South West rail
TravelWatch South West outlines his vision to securing a co-ordinated approach to rail services in the region.
TRAVELWATCH South West (TWSW) says the “near coincident expiry” of the Great Western and CrossCountry franchises in 2019 should be used to secure a “co-ordinated approach” to rail services in the region.
In its Connecting the Dots report, TWSW also says that capacity should be increased to accommodate what it calls “unsatisfied current demand” as well as future growth, and that a high threshold for minimum service quality standards should apply irrespective of operator or method of service procurement.
The document is aimed at influencing specifiers of the two franchises before formal consultation takes place, and argues that “further massive growth” in rail usage is likely. Rail usage has already more than doubled in the region since privatisation.
It also says that operators should be encouraged to develop plans for infill electrification, additional capacity in the form of loops, and other projects pending route upgrades.
Electrification of routes should be completed before bi-mode trains have their diesel engines replaced, and the Government should also authorise the procurement of additional new rolling stock to meet projected shortfalls in capacity.
On electrification, TWSW believes the Government’s pause in the programme “is not a sustainable long-term solution”. It wants operators to work with Network Rail to develop plans for infill electrification in areas with air quality problems such as Bath, or in “operationally challenging” areas such as between Newton Abbot and Plymouth where steep gradients slow journey times.
Future projects such as East West Rail, Crossrail and HS2 offer new opportunities, and TWSW is encouraging future operators to maximise the benefits of the increased connectivity opportunities. It points out that of the towns identified as ‘rural hub’ towns, just 17 have National Rail stations with the remaining 27 without rail provision (although some are served by heritage railways).
Wider objectives for the two franchises include supporting the growth of the South West economy, improving rail service provision with emphasis on making ticket buying easier, upgrading stations, and ensuring better on-train facilities.
The report highlights service issues such as extended unscheduled station dwell times due to unsuitable rolling stock, and frequent engineering overruns.
Key junctions such as Southcote Junction (near Reading) also affect performance, while the lack of cross-platform interchanges at stations such as Swindon can also make changing trains difficult for passengers.