midland and pay to park, would save time and money and free up congestion that bit more. Land to the west of footpath/bypass could be additional country-parklands and a connecting cycle way to Woburn Road Industrial Estate and Police HQ could all boost the role the rail-feed could play.

Ultimately on the Bedford-Bletchley line we would like to see longer trains and electrification infill for a semi-fast Watford-Bletchley-Kempston-Bedford-Corby through commuter service as well as Oxford-Bedford operations and the shuttle. I believe this station idea's time has come and it could be a boost and enable local people of Kempston to enjoy the benefits. Kempston has a diverse history and we should make more and celebrate it boosted by the new visitors the railway could inform.

Colour pdf reports available free on request via richard.erta@gmail.com

ERTA Bedfordshire Forum - All welcome! Tackling transport and public service issues in and around Bedford and Shire!

Dates of next Forums are listed here: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

Instant Karma!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLy2SaSQAtA

As one goes about one's business, one observes as well. 

1. The disabled toilet at the Bus Station has been out of action 4 weeks now. This is a principal gateway to Bedford Town Centre. Other cubicle occupied or out of action. X5 is 2.5 hours to Bedford from Oxford, most out-of-town journeys 1 hour or 1.5 in the case of Northampton-Bedford No. 41. So having good working toilets properly stocked and serviced at the Bus Station is important for civilised values to be shared and adopted. Yes, after closure, there is nearby Pilgrims Progress, but not all will know that and whether to use a toilet scheme is still operational?

2. No. 21 Grant Palmer withdrawn. Had reliability issues but also if it served Bedford Midland as part of its over all journey, may have had more use as well. 

3. No. 8 Queens Park and Great Denham. 08.01 Monday, 08.41 Sunday. But is it too much to ask for a consistent clock face past the hour x per hour departing Bedford Bus Station and keep to it please? Ideally it could be half hourly. Loadings seem high with standing room only and an aging population. Buggies, wheelchairs and shopping bags on wheels take up precious space, but larger buses may find parked both sides of the room and careful maneuvers hazardous? Could Grant Palmer be contracted to do a Bedford Bus Station-Ford End Road - Old Ford End Road-Great Denham-loop Stagsden, Bromham and back or via Bromham Road, Ashburnham to serve the railway station and Midland Road to Bus Station? That would act as a relief and enable more buses and supplement the bi-hourly No. 41 gaps more locally. 

4. X5 loadings seem very healthy with sometimes every seat taken and 1 hour to wait if turned away. Is it time, post pandemic, to revisit a half hourly time table between 9am-6pm?

5. MK1 seems to be healthily loaded. When I think how some scoffed at the idea of extending the old Bedford-Luton bus to the airport, now it is booming usage wise! Could running Hitchin buses to loop round by the Hitchin Rail Station also boost overall usage?

6. No. 905 - could it loop round Longsands to serve St Neots Rail Station and vice versa - surely a gap and long walk in the dark currently between rail access and bus links. The town orbital is patchy, slow and useless. 905 regular and with plusbus style rail-bus ticketing would boost footfall mutually.

7. Town centre: Lurke Street Car Park used to have a mens and womens toilets with 4 cubicles and 4 space urinals (mens). Now reduced to one cubicle for all with a growing population and desire for more footfall via free parking to the town centre? People who park, visit, eat, drink need ample toilet access. Cost cutting here seems retrograde to what we are trying to achieve? Likewise Beales, Debenhams and M&S gone, lost toilet capacity there and basically town centre and Embankment, there's a dearth and some study or consultation should be done to see what people want and need. I think a toilet cubicle akin to Cambridge with baby changing facilities on lands north of the Butterfly Bridge may be prudent. Long walk from Cardington Road Tesco to Russell Park or Aspects to town centre... and food and drink is being consumed, we are trying to want people to come here and spend time enjoying the area?

8. Selfish plea, but again 53 Wootton service is used and Hillgrounds has no bus on a Sunday. Could something be done to restore a part-time 53 say 2 hourly or something? I used it to get to Grace Community Church Bedford which meets at the Addison, but there's the sports centres, open spaces and residential communities down there who should be served. They are all potential users and contributors.

https://www.graceinthecommunity.com/

9. Personally, I want a library service which is open to all, accessible 9-5 Monday - Saturday. I dislike pins and passwords culture, and feel also the staff need training to know what and where. How can we reduce cost and make the stack more accessible? Do we need a new, bigger central library? Maybe move Borough Hall to Debenhams and relocate the library at Cauldwell Street with a hotel and respite centre? What is the vision. Suffice to say I have been asked to queue when no one else was about, just to comply with the taped lineage. I feel the system is dumbed down and we need to nurture serious study and a culture of learning and growth, civic and personal life long development. Adult Learning has taken a tumble and on-line costs are prohibitive for low income people. Again, who is thinking about this?

10. Mill Street in brief:

a. buy and turn the former Howard Chapel into a walk-in community, civic, display, arts and gallery centre - it has pavement access. Mill Street needs revitalisation. Open the side passage from Ram Yard to Mill Street via Howard Chapel. We lost amenity when the Civic Theatre was closed. North-side pavement is too narrow for thoroughfare walking and window looking. Make road-way one-way from east to west and narrow like High Street, single lane. Make pedestrian and cycle friendly and encourage footfall with safe access for all. You can put solar panels on the roof for a bit more income.

Hope these ideas and feedback are not shot down, but considered. Chicken and egg, no buses, congestion fills the gap, add buses, congestion can modal shift more with incentives.

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/people/bedford-is-the-4th-worst-traffic-hotspot-in-the-uk-according-to-new-research-4239867 

Next Forum - All Welcome. Bedfordshire Forum at The Swan Pub, Flitwick (opposite the railway station served by Thameslink: https://www.swaninnflitwick.co.uk/ Suggested Wednesday 24^th January 2024. Enquiries welcome via richard.erta@gmail.com 

ERTA Bedfordshire Forum meets Wednesday 25^th October 12 Noon food, 1-3pm business Upstairs, Costa Coffee, 20 Silver Street, Bedford, MK40 1SU All Welcome.

If you wish to join us, please notify Mr Simon Barber

T. 0208 940 4399
E. simon4barber@gmail.com
 
Key reference on-line portals are: https://ertarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/ (scroll down) and https://ertarail.co.uk/ (electronic joining/donating options).
Do nothing and it may not happen, do something and be part of the answer of whether it may!
Agenda:
1. Apologies for absence
2. Consideration of A Station serving the Retail Park, Kempston et al.
3. Consideration of the Ampthill Parkway Station Narrative doc and
discussion in the light of the issues raised
4. Consideration of Stations North of Bedford (Sharnbrook) -Bedfordshire only.
5. How best to take these projects forward?
a. What is needed – more members, volunteers, and team building
b. An on-going leaflet campaign - £100 gives x1000 flyers (Bedford and Kempston), £50 a shot (SNOB/Sharnbrook, Ampthill/Flitwick).
6. Existing Rail, Thameslink, East Midlands, Bedford-Bletchley, Station redesign.
7. East-West Rail Update and discussion
7. Better Buses, Pedestrian Issues and Cycle shared access/safety.
8. ERTA Needs
- Leafleting
- Funding
- Area rep and team of local support

9. Date, Time Place of Next Meeting: Bedfordshire Forum at The Swan Pub, Flitwick (opposite the railway station served by Thameslink: https://www.swaninnflitwick.co.uk/ Suggested Wednesday 24^th January 2024. Enquiries welcome via richard.erta@gmail.com

 

ERTA Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham Rail Reopening Working Group

15-02-24 Update - All welcome - bring cash to our meetings please!

BRTA Guildford-Horsham Working Party – Saturday 24 February 2024 in the Jubilee Room, 2-4pm business Venue: Guildford United Reform Church Building, 83 Portsmouth Road, Guildford, GU2 4BS Venue W. https://guildfordurc.org.uk/
Venue Phone: 01483-569822 Main Contact Mr Simon Barber T: 0208 940 4399  
E: simon4barber@gmail.com
 
Agenda
1.     Apologies for absence
2.     Where we are at (CEO BRTA Richard Pill/Chairing)
3.     Volunteers we need:
a.     Seeking funding/sponsorship for flyer printing £200 for 500 A5’s £400 A4 on colour gloss – getting into letter boxes starting in Cranleigh first
b.     Volunteers for reliable on-going leafleting
c.      More members help us grow the support base
4.     Local news on what is happening:
a.     Threats to the route – update on old and new
b.     Council courting
c.      Agency/quango/government courting
d.     Need investors for funding preliminary can-do studies.
5.     South Heathrow Rail Link news and a west-north additional curve for Waterloo direction to the airport and if we get our way to Reading/Old Oak Common/Chiltern Main Lines.
6.     Any Other Business
7.     Date of next Working Group: Saturday 15^th June – same venue please Simon/same times.

 
Notes:
1.             Please encourage attendance and support for our Public Meeting in Horsham ERTA Horsham Public Meeting – Saturday 27 April 2024 12 Noon lunch – Meeting 1pm
Lunch Venue: Lynd Cross, 1 Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 2PG
W. https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/west-sussex/the-lynd-cross-horsham
Agenda: 1pm open up.
2-2.30 1st speaker (Tiffany Lynch – Director, TPL Transport Planning Ltd) followed by Q&A.
2nd speaker(tbc) followed by Q&A.
Update from us on the Working Group and close 4pm.
Vacate premises by 5pm.
Meeting Venue: Horsham Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham RH12 1SL
Venue Website: https://horshamunitarianchurch.com/
Venue Phone: Mobile 07717-221520 Main BRTA contact is Mr Simon Barber:
T: 0208 940 4399   E: simon4barber@gmail.com
2.             Note, we are meeting 12 Noon at the local Wetherspoons, setting up from 1pm and business starts 2pm. We need as many helpers/volunteers and unified advocates and recruiters as we can muster.
Public Meeting at Horsham will additionally have Rob Whitehead
Community Engagement Officer (Southern and GX) | Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)
3.              As a second speaker.

4.             Please always bring cash to our meetings for retiring collection to help pay venue fees and peruse our second hand books and magazines/encourage people to join as  a member. Thanks.

13-01-24 Update

We received this, disappointing and raises the question of Government inter-play by directing to quangos like this who ignore or dismiss schemes such as ours, so Government ducks responsibility, accountability and scrutiny blaming quangos it sets up for the very purpose of avoiding schemes. Environment, modal shift and re-railing should be harmoniously the main agenda, instead we have plurailism and road schemes in the mix still! Things must change, Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham and trimmings alongside Heathrow Southern Rail Link should be seen strategically and worth investing, not long-grassing to never, never lands!

"Thank you for your email dated 4 January 2023. As a sub-regional transport body (STB) Transport for the South East (TfSE) advises Government on the  investment needed to transform our region’s transport system and drive economic growth. Our Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) outlines all the schemes we have identified with our delivery partners up to 2050. The SIP is the culmination of five years technical work which has included extensive stakeholder engagement.

As an STB, we focus on identifying regionally important transport schemes that will deliver our economic, social and environmental objectives. The schemes in the SIP have been selected for inclusion using a multi-criteria assessment framework consisting of over 50 criteria, including when and how each could be delivered.

It was not realistic to include all the schemes that everyone would like, or which were put forward as part of the Transport Strategy and SIP engagement process. The schemes for which you are seeking support, such as the reopening of the Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham rail link, construction of the Arundel Curve and re-instatement of the Polegate-Stone Cross have not been included in the SIP.  This does not mean that they would not offer benefit or improve the transport system in the south east but that others were better aligned with our objectives. .

We are not considering any additional schemes to take forward at this time as we are now focussed on how we can support delivery partners to progress the schemes that have been included in the SIP.

For those schemes that are included in the SIP such as the service enhancements to the Reading – Waterloo mainline, we are reliant on our delivery partners such as Network Rail as we are not a delivery body. In turn, our delivery partners are dependent on their own funding and decision-making processes. As a result, not all the schemes in the SIP will be delivered in the short term and a number of them may have to be delayed until a later date. Network Rail will be looking at the Reading – Waterloo mainline link in the second phase of their Wessex Suburban Strategic Study. This will include considering  increases in service frequency to meet demand to 2050 and journey time improvements, however, there is no timetable for this study as yet.

We  are in the process of refreshing our Transport Strategy as we are aware that a lot has changed since it was agreed  in 2020, including a heightened focus on decarbonisation, impacts of Covid on the travel market and the levelling-up agenda among other important influences. Following the Transport Strategy refresh, the SIP will also be reviewed to ensure it continues to deliver on our vision and objectives for the south east.

On your request for a contribution to cost of the production of your fliers, like many other Government funded bodies, I am afraid that we are not in a position to offer any financial support for this."

Kind regards

 

Elan

 

Elan Morgan

SUPPORT OFFICER

07849 308518

transportforthesoutheast.org.uk

  

19-11-2023 onwards:

~ERTA Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham Rail Reopening Working Group~

Notes from first meeting 18 November 2023 at a Room in the Guildford URC Church premises at 83 Portsmouth Road, Guildford, GU2 4BS

 

Present: Richard Pill (Chair), Simon Barber (assisting), David Ferguson (ERTA), Trevor Jones, Tony Newton and Adrian Chandler.

 

1.     Chairman’s welcome: Richard Pill presided in the Chair explaining our stance is for a heavy rail solution between Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham with amended spurs to serve Dunsfold and Shoreham as addendums and separate study following support for our core rail focus being advanced.

2.     Introductions: We went round clockwise introducing ourselves, our particulars, and stances.

3.     Things to consider:

Of the many things, the following was noted:

a.     Winning over Cranleigh people as important.

b.     Making it clear that a benefit would be the reduction of waiting time in the commute into Guildford and Horsham respectively and wider, further travel by rail opportunities.

c.      A281 and B2128 were seen as important roads the rail could alleviate.

d.     Stations for Wonersh and Bramley and also at Peasmarsh for the Park and Ride.

e.     Getting councils and MP’s needs local people support and emails/letters. ERTA can inform an umbrella for people to work under if they wish. Richard’s role is one of coordination and delegation.

4.     Actions: ERTA to design an open-ended question one side of an A4 with diagram and membership on the reverse – A4 B&W sheet for delivery at first Cranleigh, the Bramley and Wonersh. In that order. £100 gets 1000 ish or 500 colour gloss. It would be issued from February 2024 That in turns can feed for similar at the Horsham end and Guildford itself. Donations and volunteers working together and coordinated by Richard with whom they communicate, is necessary to avoid duplication or waste. An additional thing could be a draft letter people could download and sign and send to MP’s and Councils.

5.     Prioritisation: All of route protection, getting a coalition of political and public support and funding for studies are all important, but given the situation that we are at the start and foothills and a mammoth project needing more people and resources, to make our appeal to the public affected first and then move onto more and greater – the other aspects is required.

6.     The phased approach of Guildford-Horsham, Curves and Straight, Shoreham and Arundel Curves and other related aspects – Dunsfold was tabled - was generally supported although some thing the Arundel curve idea a red herring! The curve heading West direct off the Guildford line would enable direct and relief route to Arun Valley, Portsmouth, and Chichester. Brighton – Reading arc remains a wider regional un-rail-serve direct link, which our route could facilitate if a route can be found.

7.     Any Other Business:

a.     ERTA does not support Canal intrusions, LRT or Guided Busways on the old trackbed needed for a railway. However, there should, with some widening of the route and some flexibility, enable a walk-way cum cycle-way alongside the railway with perimeter fencing.

b.     Other things mentioned was Guildford East and West Stations and one for Merrow. These were in hand we were told. Likewise, support for an extra platforms and track capacity into Guildford is also to be desired and no more land sales to non-rail uses! A Woking flyover was also mentioned. There was support for a Woking-Heathrow Rail Link with an arm to Reading. This would link and follow the current Paddington-Heathrow rail service route.

c.      Emails from Trevor Jones and Tiffany Lynch were read out.

8.     Day, Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting: same venue Guildford URC Room on Saturday 24^th February 2024. It was also noted that a public meeting would be held end of April at the hall of the Unitarian Church next to the Bus Station at Horsham: https://horshamunitarianchurch.com/contact/ with a guest speaker to be announced. All welcome, watch this space.

Meeting closed approximately 3.30pm

 

Note: ERTA welcomes people to join, donate money and time and volunteer to help us respectively. The Working Group is open to all who support our trajectory of travel and who want to practically help us as these notes indicate. Thank you.

Local Train to Guildford awaits departure from Redhill 18-11-23

Update 12-11-23

Our working group starts the preliminaries next Saturday and over 2024, we have a goal of making progress to be as organised as we may to startmoving pro-affirma the measure of why and whether to reopen and move out and onwards from there to coalition building to get it done within a 10 year period. 

There's the local, regional and nationwide fit of reopening these rail links and benefits near and far if we do. Reading/Heathrow-Brighton arcing the corridor for one, South Coast to West London and beyond likewise. It needs local authorities to work with us and get on board as well as organisations like Transport for the South East (TfSE). They paint a broad brush and tinker with walking and cycling and bus, but we need additional rail reopenings to give modal choice for modal shift on a bulk measure and that can only happen if existing lines get upgraded and strategic missing links like Guildford-Horsham are reinstated. 

Please consider helping us. Sadly one councillor form the Shalford area has been sarcastic talking about cable cars, but we never flinch that tough choices need to be made, rail v obstacles, modern rails instead of steam but gains as with end-to-end timings and faster acceleration and braking for stations. Has Government or Opposition

got the message and courage to engage positively and not long-grass be deferring to quangos it appoints, to trade reports, hold conferences but delivery falls short of actual pro-rail 'spades on the ground'? Things must change and we need an agency which can inselect and thankfully few cases say "here's the cheque, move please", but councils should not be allowing blight on old rail courses in the first place, so some rectification is required to take these things into account.

Free pdf newsletter and agenda available via richard.erta@gmail.com All welcome.

1. 
2. 
   

Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham and arms – a pivotal rail link for modal shift revolution

link for modal shift revolution

Of the many aspects one could elaborate on, the rebuilding with new direct lines and curves of re-railing the Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham-Shoreham rail corridor could inform the following:

1.     The local connectivity of local main centres with each other, currently only bus and road-based direct access is possible. That puts a strain on local roads (rural and urban) and as development goes in, so will get worse.

2.     The regional rail-base choice, currently not on offers could be:

a.     Reading-Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham/Shoreham-Brighton arc ‘not via London’, freeing up seats elsewhere, shaving end-to-end timings and enabling more rail-based usage, decluttering roads in a large area.

b.     Guildford-Heathrow Southern Rail (see: https://heathrowrail.com/proposed-route/) which should yes, have a Reading arm, yes have a Waterloo (west-north curve) and yes should be extended to link and bay at Old Oak Common (OOC) Interchange (emergent) as well as direct tunnels to link Guildford/Woking with the Chiltern Lines for direct arc and access by rail to Banbury, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes (East-West Rail) and them audiences to Guildford and south ‘not via London’ freeing capacity on existing lines, making rail use more attractive and relevant for existing and new audiences.

c.      The curves at Horsham should link for direct running from Guildford and points north and west into Horsham and onwards via Crawley to Gatwick from the south via Three Bridges. Likewise, a direct curve to the west would link with the Arundel Valley Lines and South Coast to Portsmouth, Chichester and Bognor Regis for example and a direct line onto the former Horsham-Shoreham line would enable direct, quick by rail transit to Shoreham (a port), Worthing and Brighton from the west. The curve from Horsham to the Shoreham line should also be reinstated and also the south to east curve at Arundel as well to give more flexibility to rail-based operations for people and more freight by rail, cutting local road pressures, wear and tear.

3.     These rail links would enable much more by rail and should be supported by all. How do we bridge between aspiration to full Government support?

a.     It needs studying from a can-do point of view. Engineering, business cases, environmental considerations (gains and pinch points) and alongside this, how it would fit into the wider regional landscape in planning, development and sustainability terms. ERTA is confident it would stand evaluation and be an asset not a ‘unviable distraction’!

b.     Route protection is vital to keep options open and where development has encroached the old line, to consider deviations or if not possible in some cases a ‘here’s the cheque, move please’ approach for the greater benefits and good the rail restoration would inform.

4.     What ERTA is seeking to do:

a.     We have a working party to look at small and fine details and what can be done and to nurture towards local government, MP and other support who in turn may adopt the project and take it on to a higher level of appreciation and move the agenda on to delivery not mere talk of a ‘nice’ idea.

b.     We facilitate the working group and also public meetings to bring people together, let them join, have their say and be educated as to what the rail link (relevance) could mean for them.

5.     ERTA is a voluntary membership-based association and welcomes people and organisations to join and be involved with us. We are always seeking speakers (providing they bring their own equipment) to give illustrated talks at our meetings in Horsham and Guildford. Membership helps resource our work and activity and that in turn raises up the profile of the rail link aspiration to ever wider audiences.

 
ERTA Membership Form 2024 Onwards – Join or Renew
Official annual renewal date is circa 31^st January in any given year.
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Signed: ________________________ Dated: ______________________
Please send completed form and payment to ERTA Membership:
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Membership Secretary: Mr Tony Houghton, T. 077659 77318, tony.houghton@keystonelaw.co.uk
Membership Payment can also be done on-line via our website: https://ertarail.co.uk/become-a-member/
Bank Details are Sort Code: 40-45-27 Account Number: 92086808