BRTA Bedfor Area Forum Dates and Notes:

Forum Minutes from 27-03-24

BRTA Bedford Area Forum Minutes: Wednesday 27^th March 12 Noon Food, 13.00 Business – upstairs, which closes at 15.00 hrs. Venue: Costa Coffee (upstairs) 20 Silver Street, Bedford, MK40 1SU.

 

Present: Cllr Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford, David J. Start, Simon Barber, Richard Pill and David Ferguson, Samantha Laycock from Harpur Centre.

 

Agenda:

 

1.                      Apologies for absence: Leonard Lean

2.                      East-West Rail Discussion, points and crossings: We had a discussion with the Mayor on Bedford-ECML and East-West Rail generally. We made our position known of ‘east of Bedford via the St John’s area and that of physical links with the ECML for optimal reaches and ranges by rail into Bedford from north of Stevenage, East Bedfordshire and south of Peterborough as well as a route onwards to Cambridge and wider East Anglia and vice versa to Bedford and beyond to Oxford.’

Discussion was had on the idea of two new bays at Bedford Midland for up to 8-coach trains (passenger) to reverse into and out of from Oxford and Cambridge as well as the Bletchley all-stopper shuttle. However, a new through track would be needed for freight from the east and west to go north via Midland Main Line (MML) and vice versa. This could feed into the two slow line existing tracks and vice versa.

However, it remains BRTA’s conviction that if you have Route Northern E via Ravensden, you apart from steep gradients (not ideal for freight), have a need for more tracks north of Bedford and this in turn would necessitate the knocking down of houses for such. Our route ‘east of Bedford via St John’s’ does not require that and enables strictly east-west freight to bypass the Bedford Midland ‘box’ as the reinstatement of a rail triangle enables passage of freight ‘not via Bedford Midland’ to avoid the station altogether.

Mayor Tom mentioned the proposed Universal Theme Park at the former Clay Pit area between Kempston Hardwick (Bedford-Bletchley) and Wixams (Chimney Corner area) for access by rail from the two lines (London-Leicester and Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge). Indeed, the developers want the physical rail linkage at Tempsford for a wider reach to their site by rail, citing York to Bedford in scope. With an expected 18 million visitors a year, these rail-based solutions chime with the kind of world BRTA wants x whatever it is on a sustainable basis. If we do not have the rail infrastructure, then whether it be more development or dualling the A428 from the A1 to Cambridge Caxton Roundabout, these only heap up congestion to urban areas informing gridlock and pollution tolls. This must be understood by all sides. Tom said that if we miss and muck up the east-west rail and fail to get the design specification right, we lose out for a generation by which time the development curtain would curtail any reasonable route option. For our route, level crossings are Cardington Road and that of entrance to Priory Park would need representation for special dispensation via Office of Road and Rail (ORR). Our route requires few if any houses to be knocked down however, some have extended gardens over old trackbed at Willington, but at a cost, Willington can be bypassed (speed is not everything, keeping wheels moving and decluttering roads is more!) requiring bridging the River Great Ouse twice and a slight incline to embankment south side east of Willington to arc the cycle path (which can be slewed) and climbing to bridge the Willington-Great Barford and Great Barford-Blunham roads and continue to avoid flood plain issues of flooding and cross the A1 and lower to either north or south of Station Road, Tempsford for physical rail linkage to the outer slow lines of the ECML respectively as well as the duck-under through tracks to Cambridge. No segregation, no extra station, no development before formal acceptance of this track arrangement. If people can get on a train at St Neots or Sandy and go direct by one train to Bedford in 20 minutes or less, it beats anything road can do and would be attractive. If people have to change in the middle of nowhere and face connecting delays either way, it will not go down well. Like Wixams, houses without much in the way of facilities, is less than ideal. It could be that the ECML could be made 4 tracks between Huntingdon and Peterborough to increase how many trains per hour of whatever descript, but moreover, doubling the outer slow lines north of Stevenage or Hitchin to Peterborough or either side of Sandy-Hitchin for East-West intersectional purposes, could be looked at and costs shared between East-West Rail and that of the ECML for example. The south to east curve, would enable by rail from south of Peterborough to Addenbrookes by rail and another freight route as per by Ely for wider Greater East Anglia.

The Mayor asked us to work on the Bedford Midland Station aspect and continue our good work to champion our route and associated matters. He was thanked for giving us his time and we wish him well in helping nurture the way ahead for a viable and inclusive east-west rail solution. We at BRTA are open to talk with Labour and Lib Dems, but they seem to want Northern Route E with or without houses being knocked down at any cost or half-hearted on our preferred route being given much credence.

3.     Bedford-Northampton and 6-tracking north of Bedford: It was explained that we believe 2 slows with a new flyover off those tracks, possibly an extra bridge over the River Great Ouse, would not require 60 houses to be knocked down as Northern Route E does. We want the councils along the route to work together to identify a viable new rail route and protect/tailor development around it and ensure it is progressed, forming consortia and studying/making the case for it. Thameslink, access to new freight depots at Northampton, DIRFT and combined with East-West Rail via St John’s could deliver traffic off roads and onto rails more, benefiting all and the environment and land use balances and many other travel benefits. We are willing to discuss and work with any larger sponsor or party willing to associate with us and help take it forward positively. Olney must be bypassed as development has sprawled. Arcing Lavendon and Yardley Hastings and via southern section of the Castle Ashby Estate to link former route at Great Houghton is our line of thought, but our concern is that for profit alone, opponents will put development before tracks, which is unsustainable in the round of endeavour.

4.     Stations North of Bedford (Oakley/Sharnbrook) and a slow-line every station shuttle new service continuum between Bedford and Leicester (minimally) using extended Thameslink or new East Midlands Stock. This was debated. Land sites for accessing the Midland Main Line have been compromised in many cases and new sites or recovery of sites is needed in planning terms over decades to gain station nurture prospects. We need more people willing to help us. Thurleigh former RAE airfield was mentioned and if it was the case of a 5^th London airport, routing a railway that way would have made more sense, however Northern Route E is not that and with no station for North Beds residents in design, offers nothing but blight to them.

5.     Bedford-Bletchley Railway: New Universal Development could be a catalyst for more prominence and development of the line. Our observation and view is:

a.     All Halts to be lengthened to 4-coach train use (capacity for more users)

b.    The 2001 study suggested a new station at Retail Park Kempston would inform an extra 100 visits/rail users to the shuttle service per day. With other development – a trade off of duration and numbers/receipts).

c.     Electrification – the DfT / Government demands on business cases, presents costs when common sense could save money and ensure things get done quicker if a local demand exists. Electrification infill between Bedford and Bletchley would enable a Watford-Corby passenger (semi-fast between Bletchley and Bedford and vice versa) using existing or redundant refurbished stock) and that of freight under exact same wires using one locomotive at a time. This apart from any East-West Rail considerations.

d.    Freight on the branch, the gantry for container moving and sidings at Forders remains redundant, could and show be doing more. Links with off M1/A1 and A421 – the rail with loads of capacity, could be doing more if only someone makes it their business to know, to act and nurture by rail business for wider benefits and road wear-tear cost savings and that of time too.

e.     New Station at Retail Park Kempston: See previous notes. Our pdf report is available via richard.erta@gmail.com or off our web page of: https://ertarail.co.uk/publicity/ (scroll down).

6.     Existing local rail and bus services, cuts, improvements and wish lists.

Concerns that Grant Shapps MP down-graded the east-west X5 coach with bike carrying capacity, luggage capacity and a toilet on board to mere local bus operations. On the one hand the coach cannot provide what it did before and 2.5 hours each way between Bedford and Oxford without a toilet deters disabled people for example. It should be investigated again – chicken and egg, you cut and things spiral down, you reinstate and more people choose east-west travel. Bus and train serve different markets. If bus, reinstate stops like Bedford Rugby Ground, if coach, ensure quality experience and capacity for people and esp. students to take their luggage and bikes.

7.     Consultations. Richard would do the Bedford ones as local area rep. Simon elsewhere and/or as an individual where wanted.

8.     Any Other Business:

a.     Samantha Laycock from Harpur Centre, offered us collaboration and possibly a low cost/free stall at the Harpur Centre in Bedford. This was welcomed if it can be done on a bi-monthly basis please.

b.    Colleges and UoB for volunteers recommended, not had much success with voluntary bureaus.

c.     David to chase up the Harpur Trust for funding and also Harpur Suite for a date for our Green Transport Fair – a civic activity. We could then look at costs and grants available to also inform sponsorship and individual trade/tables arrangements, numbers and costs and then start marketing to court and public attendance.

9.     Day, Date Time and Place of next meeting: suggest Wednesday 5^th June same time and venue:

Wednesday 5^th June same time and venue:

BRTA Bedford and Shire Area Rep is Mr Richard Pill, BRTA CEO:

T: 01234 330090   M: 077520 96392   E: richard.erta@gmail.com

 

Meeting ended approximately 14.30pm

BRTA Bedford Midland Railway Station Stall on Saturday 25th May 10am-4pm at Ashburnham Road, Bedford, MK40 1DS. All welcome. Why not also have a ride on the Bedford-Bletchley local railway, soon to be part of an Oxford-Bedford East-West Railway! Directions: 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bedford+Midland+Railway+Station+Postal+Address&oq=Bedford+Midland+Railway+Station+Postal+Address&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABiABBiiBDIKCAIQABiABBiiBDIKCAMQABiABBiiBDIKCAQQABiABBiiBDIKCAUQABiABBiiBDIGCAYQRRhA0gEJMjMwMzNqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&zx=1710949577977&no_sw_cr=1&lqi=Ci5CZWRmb3JkIE1pZGxhbmQgUmFpbHdheSBTdGF0aW9uIFBvc3RhbCBBZGRyZXNzIgJIAUjiyeDwga6AgAhaMBAEGAAYAhgDIiZiZWRmb3JkIG1pZGxhbmQgcmFpbHdheSBzdGF0aW9uIHBvc3RhbJIBEHJhaWx3YXlfc2VydmljZXOqAWUKCC9tLzBkaDhzEAEqCiIGcG9zdGFsKAAyHxABIhsYsFpEqwsHVNzMxGklxOiP32ZOI5C5QPVAs2QyKhACIiZiZWRmb3JkIG1pZGxhbmQgcmFpbHdheSBzdGF0aW9uIHBvc3RhbA#rlimm=3122591071766448407

Enjoy what Bedford has to offer as well. Bedford Midland is also served by Thameslink and East Midlands Trains as well. Please bring cash to join, peruse our second-hand books and railway related magazines and to donate if you wish.

BRTA Bedford Area Forum: Wednesday 27^th March 12 Noon Food, 13.00 Business – upstairs, which closes at 15.00 hrs. Venue: Costa Coffee (upstairs) 20 Silver Street, Bedford, MK40 1SU T. 0333 003 5883 See: https://www.google.com/search?q=Costa+Coffee+Silver+Street%2C+Bedford+UK&oq=Costa+Coffee&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgCEEUYJxg7MgYIABBFGDkyEwgBEC4YxwEYsQMYyQMY0QMYgAQyCAgCEEUYJxg7Mg0IAxAAGJIDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGJIDGIAEGIoFMgoIBRAAGLEDGIAEMgYIBhBFGEEyBggHEEUYQdIBCDYxNzZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Agenda:

 

1.                     Apologies for absence

2.     East-West Rail Discussion, points and crossings.

3.     Bedford-Northampton and 6-tracking north of Bedford

4.     Stations North of Bedford (Oakley/Sharnbrook) and a slow-line every station shuttle new service continuum between Bedford and Leicester (minimally) using extended Thameslink or new East Midlands Stock.

5.     Bedford-Bletchley Railway:

a.     New Station at Retail Park Kempston

b.    Keeping the every stop shuttle service as a foundational service facility

c.     Infill case for electrification and a semi-fast Watford-Bletchley, every station to Bedford and onwards to Corby?

d.    More freight by rail – using the assets.

6.     Existing local rail and bus services, cuts, improvements and wish lists.

7.     Consultations.

8.     Any Other Business

9.     Day, Date Time and Place of next meeting: suggest Wednesday 5^th June same time and venue.

 

Please note:

1.     Everyone is responsible to bring an agenda and follow it. New material or topics can be suggested for next time.

2.     Ampthill-Flitwick ‘Central Beds Forum’ is cascaded to a Time, separate area forum status and will meet at The Swan Pub, Flitwick opposite the main Flitwick Railway Station until further notices.

3.     Actions you can take is:

a.     Join BRTA as a member/get into our loop

b.    Offer to volunteer/assist/niche-gap fill

c.     Donate to BRTA – see website: https://ertarail.co.uk/

4.     We are in transition from ERTA to BRTA – work with it/be patient!

5.     We need people to help with:

a.     Consultations/respond and recommend us and our ideas as local-regional policy

b.    Help with reliable leafleting

c.     Be non-judgmental

d.    Offer to assist Richard as local area rep with reaches and ranges from IT, Sales teaming up and representations/flying the BRTA flag.

e.     Seeking stalls, offering reliable transport and manning them ‘out and about’.

6.     Our meetings are open to all, so all welcome. Supporters especially welcome!

7.     Everyone is responsible for their own food, drink and transport arrangements!

 

BRTA Bedford and Shire Area Rep is Mr Richard Pill, BRTA CEO:

T: 01234 330090   M: 077520 96392   E: richard.erta@gmail.com

BRTA Notes from Bedfordshire Forum – Wednesday 24 January 2024 – 1pm food; 2 – 4pm business, Venue: The Swan Pub, 1 Dunstable Road, FLITWICK, Beds.MK45 1HP at the Side Lounge (no charge) Landlord Phone: 01525 – 754777 Mobile: 07944-044003

Main contact: Mr Simon Barber T. 0208 940 4399 

E. simon4barber@gmail.com

 

Present: Brian Brennan, S. Anderson (Centre Parcs), Cllr Gareth Mackey see: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/directory_record/1996/mackey_gareth_-_flitwick . Simon Barber, David Ferguson, Richard Pill.

 

1.     Apologies for absence: David J. Start, Leonard Lean.

2.     Ampthill Parkway Station:

a.     Consideration of the Ampthill Doc – what could be added or edited? Feedback was invited on (see addendum (below) doc which may be taken into consideration when revising it/incorporated via richard.erta@gmail.com

b.     Making a business case: Brain Brennan offered to pay the £480 for the 3000 colour gloss flyers and other donations/contributions welcome. It was suggested A5 would go further or be less expensive. Richard to draft the flyer and send to Brian and others for feedback/comment on mor- or-less. Side B would be a membership form. It was suggested we have a QR code for donations and a page dedicated off our campaigns page for Ampthill Parkway Station.

c.      Funding a questionnaire delivered to the Ampthill/Flitwick Areas (£500) (See above 2b. It was suggested we contact DfT and ask if they could either make a grant or study it with a view to initiating professional consideration? Simon Barber offered to ask them. It was felt that quangos may be useful for Government, but we need resuscitated and properly funded elected Local Government! SEMLEP is being wound up as not so effective, EEH are not exactly picking up and running with Northampton to Market Harborough (N2MH).

d.     Funding a study £100, 000 minimum circa thereabouts. Contributors to aspects of such e.g. a pre-study update at £50, 000 and cross-referencing on building sustainable transport accessibility? We need professionals to help court professional sponsorship and funding of a proper study. David Ferguson to contact Duke of Bedford at Woburn to see if a contribution or rep could help us and whether the Duke is willing to be a Patron without obligation. Lockheed Martin was mentioned, Centre Parcs likewise, but as yet no firm offers/marginal benefits.

e.     The projects needs:

-         Sponsors

-         Funding

-         Volunteers: Simon Barber to contact the voluntary bureau and Cllr Mark Smith of Ampthill Town Council.

-         Nurture of local/other support

f.       Any other related considerations:

3.     Relieving Flitwick on the back of additional Ampthill: Some were sceptical as to the merits beyond speculative views. A study would make the case and answer concerns of case stacking up. Duration of stopping time, the model of station and operational consideration.

4.     Wixams Station: A dearth of information around status and land available and much more. Everyone is coy and really needs someone to ask Cllr Coombes of Bedford Borough or the Mayor Cllr Tom Wootton as to timescale of delivery and impediments to that currently.

a.     Status

b.     Date of delivery or not

c.      It was also discussed varying sections of market share. It was explained Ampthill is the name of the town adjacent to the proposed station, but the station itself would serve a wider area with numerous accesses including off Fordfield Road with capacity parking. Flitwick has a land constraint in a 20x5 mile catchment MK East/M1, A507, Marston Vale, Flitwick and Ampthill and out to A6 south of Wixams to Pulloxhill for example and all between. Development south at Westoning combined could overwhelm Flitwick and triple stacking was the only was forward with impact on the bridge over the railway for example.

5.     Stations North of Bedford (SNOB): Sharnbrook, Oakley via Beds Forum, needs studying/council needs to get on board. As per elsewhere, councils need not fork out, there is no money, but can be instrumental in round-tabling and bringing potential parties together.

a.     Oakley, Sharnbrook (Bedfordshire contingent): Irchester/Rushden line via Enroute via BRTA Wellingborough Forum. Northants and Leicester see Wellingborough/Leicester Forums

6.     Kempston Retail Park/Kempston Town (on Bedford-Bletchley Railway): Simon to google Legal and General and email them about the following:

a.     a station on the Bedford-Bletchley line for the Retail Park

b.     cc the Mayor of Kempston

c.      how it would bring more shoppers minus parking space demand and

d.     could they fund/work with others to inform a study?

7.     Bus Links to Stations and integration (No. 44 truncated to Maulden rather than Flitwick for rail station). Also No. 2 Bus Cut Bedford-Flitwick. There is no money. No. 42 hourly and No. 2 to Bedford within 10 minutes and a gap for 45 minutes and pattern repeats Flitwick-Bedford. Well used, the service should not be cut as it serves intermediate areas. No. 44 cut back from linking Maulden with Flitwick Station. No 34 Flitwick-Milton Keynes does A507 corridor.

8.     Any Other Business: BRTA continues to highlight issues, public transport user plight, opportunities and welcomes all the support we can rouse.

9.          Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting: Saturday 11^th May, the long room, Quakers Bedford – Simon to make the booking. 12 Noon Pilgrims as usual for lunch 1pm set up room, 2pm business. Speaker welcome providing they take responsibility for their own equipment. Invites are open to any willing to offer. Interim flyer design and printing and delivery will be done. Results will be collated and put on the new campaigns page.

Meeting ended about 3pm.

 

Note:

1.          All welcome to any of our events and meetings: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

2.          The questionnaire leaflet may raise awareness, curry support and increase membership.

3.          We need more active, local volunteers and tiers of government support. Ampthill Town Council are against, but can Flitwick carry the load for the future in a growth and demand context v land-use adequacy? What of emissions and congestion?