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Rail passenger numbers have grown by 65% over the last five years (West of England Annual Rail Survey) whilst infrastructure and services have often struggled to meet increasing demand. The new Greater Western Franchise offers the opportunity to plan for current and future demand and provide a frequent, efficient, comfortable and cost effective local rail network. Electrification of the Great Western Main Line raises the exciting prospect of an electrified suburban network.
Over 80 people met at the Holland House Hotel in Bristol on 4th November 2011 to find a way forward on priorities for developing the West of England’s rail network. Drawn from a wide range of interest groups the delegates were in for an informative, stimulating and interesting day.
A full report of the day is being prepared but see below for a quick summary and links to presentations.
Kicking off the Conference was a series of excellent presentations from the rail industry.
Brian Welch (presentation) and Martin Holt (presentation) from the Department for Transport emphasised the importance of rail schemes supporting economic growth and reducing carbon whilst identifying needs based solutions and delivering value for money.
From Network Rail Mike Gallop (presentation) took us on an enthusiastic trip around the electrification of the Great Western Main Line helping everyone to appreciate the scale of the endeavour (1,000 km of wires and 156 bridges lifted) and the opportunities for Bristol Temple Meads, line speed increases and more capacity on Filton Bank.
First Great Western’s Julian Crow (presentation) provided some stunning figures on how rail passenger numbers have grown, 11.7% per annum since 2006 and up 90% on the Severn Beach line since 2007.
Finally Chris Irwin from TravelWatch SouthWest (presentation) highlighted where train services could still do better, the impact rail schemes can have for the whole of the South West and a 90m gap in future seat capacity.
A lively question and answer session ranged across issues such as the difficulties of reopening Saltford station; Portishead line; the need for a rail strategy; clear priorities and the evidence to back them up.
With the scene set by our speakers it was now the delegates turn to take part with a game of Top Trains Trumps. A bit of fun but with a serious intent the aim was to get delegates thinking about priorities using a set of 28 rail scheme cards.
Each table had to pitch one scheme against another weighing up costs, benefits, value for money and deliverability. A £70m budget helped focus attention on achieving the achievable. Some passionate debate took place. It was challenging but our delegates rose to the occasion with a top three list of priorities of:
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Greater Bristol Metro – half hourly cross Bristol train services
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Re-open the Portishead line
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Additional rolling stock – meeting current, future and suppressed demand
These results will help us to input into the new Greater Western Franchise, electrification of the Great Western Main Line and discussions on the devolution of rail powers.
Well done to everyone who took part.
Lunch and the workshop behind us we set off on a rail tour, courtesy of First Great Western, to see parts of the local network passengers services don’t normally reach. Seeing the Portishead and Henbury Loop lines at first hand was the icing on the cake for many of the delegates and a fitting conclusion to a constructive day.