Major campaign launched to bring better rail services to Plymouth
A CAMPAIGN is being launched in Plymouth today calling for better rail services for the region which could be worth an extra £94million per year to the economy.
Key organisations, businesses, MPs and councils are joining to press for better rail links for the South West.
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A task force has been set up and is calling for businesses and individuals to get across the message that rail is vital to the city and the region's growth.
The task force will tell ministers that for an annual extra investment of £10million into rail links between Plymouth and London, the returns would be almost ten times the value.
The Greater Western rail franchise is being re-tendered in April 2013 and the Department of Transport has begun a formal consultation on the new 15-year franchise.
This gives the region an opportunity to make representations to Government on what is needed to improve rail connectivity, and to lobby prospective train companies bidding to operate the franchise.
A timetable of improvements for Plymouth has been put together which sets out achievable improvements to existing rail services to and from Plymouth, and the wider local network, that could be made during the next franchise period.
It also details longer term ambitions such as feasibility studies and ground work ahead of a commitment to extend electrification of services to Plymouth.
Chair of the task force, Cllr Kevin Wigens, Cabinet member for Transport, said: "Better rail connectivity will make a huge difference to the city's ability to attract investment and achieve its growth ambitions.
"This consultation is an opportunity for the city and the wider region as a whole to set out its stall.
"While we know there is no endless pot of money, we have put together a key list of improvements that are achievable, affordable and deliverable.
"We're all served by the same line to London and all suffer from the same poor timetable, overcrowding and slow journey times.
"We have already written to Teresa Villiers, Minister of State for Transport to reflect this concern."
Mark Coker, Plymouth's shadow member for transport said: "This call for better rail connectivity has cross-party support. It is vital we do all we can as this will benefit the wider economy of the city and the region."
The task force is co-ordinating a joint response from the South West, uniting behind a call for services that are more frequent, faster and better meet the needs of business under the new franchise.
Leading rail industry consultants Steer Davis Gleave were commissioned by the chamber and the council to look into the economic case for better rail connectivity and found that for an additional operating cost of £10million a year, the economy stands to gain £94million.
As well as aiming for faster trains, a key demand is for better on-board facilities such as WIFI and continuous mobile coverage so business people can work en-route.
David Parlby, chair of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, said: "Business needs to be able to do a day's business in Plymouth – or in London – and get back, travelling reliably, comfortably and affordably. They also need to be able to work on the train if they wish.
"For a relatively small investment in the infrastructure, timetable and accommodation, there are potentially great returns for the wider economy as a whole."
The task force has been in discussions with colleagues from neighbouring authorities to ensure local rail services are also given consideration.
Rail services in the South West have seen unprecedented passenger growth of around four per cent over the past decade.
The population is expected to rise by 30 per cent in the South West over the next 20 years with an aging population who are much more likely to use train services.
Tim Jones, chair of the Heart of the South West Local Economic Partnership, said: "There are some hugely successful local routes into and out of Truro, Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter – but many of the trains are already at capacity with no room for further passenger growth.
"It is critical the franchise plans for growth of these services. They play an increasingly important role in linking local communities to employment, leisure and retail activities across the region".
Through the franchise consultation, the region will seek improvements to local rail services including reinstatement of rail services to Tavistock and a regular hourly local service between Penzance and Exeter throughout the day, seven days a week.
Over the last few months the city's MPs have been lobbying other MPs with constituencies in the FGW franchise area and have been raising the issue in the House of Commons.
A joint letter between leaders of Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth councils seeking assurances that the franchise will take into account current use as well as projected population growth has also been sent to ministers.
The task force has also already sent a letter to FGW calling for an earlier morning fast train to Plymouth by May 2012.
Comment – Page 11
10 Comments
by hstmtu4000
Friday, February 10 2012, 1:20AM
“According to BBC South's Transport correspondent today First Group(the existing franchisee), Stagecoach, National Express, Arriva (German rail company Deutsche Bahn) & Renfe(the Spanish state-owned rail company) have today all met a deadline to express an interest in running the next Great Western rail franchise which starts in 2013 all part of a process leading to the eventual winner being announced later this year.It will be interesting to see what the winning bidder comes up with regards to our neck of the rail woods.”
by MickBarb
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:16PM
“I'm not a rail expert but if I was in charge i'd simply schedule one non-stop service per day to London and back, or is that too simple?”
by PCCwatcher
Thursday, February 09 2012, 1:59PM
“the sheer hypocrisy of these people seeking a better train service because London is so difficult for investors to reach when the same people conspired to close the airport and give away Plymouth's money to a private company is truly breathtaking.... they'll be suggesting an incinerator at North Road next.....all in the population's interest, of course....”
by hstmtu4000
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:52AM
“The basic problem with Plymouths rail link to London can be summed up thus.London Paddington to Exeter in East devon (172 rail miles) takes 2 hours on the fastest trains while Exeter (East Devon) to Plymouth (West Devon 52 rail miles) takes 1 hour.This is because the rail route from Paddington to Exeter is quite fast and direct with line speeds of 100/110mph between Exeter and Reading and 125mph between Reading and Paddington.However between Exeter and Plymouth it is a very different story.The rail route is both slow and indirect.Let me explain.On departure from Exeter st davids station towards Plymouth the first 10 miles to Dawlish Warren at the start of the sea wall despite the 80/100mph line speeds only take you 1.3 miles closer to Plymouth because you are travelling in a south/south easterly direction not southwesterly,thats nearly 9 "dead miles".In total it is 20 very indirect but spectacular rail miles from Exeter to Newton Abbot.From Newton Abbot to Plymouth is more direct but much slower with only 55mph line speeds as far as Totnes and 60mph onward to the top of Hemerdon bank on the outskirts of Plymouth.It is very unlikely that 1937 scheme for a new direct line could be justified now on cost grounds so that leaves one option really elecrification.Electric trains due to their much higher power to weight ratios can excellerate very quickly to the prevailing line speeds thus cutting journey times.This is because electric trains also have what is known as "distributed power" from the overhead 25Kv contact wire via a Pantograph/transformer.On the current 35 year old Diesel-electric HST trains only the trains two power car axles are powered whereas on a electric train the power is distributed along the whole length of the train powering many more axles and so improving adhesion when excellerating.”
by PL1Plym
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:30AM
“Isn't Plymouth on the branch line that runs from Exeter?”
by beowulfonline
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:25AM
“.........."While we know there is no endless pot of money, we have put together a key list of improvements that are achievable, affordable and deliverable"...........
Councillor Wiggens, £10 million is loose change when it comes to transport infrastructure spending. There seems to be an endless pot of money as far as transport infrastructure in and around London is concerned. On rail projects alone, over £400 million is being spent on redeveloping London's King's Cross station, £15 billion on Crossrail, £6bn on the Thameslink Programme on the Thameslink route running north-south through London. and that's apart from the £16 billion HS2 London to Birmingham project, London is gobbling up almost all of taxpayers transport infrastructure money. Our share should be a lot more than £10 million each year.”
by pogle63
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:17AM
“Another obvious space filler article telling us what we need but will NEVER get its the 21st Century if we haven`t got it by now we will never have it! No money! No motorway, no highspeed trains, no airport.
Had we made the government aware of how much more waste we could burn in our shiny new incinerator if shipped in by rail we woudl have had a better chance.
Devon and Cornwall are like that area at the bottom of every garden where the pathway ends and the compost gets dumped.”
by Peter20113
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:00AM
“The whole issue here is symptomatic of Plymouth and the area west of Exeter - aim low and achieve nothing.”
by ThePastyMan
Thursday, February 09 2012, 8:14AM
“"an additional operating cost of £10million a year"
Wasn't Plymouth City Airport running at a loss of £1m ? This was when poorly run and accounting (alledgedly) designed to show a loss to support the 'unviable' claims.
Why can these people talk about finding £10m per year to support to pseudo-public/private (i.e. Taxpayer pays, Shareholders earn) ownership of the rail connection when a perfectly viable high speed transport link, which wouldn't just provide a Plymouth-London link, but could be to The North, Scotland and mainland Europe has just been closed?
Oh, and they've sent a letter to FGW. Bully for them !”
by robertball01
Thursday, February 09 2012, 8:10AM
“ALL you should have woke up 10 years ago, Your region in Plymouth has missed the boat. Wont happen now.”