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?

 

East-West Rail update and local Beds Transport Matters

Update 28-01-24

Interestingly on East-West Rail there's a discussion group/similar facilitated in early February and we have not even been invited. 

Our focus is Bedford-East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Tempsford. We want East of Bedford via St John's believing it not to be a panacea, but a least costly, mostly flat land and simple to reinstate a railway than Northern Route E or avoiding Bedford altogether at Wixams for example. If you support our stance, please either join BRTA https://ertarail.co.uk/events/  or encourage supporters to join our free email loop via richard.erta@gmail.com We are in transition from ERTA to BRTA but some technical aspects are to take longer than simple name changes, so please bear with us and do not get confused.

Our public transport is under attack and in some disarray and things can either spiral up positively or spiral down to closure or irrelevance. It is a value-priority choice. There is no money, yet HS2 goes on guzzling public money and £27 billion new roads budget was found whereas (environmental alarm bells!) the Rail Reopenings Fund was set at a mere £500 million, is that fair or what the country needs (land take)? Everyone has cars, but we do need more choice. Take A428/A1 Black Cat-Caxton Cambridge dualling for example... where will the traffic go on reaching urban interfaces which are congested a lot of the time? Town and City Centres like Bedford and Cambridge lack the capacity of road space, being a built environment, to cater for the inevitable increases in traffic the wider road-space will engender. So without a rail alternative, it will be pollution and mayhem and that has a cost to it. 

I wish the council was working closer with me as an observer-advisor who has been on East-West Rail since 1986! Oxford-Milton Keynes is reaching end game, Bedford-Cambridge needs sorting to continue the works necessary to get it done in a timely manner. I feel some works could be combined with other rails upgrades as per the 4-tracking at Addenbrookes/Cambridge South Station which East-West Rail services are due to call en-route to Cambridge City and onwards to Norwich and Ipswich respectively and vice versa. That is why to benefit, it must call at Bedford urban interface, not orbit the town. 

Reversal at Bedford Midland with a single through track for more freight from east-north and vice versa and west-north as well, is also needed. Can it be done on existing tracks? That is the question. Can a Northampton-Bedford Thameslink (new-build) arm be done with existing tracks too? That is what should also be being studied alongside new stations north of Bedford beit Oakley, Sharnbrook and a new all stations service Watford-Bedford semi-fast and Bedford-Leicester/Corby all under the wires (yes, Bedford-Bletchley needs infill electrification regardless)! 

Getting started is always the hardest part. However, whilst councils are cash strapped, it costs nothing to round-table and bring the investors to look at an idea and say what about it, form consortia and get the advocacy for Government approval and part-funding underway. That is what BRTA needs and wants, will our leaders extend a hand and work with us inclusively please? Bedford-Northampton would follow more-or-less the old corridor to end of the Stevington Walk area and go north-westerly to tunnel under Lavendon, arc A509 and Yardley Hastings, through or under the Castle Ashby Estate and rejoin old trackbed at Great Houghton into Northampton. 

That is where studies, land protection measures and tailoring of development to ensure a robust corridor can be done now and in the next 10 years. Why 10 years? It is a benchmark of what normally an idea to deliver local rail reopening should take, not 37 years and counting for East - West Rail since campaigners formally organised and advocated it, 1994-5 the professionals via a Consortia got involved and became the mainstay leadership. Government can be instrumental here. Bedford-Northampton, new Parkway Stations at A428/A509 roundabout area and Brackmills Industrial Estate, University/Delapre Abbey - all growth areas, satellite development areas and employment centres needing rail choice to access and decluttering peripheral road networks/avoid rat-runs in rural areas too.

Hope of interest. One study suggested an end-to-end transit by Thameslink Trains between Bedford and Northampton on a modern railway of approximately 35 minutes, which beats anything by road, but could link with local buses and through ticketing to feed each other more as well. Olney area is lost, but A509/A428 roundabout area could be an alternative. It needs studying. It would enable Cambridge-Bedford-Northampton-Rugby through services and freight-by-rail, cutting lorries proliferating on these corridors. So by default, if we want these goodies, Bedford Midland needs reform, redesign and more land-take. There is no getting away from it.

Minimally, the A6 corridor needs stations north of Bedford unless we bury heads-in-sand and go for triple stacking of car parking and endless congestion into and out of Ashburnham Road, cascading back to Prebend Street and Midland Road respectively? 

On Prebend Street going north, I mull over whether making Ford End Road Bridge one way, westwards direction, and that of Hurst Grove one-way north to Winifred Road with inwards via Bromham Road/Ashburnham Road for south, would free-up the mini roundabout at Prebend/Ford End/Midland confluence junction? Worth looking into/maybe a consultation and trial?

Previous input.

ERTA has changed its name from ERTA to British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) to include Wales and Scotland in our fold as well as English Regions and Borders. Our starting place was Bedford and we remain committed to fostering a rail agenda in this location too with public support and interest and that from our elected leaders. https://ertarail.co.uk/ We are therefore updating and in transition whilst continuing to advocate better and integrated public transport.

re: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/mayor-keeping-alternative-southern-east-west-rail-routes-under-wraps/

Please filter anything East-West Rail-wise via me to judge, appropriately disseminate - do not go off on tangents in our name except as private individuals. BRTA wants East of Bedford via St John's. Whichever route has blockages greater or lesser. Lib Dems and some others seem to  want to pounce and trash East of Bedford via St John's and NIMBYs exist everywhere (!) and nothing here about spiralling costs if mileage or whatever versus exact same and more issues with Northern Route D. The reference to Southern Route is vague, if it is 'East of Bedford via St John's' fine, if Wixams-Bypass - is there the land now for a multi-purpose segregated station? As for Tempsford and ECML capacity or not, that should be in the discussion now for both local services now plus growth and any Cambridge-Royston-Arlesey-Biggleswade-Sandy-East-West Rail inclusion.

Please see attached, but if connectivity with Bedford Midland is critical as opposed the Bicester North to Bicester Town (East-West Rail)/Village, then a bus link could fill the gap in orbital route like Spalding town has via bus station and principal outs including High Street and Borough Hall for example.

Please fill in the 2024 Bedford Bus Survey and encourage councils to invest in the No. 2 Bus between Bedford and Flitwick AND interim places - Retail Park (no rail station), interim places and AMPTHILL (no station). Such gaps mean hardship - I use it and it seems busy to me and most buses are subsidised anyway or cut!

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/your-council/have-your-say/consultations/bus-usage-survey-2024

West Wales North-South Main Line needs support!

Please support and write in favour of this local rail reopening: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68003542?at_ptr_name=twitter&at_format=link&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=social&at_link_id=F669828C-B5CC-11EE-B7F9-A43787A28522&at_link_origin=BBCWalesNews&at_link_type=web_link

It would make the existing remnant rail network more relevant and boost patronage all year round, sustaining local businesses and informing widespread regeneration. 

The railway, even if 10 years, is a worthwhile project and can be modernised to inform end-to-end fast transit times and challenge the pro-road building lobby which informs endless demand for parking guzzling land which is needed for other things. 

If we take the Borders Line reopening, it was very much a cynical reception but devolution and campaigning resulted in the go-ahead and it has carried millions to a largely rural landscape and demand for full rebuild to Carlisle exists but the British Westminster Government has dithered despite the resounding support and exceeding usage data. You have to make a start, Oxford-Cambridge direct rail has taken 35 years campaigning, so 10 years is a drop in the ocean by comparison! Start now and take it seriously.

https://campaignforbordersrail.org/

Regeneration of West Wales and South West Wales in particular likely, more freight by rail as well. Jobs, sustaining hotels for families to revisit these locations rather than just walkers and single groupy camping styles. Wales needs diversity and all round year-on-year sustained vistorship.

Please give this project your support.

Trickle down continues... but we need a bold shift towards local rail reopenings.

re: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/reinstatement-of-disused-railway-in-lancashire-tabled-15-01-2024/

Please write to the minister and give support to this initiative. Thanks. We need a nationwide programme, not mere fragments, we need a change of direction from road-based priority to re-railing Britain. Please tell your local MP you want this.

Other Northern Lines ERTA wants are Colne-Skipton, Matlock-Buxton/Chinley, Leeds-Northallerton via a rebuilt alignment via Ripon, Scarborough-Whitby, a new Woodhead Tunnel for Trains-Pennine capacity, the Burscough Curves near Preston and the Minsters Line (York-Beverley) and also Keswick and the Don Valley Rail Project - don't give up, keep asking, keep making the case and be resolved to working by all means possible to delivery because it matters.

These are examples. Any willing to act as an Area Rep or regular advocate for us, please get in touch. It needs a northern vision, northern coming together and acceptance that intermediate places and rail access counts as well as orbitals for Manchester and Sheffield to enable via Parkway Stations (we think of Bristol Templemeads) to enable more trains on more tracks and routing more freight by rail too. Yes, lots to work out, but you could probably have all this and change from whatever end-to-end High Speed does, which does not handle the fine detail per se. If lines don't exist, the traffic, greater or lesser, must default to roads. That adds up, taking a toll on well being, clean air, urban congestion, time-cost issues and many inefficiencies. 

Goods need to be kept moving, not stuck in traffic! Everyone can make a difference. We need political people and parties of whatever shade to sign up and commit to a new pro-rail transport agenda which considers the balancing of benefits and costs and to quote a saying 'the many not just the few!

The problem x nationwide is that areas who have a common vision, a degree of unity, get organised and make hay, are trending towards more schemes being considered, those areas where disunity, diversive visions and mixed agendas 'have cake and eat it' without clear definitions tend to get long-grassed. The method of long-grassing can vary, but chucking an issue to quangos, trading reports, much conferencing and photogenic career building courting top salaries but no spades on the ground is how it has been and is for many regions. Devon and Somerset are making progress and we can learn where reopening campaigns succeed, and reapply to our own situation. The sad reality is for many politicians rail reopenings are a fancy or peripheral matter, whereas environmentally and land-use-wise, they are nationally foundational from many angles if but realised and acted upon. So much pluralism, we need discernment!

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill

CEO ERTA

https://ertarail.co.uk/ and 

https://ertarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/ 

No 2 Bus Cut - what of interim places between Flitwick and Bedford?

This is disgraceful! https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/transport/stop-the-cut-say-mps-as-changes-incoming-to-stagecoach-bus-timetable-in-bedford-4467980 These buses are well used. Could money for new #stevenage - #bedford bus service be being cascaded? Rail does not serve interim places including Kempston Retail Park and elsewhere. Wixams Station lagging, Ampthill Station opposed by Ampthill Town Council, bad show and shame on those who say #Flitwick Station is adequate... compare costs of bus to rail into Bedford and bus is cheaper.

The bus by my observations is well used. It services places rail does not and should be a priority for public consultation and support. Please write in support of retaining the bus option, hasten Wixams and study Ampthill. Ideally a petition could be launched?

Engage with his too = feedback! https://www.bedford.gov.uk/your-council/have-your-say/consultations/bus-usage-survey-2024

Bus cuts, coming to a place near you too! Please help reverse this madness and spell out:

1. They are front-line public transport

2. They serve interim places rail does not

3. They are often a cheaper option

4. Integration brings benefits if through ticketing is enabled for all

5. Write to your MP and call for a nationwide 18-65 concessionary bus pass as a green investment, modal choice and congestion buster.

6. Join ERTA https://ertarail.co.uk/events/ and join our free email loop: richard.erta@gmail.com

ERTA 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

 

1.     Apologies for absence         

2.     Ampthill Parkway Station:

a.     Consideration of the Ampthill Doc – what could be added or edited?

b.     Making a business case

c.      Funding a questionnaire delivered to the Ampthill/Flitwick Areas (£500)

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?

e.     The projects needs:

-         Sponsors

-         Funding

-         Volunteers

-         Nurture of local/other support

f.       Any other related considerations

3.     Relieving Flitwick on the back of additional Ampthill

4.     Wixams Station

a.     Current status

b.     Date of delivery or not

5.     Stations North of Bedford (SNOB)

a.     Oakley, Sharnbrook (Bedfordshire contingent)

b.     Northants and Leicester see Wellingborough/Leicester Forums

6.     Kempston Retail Park/Kempston Town (on Bedford-Bletchley Railway)

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.

8.     Any Other Business

9.     Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting: The Albion Pub, Flitwick Road, Ampthill, date to agree for March 2024. Simon to make the booking. 1pm lunch (bring your own) and 2pm business.

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?

Llangollen Four Great Highways Threat Increased!

Update: 26-01-2024

As a further update for this recent news about Llangollen's Four Great Highways development (https://www.change.org/p/support-and-fund-railway-links-to-llangollen-and-corwen-to-connect-them-to-ruabon-and-bala/u/32244961), the threat has unfortunately increased even further! Recently whilst browsing on their website (here's the link https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/community-and-living/community-development/levelling-up-fund/four-great-highways/four-great-highways.aspx), the Four Great Highways team say that a contractor has been appointed to complete the project. Work is due to start on 5th February 2024, with the aim of being completed by the end of June 2024. Again, judging the coloured plans for the proposed gardens, stairs, steps, and paths for the riverside walkway and Lower Dee Mill areas, all this is very serious and again it needs countering as much as possible, including counting support of local MPs, to ensure that at least a 6 meter wide strip of land at railway trackbed level immediately along the back of the riverside wall is kept clear through the full length of the Project's footprint to allow for the future reinstatement of a single track mainline railway reinstatement from Llangollen to Ruabon. There also needs to be enough land to build a carriage siding extension of Llangollen Railway, East of the present buffer stops alongside the river as far as the Ponsonby Arms, within the railway's Leased land footprint.

Again, please notify this threat immediately to all relevant MPs and the Welsh Assembly Government to get them to focus on rail re-openings like the Ruabon-Llangollen route, and express your concerns to the Four Great Highways project managers by emailing them at this e-mail address: fourgreathighways@denbighshire.gov.uk

I contacted Mark Isherwood last summer, but he expressed no interest whatsoever. I've tried contacting Sam Rowlands, but got no response from him.

I contacted Simon Baynes, who's a Member of Parliament for Clwyd South (I have attached screenshots of his response to this e-mail). But he said, as this is in regards to transport in Wales, this issue would be best raised with the local representative of the Welsh Government in the Senedd, Ken Skates MS. But Simon will continue to monitor the subject since he supports Llangollen Railway.

I haven't got a response from Ken Skates as of now, but he can be contacted at this e-mail: Ken.Skates@senedd.wales

Another MP worth contacting is Darren Millar. I contacted him last summer and he said he would love to the see more extension to the Llangollen Railway line. He can be contacted at this e-mail: Darren.Millar@senedd.wales 

Contact Daniel Newton to offer to help or to make further enquiries.

daninewton1@live.co.uk (our contact)

Llangollen Four Great Highways Threat Increased!

Remember this update warning I posted on the petition about the Four Great Highways threat on the East side of Llangollen bridge: https://www.change.org/p/mark-drakeford-support-and-fund-mainline-railway-links-to-llangollen-railway-to-connect-it-to-ruabon-and-bala/u/31536729? Although certain design changes have been made, the threat has still increased because while looking at the latest information on the Four Great Highways Project, I noticed that the coloured plans for the proposed gardens, stairs, steps, and paths for the riverside walkway and Lower Dee Mill areas, appear to still totally block the old railway route and make no 'passive provision' for a future railway. More details can be found here in the attached pdf file.

All this is very serious and it needs countering as much as possible, including counting support local MPs, to ensure that at least a 6 meter wide strip of land at railway trackbed level immediately along the back of the riverside wall is kept clear through the full length of the Project's footprint to allow for the future reinstatement of a single track mainline railway reinstatement from Llangollen to Ruabon. There also needs to be enough land to build a carriage siding extension of Llangollen Railway, East of the present buffer stops alongside the river as far as the Ponsonby pub within LR's Leased land footprint.

Recently whilst browsing on the Four Great Highway's website, they say they are now working to consider the responses received before the final designs are agreed for the project.

Please notify this threat immediately to all your MPs and the Welsh Assembly Government to get them to focus on rail re-openings like the Ruabon-Llangollen route, and express your concerns to the Four Great Highways project managers by emailing them at this e-mail address: fourgreathighways@denbighshire.gov.uk

Yours Sincerely,

Daniel Newton

daninewton1@live.co.uk

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/daninewton1%40live.co.uk/FMfcgzGwJckFWlDVHcqJkrXLnGvblhZC?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

2023 Assessment and Seed Sowing for 2024 Progress!

ERTA aspires to be nationwide in coverage and is voluntary in scope. Therefore, we need a steady flow of members to help us fulfill our aspirational goals. If people want more, they must be prepared to contribute and get involved to 'make it happen' or at least make it more likely. 

Last year we:

1. Unearthed a study which was suppressed making a case for reopening a Northampton-Market Harborough rail link. It was suppressed, we only unearthed it via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. The study is not complete however, but sourcing support and money has been painfully difficult and protracted. That is still the case. The Minister for Rail Huw Merriman MP who deferred to taking it up with England's Economic Heartlands (EEH). That is our next port of call and explore all the avenues available. Really, should not be down to us, but the professionals and leaders seem to be preoccupied with other things, need I say more?!

2. East-West Rail is almost physically linked with Bletchley and Bicester, so through use of Oxford-Milton Keynes running will be possible, with passenger services commencing 2025/6/7 ish!

3. Guildford-Horsham, we are following up behind all that which has gone before. Galvanising a new team and funding things like questionnaires, remains again a challenge and a fundraising officer who knows what and how would be just the add-on we need to ensure targeted leafleting, with more volunteers locally sourced, is do-able.

4. There's always more like Stations between Bedford and Leicester, Stations south of Northampton and many other stations or reopenings or both, which come our way. Things are trickling along, but painfully slow and the gauntlet to any government is a. decide which way transport policy is going, b. consider land-use and the environment as well as people, places and communities well-being and c. Infill electrification of the Bedford-Bletchley rail link for a semi-fast Watford-Corby service beit passenger and freight usage and efficiency.

January 2024 Newsletter out now. PDF copies available via email requests to richard.erta@gmail.com