BRTA Election Special - whoever wins, will face significant choices with consequences.

Whoever wins the General Election will be consciously aware that the matters pertaining to the environment, land use and transport matter to the public at large and are associated with issues, urgent to address from early on in a new Government. As some have said, on the one hand the situation of overheating and severe extremes of weather, can be devastating from floods to excessive heat to other side-effects like food production and costs spiralling on the back of uncertainty as social, economic, environmental and moral are linked. If we play thrift with planet earth, we gamble with our very selves. 

BRTA is voicing the rail agenda in terms of local rail solutions more, local conventional rail reopenings too. This not haphazardly pluralistic 'anything goes' but specific, targeted region by region identification of gaps, communities disenfranchised and these can be urban and inter-urban, but also rural clusters without rail access. The Borders Railway is a good example of a mainly rural context raising doubts whether it could sustain a railway, and yet carried over 4 million people within the first 2 years. In other part of Britain, like the densely population South East, East-West and Northern England for example, it is highly likely that even greater patronage would result as people and goods flock back to the rails when given a chance. 

So we enter this period with a renewed desire to see a coming together as one nation to work towards the common interest of the people, places and land use the rail agenda offers. Unless we do, congestion, waste and pollution is the order of the day and that from whichever view you take, is unsustainable short, medium or long term. Give support to re-railing now please and donate time, money and interest to BRTA to that end. Thank you.

Lots of pluralism abounding in the transport discussions. From P.R. to ribbon cutting to Hyperloop to High Speed to conventional rail people can actually use. The list goes on.

What gives, what takes is 'it'. It is BRTA's conviction that we need more local rail solutions upwards and outwards and local rail reopenings for a plethora of reasons needs to be approached on a nationwide year-on-year commitment plan basis, regional.

This may not mean new money, but rather a conviction and policy by any new government to switch from a road to rail emphasis and growth for the planet, land use stewardship, cut inefficiencies of congestion and boost productivity on the back of more and better local rail links and accessibility. The folly of the 1960's closures was that once the tracks no longer exist, rail potential is out of the game.

Now, we need some of those tracks back, the complication and cost of rectifying routes or new routes is a risk-liability-cost headache, which politicians need convincing of. It is no use sweating what we have, we need more and better rail capacity. All eggs in one basket 'HS2' is one approach with default, but that still leaves communities, intermediate places and a swathe of new flows un-addressed by rail.

At best we need both, at least incremental rail progress enables more for more and that would be a better direction than hitherto. Join BRTA and help volunteer to advance these critical matters where decisions can be made.

BRTA has the Sheffield Forum tomorrow (Saturday 29th June) and our AGM and Public Meeting in Berkhamsted (on the local Euston line) on 13th July. All welcome, admission free. Bring cash to join, donate, peruse our stalls when and where we have them please.

BRTA is soon to change its URL to include 'b' not 'e' for brta! We need a new webmaster to manage the website, it is all voluntary, so please make us offers to consider - maybe a team of people with a coordinator could share it out? Likewise, we want to grow a team who can work up our rough drawings to be aesthetically helpful diagrams - we have used Microsoft Provisio - any interest and offers, please for any and all these voluntary roles contact Richard Pill, BRTA CEO via richard.erta@gmail.com

Newsletter out next week and the General Election - still time to ask about rail and better, affordable and accessible public transport for all and vote with your ballot paper, feet and wallets accordingly. That is a fine start!

Brigg Line support - add your voice!

" Please support The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group. 

The Brigg Line, formally on the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway line between Manchester and Cleethorpes via the Woodhead Route.

The Brigg Line which represents the 72 miles between Sheffield and Cleethorpes, to say has fallen on hard times if the understatement. 

For 30 years, the passenger service via Brigg ran just on a Saturday with mainly 3 round trips. 

Due to COVID, the passenger service was withdrawn altogether with the train operating company refusing to put on a replacement bus, this incredibly lasted for 54 weeks ! 

Services returned in January 2023, in May 2024 the service was reduced to a 1 round trip Monday to Friday one. 

The present timetable is attached below, as is details how you can support this group via social media " 

Wixams news and wider local rail considerations - what is common and what is peculiar?

re: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/wixams-station-costs-have-increased-by-30m-since-2018-and-be-only-13-years-late/

Local on-line paper had this news article about Wixams, I believe Soham was £20 million, so these costs would seem in order. 

Ampthill exact same model of 2 8-coach twin platforms on Thameslink served slow lines with modest bookinghall, basic facilities like toilet and coffee shop and a large car park (west side/off Fordfield Road) and kiss and ride by relocations at the Industrial Estate (east side). Wixams has other development around it, it will be a squeeze to fit it in, but I very much hope that it can be done - developers owe the town a debt out of profits?

Then Stations North of Bedford and a new electric service to Leicester (seamlessly) needs a study and to get under way if congestion into Bedford from A6 is not to be a problem as development sprawls without infrastructure?

In an ideal world, North Northants Council and Leicestershire would look at Irchester, Desborough and Kibworth similarly model-wise. 

Labour's New Towns need the rail connection as part of crucial apriori infrastructure needs flagging up, north-south, east-west, the heart of England at least, needs more and better rail links. 

With Conservative's 14 year track record, even lines which want reopening and tick the required boxes have not happened and again building housing without seeing which is the longest queue for type of housing e.g. maybe social housing to help students, young people and first time buyers more and avoiding clustering, rather sharing to sustain a bus, a shop, a pub and other services.

On East-West Rail, if it goes via Northern Route, currently there's 4 tracks north of Bedford, x2 fasts and x2 slows. Fasts discount, 100mph are not going to want more trains crossing over and off them on the flat. So you are left with x2 slow lines north of Bedford. Will more Midland Main Line trains and East-West passenger and maybe some freight additionally all fit into 2 slow lines and get through a busy Bedford Midland Station? That is the question.

Personally, I think an extra 2 tracks will be needed in such a scenario and if East-West Rail Co. themselves say that is what they operationally need, why do some politicians and others think they do not? Or rather, play 4 tracks existing, secretly knowing the x2 slows which would be used, will be inadequate with growth and demand as the years ahead unfold? 

Thus, whilst our call for 'rails east of Bedford via St John's' needs lobbying for it to enable more by rail, it is not perfect but with some flexibility, can be done, less cost, less hassle and more traffic taken off roads and back on rails. Willington objects. It could be bypassed rail-wise if speed is not the only consideration. Everything costs, but I think out of £4.5 billion, our shorter route to Tempsford (north or south of Station Road) makes sense and could do more, if development does not impinge on physical linkages with the ECML (north-south main line).

The loss of the Amsterdam to Basel route

https://nltimes.nl/2024/04/12/netherlands-losing-direct-train-switzerland-last-amsterdam-basel-train-july-15

"

Netherlands losing direct train to Switzerland; Last Amsterdam-Basel train on July 15

After almost 100 years, the daily train connection between the Netherlands and Switzerland will come to an end. The last day-time train from Amsterdam to Basel will run on July 15. The German rail company Deutsche Bahn no longer wants to operate the ICE to Basel, sources at NS told the Volkskrant.

The companies that operate the ICE - NS and Deutsche Bahn - had until Tuesday to re-register the train with ProRail so that the connection can be included in the railway timetable for 2025. They did not do so, NS confirmed to the newspaper, so the high-speed train will not be part of next year’s timetable. The ICE was already scheduled to be stationary for a few months from this summer due to railworks, so its last trip will be on July 15.

NS employees told the Volkskrant that the Dutch rail company didn’t want to scrap the train, but Deutsche Bahn no longer wanted to operate it. While both rail companies formally operate the ICE, Deutsche Bahn supplies the equipment for the train connection. Instead, the German rail company wants to run a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Munich from December.

Day-time trains between the Netherlands and the Swiss Alps have been running for at least 96 years, first under the name Edelweiss in 1928 and then renamed to Trans Europe Express in 1957. In 2024, the ICE is the last remaining day train. Once it disappears, the only direct train connection between the two countries will be the Austrian railways’ Nightjet night train.

According to the Volkskrant, the disappearance of the Amsterdam-Basel train proves how much NS is dependent on foreign rail companies. The Dutch rail company has “neither the equipment nor the ambition to independently operate international lines,” the newspaper wrote, pointing out that only the international train to Brussels is run with NS equipment. "

I hope the route can be reinstated!

https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-the-direct-ice-train-link-from-amsterdam-to-basel

BRTA in Scotland - a focus to start and with new members, proliferations thereof.

re: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2024/06/12/aggregate-terminal-to-revive-scots-line/?gdpr=accept

This is welcome news and Scotland can lead-on in the local rail solution and reopening enterprise! England needs to catch up and Wales needs to think outside the Cardiff bubble, so stereotypical and PC, when the rest of Wales Rails seem relatively neglected?

Any reopening of Dumfries-Stranraer must include:

1. Reopening of the Kirkcudbright branch with shared use of deep sea port (part of which is used by the Royal Navy) - to bring freight into Northern England via contra flow capacity to optimise paths and free up the Southampton-Manchester corridors for more and other freight won to rail/expansion.

2. A west to north curve Stranraer end for direct running to Cairnryan and the Ayrshire Coast.

3. Castle Douglas and Newton Stewart are principal towns which could benefit from the railway rebuild as well as winning people and goods off the busy A75 corridor. There is currently no rail competition.

4. Dumfries end we need north and south curves with the main line for direct running to Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively and south to Carlisle and beyond.

Could someone write to Dumfries and Galloway County Council as an opening starter and get a statement of their view, which can inform our assessment of what more needs doing/lobbying.

The success of Borders shows what may be done and achieved.

If you want more and better, then join BRTA as a member: https://ertarail.co.uk/become-a-member/ and volunteer time and talent to make it so please = the only was to achieve more and better x nationwide. Key qualities are reliability and basic honesty and a willingness to compromise and be part of a team.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/campaign-reinstate-dumfries-stranraer-railway-29636505

English-Welsh Borders Forum at Shrewsbury – Getting off to a good start!

English-Welsh Borders Forum at Shrewsbury – Getting off to a good start! ~ By Simon Barber: T: 0208 940 4399   

E: simon4barber@gmail.com

On Saturday 8^th June I attended the ERTA Shrewsbury Forum which was held at the Montgomery Tower which is a Wetherspoons pub and there were people there - our members David Ferguson and Daniel Newton, plus 2 Shropshire Borough Councillors, three members of the Shrewsbury-Chester Rail Users Association and an ASLEF member. The following items were discussed:
Wolverhampton- Telford-Shrewsbury - Electrification should be top priority since we are in a climate crisis, together with twin-track railway and re-signalling.
Baschurch Station (Shrewsbury-Chester): In 2023 the local MP, Helen Morgan told parliament there was still support locally for reopening and urged Minister of State for Transport, Huw Merriman, to take this up. In December 2023 Baschurch Parish Council commissioned a preliminary study of the feasibility and business case for re-opening by a professional consultancy; this will form the basis for formal application to Shropshire (Unitary) Council and the Department for Transport for funding to proceed to detailed re-opening plans since there are housing developments in that area.
Ruabon-Llangollen: This should be a separate campaign to re-open that line which should not go on to Corwen. Two bridges need to be rebuilt, but there could be a deviation to that old route since some houses have been built east of Llangollen on the relevant track-bed.
Oswestry-Gobowen: The Department for Transport had approved this subject to ‘caveats’. We should pursue a Light Rail scheme for that option, since Oswestry is also the site of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital which is very important and is a social benefit for both Shrewsbury and the whole of Shropshire, and the first UK’s outpatient centre for the Armed Forces veterans. The proposal for the line to extend to Welshpool is feasible, but expensive.
Cambrian Links (Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth/Pwllheli). In 2015, the Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association released an aims document that mentions the possibility of reopening Hanwood station (4 miles south-west of Shrewsbury).
Wrexham-London prospects. This is an Open Access scheme and the Department for Transport has applied paths. The original scheme which ran from 2008—2011 had been focused on Business Travel. Meanwhile several members of Chiltern Railways are reviving the scheme, and Alstom are backing new trains.
Freight by Rail. Shrewsbury-Cardiff and Shrewsbury-Chester/Crewe needs to be electrified with the help from the Welsh Government since many of the freight flows will cross into Wales e.g Cardiff-Crewe.
Bridgnorth-Shrewsbury Corridor: That part of the route (which closed in about 1963) has been subject to landslips and that a tunnel had collapsed.
However, the Ironbridge branch (which originated at Madeley Junction) must reverse at Shifnal Junction due to housing developments at Madeley, and that could be a possibility by using a Light Rail.
 West Wales North-South Proposals: We reckon that Builth Wells (on Heart of Wales Line)-Moat Lane Junction (on Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth Line) could be more feasible than Carmarthen-Aberystwyth. However, Caernarfon-Bangor is relatively unobstructed.

Incidentally Transport for Wales has also now involved with buses, which should link trains and electric buses is also now 'on the cards'. Meanwhile I would like to hold a delegated meeting with Transport for Wales, and both Ken Skates and Darren Millier from the Welsh Government.
Ed. Laudable and thank you Simon for convening the meeting and I do hope it snowballs with new members and ultimately a new Area Rep for BRTA in that part of the world. However, this default obsession with Light Rail being the answer always, needs compare and in contrast with feasibility and compulsory purchase. 1. Is Light Rail always cheaper than conventional rail? 2. Heavy rail can handle passenger and freight, Light Rail remains to be seen, how much freight uses existing light rail construes? We are not talking container railways, but pallets, parcels and post for example could if allowed.

Pictures below taken by Simon Barber 

– one of our long serving members and Executive Committee Officer.

 

Better Buses Battle for Bedford and x Nationwide

From: Saragh Fleckney <Saragh.Fleckney@bedford.gov.uk>

Date: Mon, 13 May 2024 at 13:16

Subject: FW: Action required - Comment - 01271 - PB

To: rich906pill@gmail.com <rich906pill@gmail.com>

Cc: Be Heard <Be.Heard@bedford.gov.uk>

Bedford BC - OFFICIAL-Secure

 

Good morning, Mr Pill,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please accept my apology for the delay in replying.

 

Please find below, responses to your points raised.

 

• The bus stop timetable in St Cuthberts Street (outside what was The Merton Centre) is dated 2023. Is that still relevant or has Number 7 changed?

A – The timetable dates June 2023 is the most recent timetables for the number 7 service.

• I wish you would all collaborate to ensure non digital audiences x however informed, have readable (font size) access to comprehensive timetable information. So, stops seem better than others.

A – We have working with our operators and neighbouring authorities to updates all the roadside publicity. Bus companies can amend their timetables several times a year, so these are updating on a rolling basis, as and when these changes take place.

• Borough Timetables are best with all times of buses sequential on one timetable poster, not segmentalism.

A – Roadside publicity is generated from the individual bus services registrations. Therefore, it is not possible to merge these into a time sequential format, I’m afraid.

• Has the 10.02 Uno service on Sundays been reinstated?

A – Please can you specify the location in which you are referring to the 10:02 service?

• On St Cuthberts, No. 7 is hourly on Sundays, so knowing if and how long to wait really matters. Thanks for all you do.

A – Thank you for compliment. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact my team on Bus.info@bedford.gov.uk

• On No. 8 extension to the South Wing Hospital, laudable if only the same bus wrapped round Bedford Midland from Winifred Road and Ashburnham Road en route back and people encouraged to ride round. Ideally the bus would stop Kempston Road (no crossing Britannia Road) and go via Spring Road Kempston to loop back via Ampthill Road –

A - Thank you for your suggestion. The service 8 is a commercial route that is operated by Stagecoach therefore we have no governance over how the service operates. However, will pass your comments on to Stagecoach for their consideration.

• Morrisons has had a reduced service with No. 2 cut.

A – Yes, Stagecoach decided to de-register the number 2 service as it was no longer commercially viable for them to run. Unfortunately, this has reduced the number of bus services currently serving Morrisons on Ampthill Road.

• On the whole, buses are okay and yet, I do wish some gaps like Tavistock Street, High Street, Bedford Midland Rail Station and so forth, were better served or as in Tavistock Street, are not served at all, surely one of the many buses which ply Union Street could do it, wrapping around back to Hassett Street via The Broadway?

A – The decision as to whether to serve these locations would a commercially decision by the operators. However, Stagecoach are currently looking at their town network and conducting some travel pattern modelling so I will pass this information on to them for them to investigate further.

• Now 906 is just a normal bus and not a coach, could reinstatement of picking up St Peters Street (Eagle/Quarry side/outwards) be reinstated as per that of the Rugby Ground?

A – Again, this would be a commercial decision of the operators. So, I will pass your comments on to them for hem to investigate further.  

• Likewise, X5 Bedford-Oxford, to serve (outward) a new stop on the corner of Biddenham Gold Lane, to save expanded residents, having to come into Bedford and out again, meaning driving is the best option for many?

A – the X5 service used to stop on Bromham Road, many years ago, but Stagecoach decided to cease this. I will raise this with them again for their consideration.

 

Lack of any shop for Biddenham when so much expansion of housing is taking place, seems again, detrimental, as the nearest supermarket is again in town or A6/Bypass Corner about 1-2 miles northwards? Is this a design oversight, not even a garage with a modest food hall and toilet access for example? People having to drive in the absence of 'the local'?

 

A - The Council recognises the importance to communities of local shopping facilities which provide for people’s day-to-day needs. Through our local plans the Council promotes the retention and development of local shops in local centres and villages. Where places are not well served by local shops the Council will look for opportunities by encouraging a developer to provide new facilities as part of their developments. However commercial realities are such that a developer will not build a shop unit that it cannot let on the commercial market because it does not have a large enough catchment to make it financially viable. It is unfortunately the case that Biddenham is just too close (by car) to a good range of shops to make it likely that one could be successfully established in the village. Nevertheless, if a site were to become available and someone did want to open a shop in the village, the Council would not be opposed to such a development in principle subject to their not being any disturbance to neighbours.

 

Many Thanks

Saragh

 

Saragh Fleckney

Manager for Passenger Transport and Sustainable Travel

Bedford Borough Council

Barkers Lane Depot

121 Barkers Lane

Bedford

MK42 9AP

01234 228122 (ext. 42122)

Mobile: 07823 363125

Web www.bedford.gov.uk

 

 

From: Richard Pill <rich906pill@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2024 12:53 PM

Cc: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk; Customer Service <customer.services@stagecoachbus.com>; Be Heard <Be.Heard@bedford.gov.uk>; Barry Walsh <Barry.Walsh@bedford.gov.uk>

Subject: [External] Bus Stop Updates and Feedback

 

Attention: This email originated from outside of Bedford Borough Council. Please be extra vigilant when opening attachments or clicking links.

Dear All,

The bus stop timetable in St Cuthberts Street (outside what was The Merton Centre) is dated 2023. Is that still relevant or has Number 7 changed?

I wish you would all collaborate to ensure non digital audiences x however informed, have readable (font size) access to comprehensive timetable information. So stops seem better than others.

Borough Timetables are best with all times of buses sequential on one timetable poster, not segmentalism. Has the 10.02 Uno service on Sundays been reinstated? On St Cuthberts, No. 7 is hourly on Sundays, so knowing if and how long to wait really matters. Thanks for all you do.

On No. 8 extension to the South Wing Hospital, laudable if only the same bus wrapped round Bedford Midland from Winifred Road and Ashburnham Road en route back and people encouraged to ride round. Ideally the bus would stop Kempston Road (no crossing Britannia Road) and go via Spring Road Kempston to loop back via Ampthill Road - Morrisons has had a reduced service with No. 2 cut.

On the whole, buses are okay and yet, I do wish some gaps like Tavistock Street, High Street, Bedford Midland Rail Station and so forth, were better served or as in Tavistock Street, are not served at all, surely one of the many buses which ply Union Street could do it, wrapping around back to Hassett Street via The Broadway?

Now 906 is just a normal bus and not a coach, could reinstatement of picking up St Peters Street (Eagle/Quarry side/outwards) be reinstated as per that of the Rugby Ground?

Likewise, X5 Bedford-Oxford, to serve (outward) a new stop on the corner of Biddenham Gold Lane, to save expanded residents, having to come into Bedford and out again, meaning driving is the best option for many?

Lack of any shop for Biddenham when so much expansion of housing is taking place, seems again, detrimental, as the nearest supermarket is again in town or A6/Bypass Corner about 1-2 miles northwards? Is this a design oversight, not even a garage with a modest food hall and toilet access for example? People having to drive in the absence of 'the local'?

Hope this is useful feedback respectively.

Not complaining, just thinking aloud for audits and hands-on better use of what we have available.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Richard Pill

~ a regular bus user and observer. ~

cc. BRTA Bedford Forum

I forward an email I received from Bedford Borough Council regarding local buses, access and plethora other matters, by no means exhaustive! I did ask for permission to share. I do consider them to be in the public interest as per the letter attached from DFT.

re: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedfordshire-to-get-a-new-bus-network/ as well.

On a more positive note, Wixams Station is slowly moving towards being a reality, at the foothills at least we hope! re: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/wixams-station-on-track-says-senior-officer-at-bedford-borough-council/

Our goals are:

1. Affordability. A family of four visiting Milton Keynes for example from Bedford at £2 each, would be £16 return before one has spent anything. It goes against those on or below £20, 000 p.a. to £zero / Welfare and millions in between. These brackets struggle with the cost and maintenance of a car and free access to buses could inform a. daily needs more met and b. change over for spending on essentials like food, energy bills and other essentials more.

2. Is it fair for retired people to get a free bus pass when 18+ to retirement people have to pay? Not to begrudge elderly their pass, but if extended it could mean:

a. people can vote with their feet more on bus usage

b. likely more bus usage, so shutting down in stats is harder to justify.

c. Greener environmental transport usage by people means less traffic and congestion/parking demand, lowers emissions and give people more modal shift choices.

There may be other aspects, please feed back.

We have to consider whether the £2 gimmick saves government money than a 18+ standard 'open to all' free bus pass and even over £20, 000 p.a. should be able to reasonable cost buy an annual bus pass, to save them costs and give more options.

I do not understand why Bedford has a lack-lustre bus linkage day time with the main Bedford Midland Railway Station as part of all buses overall journeys when places like Spalding, Hastings, Horsham and Milton Keynes and elsewhere integrate much more and pull it off some how whether commercial or not? I was told pre-pandemic 9000 people pass through Bedford Midland Railway Station per day, so 10% of that to buses, would be a boost and more than cover costs surely?

Local government struggles with costs and is threadbare, I understand that, but so are other places which still see the link between bus station and main railway station as a pize worth seeking. It would be good to have this looked at and championed by pro-green councillors objectively. Chicken and egg, whereby if you do not lay on regular buses, you can only drive, walk and cycle or taxi, if you do lay on people, what incentive to wait and use? Plusbus was a scheme to integrate ticketing, and Season Ticket Holders may well have bus access included for example? So leisure line users, visitors and ad hoc travelling, could benefit from more and better bus integration with Bedford Midland Railway Station. If and when East-West Rail and other major developments land here in Bedford, what will they find? It gives timescale for heads to think, study and find solutions to the problem, which until 1980's privatisation, was not an issue for local buses to serve - 108 to Clapham I believe for example served the station, now just a bi-hourly frequency on a 15-20 minute walk through an estate to the main bus station in Greyfriars and back. I welcome feedback, thoughts or whatever as to how we might take these issues forward, certainly will table it for our next Bedford Forum - see: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill

BRTA CEO

Ps. If anyone wishes to see original emails, please send requests via richard.erta@gmail.com

Rail Links East of Bedford, UK

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) has often stated we want 'east of Bedford via the St John's area' and for good reasons. 1 It declutters an already busy Midland Railway Station area and 2. enables more by rail, which cuts overall gridlock congestion more.

We are for an east-west railway and indeed, in more than one location. Majority of rail groups apparently, want the Northern Route E option. Indeed, some at Willington object to our route because they live there and say our route has been "rejected many times" when in 2019 consultation was not even included in the options put before the public! Level crossings are cited, when lobbying the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) and other tiers of government and agencies can actually solicit special dispensations in circumstances where alternatives like at Priory Park entrance would be unworkable due to the New Cut River stream for example.

It is our view, that if East-West Rail goes north of Bedford, then an additional two tracks with demolition of houses would have to be done, as modal shift to rail means more rails and trains to service it. We are concerned at steep gradients via the northern route, especially if freight is involved. However, we are being bullied and isolated by other rail groups as their take is they know better and majority rules the roost!

If objectors to Northern Route East-West Rail were to join BRTA, come to our forums and help us promote our alternative route, which has much to commend it and was supported by Richard Fuller MP when he was MP for Bedford, with Network Rail and Railfuture, then the matter would just need the Council to support it along with any MP or candidates across the political spectrum. Alas, the devil is in the detail and if East-West Rail Company said they needed 6-tracks north of Bedford, our politicians need to accept that and either accept that route or reject it putting our call in its place. Fence sitting and much ado, means no rail link resolution, dithering and compounding congestion, air pollution and gridlocked future as development happens and all goes by road across the regions the railway would serve.

Enquiries via richard.erta@gmail.com

BRTA AGM and Public Meeting - All welcome.

BRTA AGM Agenda for Saturday 13th July 2024 at the BRTA AGM and Public Meeting –
Saturday 2-3pm AGM and from 3pm Guest Speaker et al.
Venue: The Court House, Church Lane, Berkhamsted HP4 2AX
Website: https://www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/courthouse/
BRTA Convenor Mr Simon Barber: T: 0208 940 4399   E: simon4barber@gmail.com
Guest Speaker: Karl Watts, a director at Railmotive Ltd. All welcome/admission free
Chaired (AGM/David J. Start), Public Meeting (Colin Crawford)
1.     Apologies for absence
2.     Minutes from 2023 AGM and matters arising
3.     Annual Reports in turn by members of EC except Richard unless called.
4.     Treasurers and Membership Reports
5.     Election of Officers for the Executive Committee (EC):
a.      Richard Pill as CEO
b.     David J. Start as Treasurer, Membership, Grants and Westminster Coordinator
c.      Colin Crawford as Herts Area Rep and Railfuture Liaison Coordinator
d.     David Ferguson as now
e.      Simon Barber as now
f.       An-others x2 if willing to serve and take a role of responsibility.
6.     Reform of constitution to consider and comment on – to be finalised later in the year.
7.     Any Other Business
8.     Day Date Time and Place of Next (2025) AGM – suggest either Guildford URC or Leicester (Quakers)
9.     . Public Meeting with Guest Speaker
10.  Q&A, Discussion, Light Refreshments and Perusal of Book Stall

~ Please bring cash to buy, join or donate. ~ There may be a raffle or similar, watch this space!

 BRTA AGM and Public Meeting:

Saturday, 13 July at The Court House,

Church Lane, Berkhamsted HP4 2AX for

2-3pm AGM and 3pm onwards business.

Phone: 01442-878227/ Colin Crawford 07836693977

https://www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/courthouse/

Guest Speaker: Karl Watts, a director at Railmotive Ltd.

All welcome/admission free.

Please bring cash with you to peruse our second-hand book and rail magazine stall, donate or join.

Note:

If you join as a new member on an old form, it will be honoured for the first year!

BRTA Note: 12 Noon Wetherspoons lunch (BRTA)/13.00 Set Up.