HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Strategic Rail Plan – Briefing note for the West Midlands [January 2002]
The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 14 January 2002.
the area covered is that of the Government Office for West Midlands – West Midlands, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire)
Objectives of the Strategic Plan
The Plan sets out how the SRA intends to tackle the rail industry’s problems and priorities in the short, medium and long term to:
- restore stability in the industry, allowing performance to improve;
- deliver growth to meet the 10 Year Plan core targets of:
– 50% increase in passenger kilometres
– reduction in overcrowding which breaches the SRA’s s tandards
– 80% increase in freight tonne-kilometres - build a pipeline of projects at different stages of development against which contractors and suppliers can plan.
The plan also meets where possible SRA’s other priorities set by Government, including better integration with other transport modes, expansion of capacity, and promotion of the use of the railway network.
The priorities have been developed taking into account dialogue with the Rail Passengers’ Committee for the Midlands, the West Midlands Regional Chamber and Regional Assembly and Advantage West Midlands, Government Office for West Midlands, Centro and local authorities within the region.
The SRA is contributing to the preparation of the Regional Transport Strategy for the West Midlands.
The SRA has participated in the following Multi Modal Studies (MMS):
- West Midlands Area MMS (WMAMMS)
- West Midlands to North West Conurbation Study (SEMMS)
National schemes with benefits for the West Midlands
- Train Protection and Warning Systems
- A Company Neutral Revenue Support schemes to be introduced in 2002 for intermodal and ‘less than trainload’ markets
- Freight Facility Grants
- Freight Small Schemes Fund
- Incremental Outputs statements for track and signalling and stations
- Rail Passenger Partnership Fund
- Training through a National Rail Academy
- National Rail Performance Fund to improve reliability of services
- Proposals for a National Test Track to prove new rolling stock, before it is tested on the Railtrack network;
- A programme of improvements for passengers with disabilities to improve station access and special training for staff.
PRINCIPAL PROJECTS FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS
Developments 2001-02
Service developments
- Improved Central Trains Birmingham New Street timetable from 2002.
Rolling stock
- Birmingham is the focal point for Virgin’s CrossCountry services. 34 four-car CrossCountry Voyager trains will replace all loco-hauled services by May 2002. Progressive introduction of new trains during Autumn/Winter 2001/02, will deliver extra services and greater reliability.
- A number of existing CrossCountry HST trains are likely to be re-engineered and refitted to operate as high performance five-car trains on new Birmingham-Gloucester-Paddington through services.
- Testing of first of 44 tilting five-car Super Voyager trains, which will deliver faster journey times.
- 53 nine-car, 140 mph, tilting VWC Pendolino trains are being constructed by Alstom.
- Central Trains phase two Class 170 modification programme begun, to improve reliability of the fleet.
- New air-conditioning units on 72 Central Trains Class 158 vehicles.
- Modifications to FNW Class 323, 142 and 150 trains to enable staff to carry out enhanced on train customer care and revenue protection duties.
Performance improvements
- VWC: £30m investment in improving reliability, quality of passenger experience and maintenance provision
- VWC: 125 mph operation (present top speed is 110 mph) by May 2003, giving reduced journey times
- New Central Trains Senior Conductor depot at Birmingham Snow Hill, driver training programme to increase the number of Central Trains drivers.
Franchise negotiations
An interim Chiltern franchise agreement took effect from April 2001, to ensure progress whilst a new franchise for up to 20 years is contractualised. The interim agreement commits Chiltern to:
- 7 extra class 168 vehicles to come into service in summer 2002
- tougher incentive regime – including penalties for falling below 83% on the SRA’s Public Performance Measure
- M40 Trains, working with Railtrack and its contractors, to proceed on costings, design and development of schemes which will be committed in the new franchise agreement
- trial refurbishment of a class 165 to gauge passenger reaction.
Stations and passenger facilities
- Station to serve Birmingham ICC being examined (see below)
- New stations at Rubery and Frankley being examined (see below)
- Station reconstruction at Rugby.
- New ticket shop at Stoke-on-Trent station.
- Redecoration of toilets at twelve Central stations and renovation of toilets at a further four stations.
- Nuneaton lifts currently being upgraded for passenger use.
- RPP-funded permanent ticket office at Ludlow.
Infrastructure improvements
- Completion of CrossCountry infrastructure upgrade works at bottlenecks.
RPP proposals
The following RPP proposals are being assessed:
| RPP proposal | Status | Output |
| Birmingham – Stratford-upon-Avon semi-fast | pre-qualification | Provision of seven additional return services between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon per day |
| Birmingham International Convention Centre | pre-qualification | New station at ICC Birmingham |
| Frankley extension | pre-qualification | Extend Cross-City services to new stations at Rubery and Frankley |
IOS schemes in the West Midlands
The SRA is supporting, subject to value for money tests, the following incremental improvements to the network:
| IOS infrastructure scheme | Main output | Key requirements | Expected completion date |
| Manchester Airport – Nottingham via Stoke-on-Trent | Capacity | Regular interval service, running earlier and later | 2002 |
| Longbridge – Blake Street |
Capacity | Increase the Birmingham Cross-City service to six trains per hour between Blake Street and Longbridge | 2002 |
| Chester – Shrewsbury |
journey time | Regular interval timetable with reduced journey times. | 2002 |
| Birmingham New Street – Bromsgrove – Worcester – Hereford |
operational flexibility | Provide for Birmingham to Cheltenham via Worcester trains to run via Worcester Foregate Street in both directions | 2003 – 04 |
| Birmingham New Street – Bromsgrove – Worcester – Hereford |
operational flexibility | Space for 4 x 23m car trains to use Birmingham bound platform at Bromsgrove | 2003 – 04 |
| Stourbridge Junction | Capacity | New 4-car bay platform to provide; a total of 6 trains per hour between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction; allow a minimum of 4 trains per hour to arrive and turn back | 2004 – 05 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | operational flexibility | Ability for passenger trains to arrive and depart from the second platform | 2004 – 05 |
| Kidderminster | operational flexibility | Ability to turn around a four car set on arrival from Birmingham | 2004 – 05 |
| Droitwich – Worcester Foregate Street |
operational flexibility | Provide four-minute headways between Droitwich Spa and Worcester | 2005 – 06 |
| Crewe – Nottingham |
journey time | Reduced journey time | 2006-07 |
| Grand Junction to St Andrew’s Junction | operational flexibility | Raise the current 15 mph speed limit to 25 mph | 2005-06 |
Medium Term Developments 2002 – 2005
Service developments
- CrossCountry frequencies increased from summer 2003 timetable on core routes, to approximately double the present frequencies, with standard ‘clock face’ timetables and shorter journey times.
- Frequency improvements on VWC (e.g. 2 trains per hour London to Manchester; three trains per hour London to Birmingham).
Franchise negotiations
- The Central Trains franchise is due to expire in 2004. The SRA is looking at the possibility of a two year extension, aimed at achieving an early increase in capacity
- The present FNW franchise expires in 2004. Services will then move into one of three new franchises:
- the Northern franchise, with separate business unites to improve local accountability. Expressions of interest have been invited, and tendering will occur early this year.
- the TranPennine Express franchise, to focus on longer distance fast services and links to Manchester International Airport.
- the Wales and Borders franchise, which is to be tendered early this year.
Stations and passenger facilities
- Birmingham Moor Street station to be expanded.
Infrastructure improvements
- WCML Infrastructure upgrade and renewal works to deliver increased capacity, higher line speeds, improved reliability and performance. Remodelling and resignalling on the North Staffordshire route, for higher speeds and reliability.
West Midlands capacity study
The SRA, in partnership with Railtrack, Centro, the Government Office for the West Midlands and Birmingham City Council, published the West Midlands Capacity Study in 2001. The capacity study gives an outline programme of two phases of works that could improve network capacity in the West Midlands for passengers and freight.
The SRA is funding freight-specific works, which are essential for the achievement of the target of 80% growth in freight by 2010. These works will also deliver some limited additional passenger benefits. On the passenger side, in conjunction with regional partners, we shall be developing the strategy further, and examining value for money and affordability issues.
At present, the SRA does not believe that sufficient funding will be available to support implementation of the overall Phase One works involved before 2010. Subject to clarifying value for money issues, the position could change if increased funding were to be made available.
The passenger upgrade works proposed by the capacity study would be substantial. If approved, Phase One would take five to seven years to build, and would provide capacity for doubling train seats available, through a series of infrastructure enhancements. On a similar basis, Phase Two would be deliverable in around ten to twelve years, and would further double capacity, through a major upgrade of the Coventry – Wolverhampton corridor.
West Midlands freight capacity works
Southampton – West Midlands Felixstowe – Nuneaton. Works to provide increased capacity and increased structure gauge clearances to allow rail to handle 9’6″ containers and European swapbodies more effectively, linking the two largest container ports in Britain with the West Midlands.
West Midlands network.
The SRA intends to develop and implement the following:
- Network capacity to give, in aggregate, a 50% increase in freight paths on the North East
– South West and North – South corridors across the West Midlands - Improved train length and gauge clearance capability on these corridors
This project would provide capacity across the full West Midlands network to meet projected growth in demand for freight over the next 10 years, and a network of gauge-cleared routes to link the strategic Felixstowe – Nuneaton and Southampton – West Midlands axes. This project develops schemes proposed by the West Midlands Capacity Study, and would have synergies with any future implementation of other schemes from that Study.
Developments 2001 – 2002
- Feasibility work in progress on Walsall – Stourbridge reopening (for North East of England/Bescot – South West of England flows)
- Feasibility work in progress on the Water Oton corridor enhancement (for North – South, North East – South West and Birmingham area flows)
- Feasibility work on Sutton Park Line upgrade (for North – South, North East – South West and Birmingham area flows)
- Feasibility work to in progress on Birmingham – Wolverhampton signalling headways (for North – South and Birmingham area flows)
Developments 2002 – 2005
| Outputs | Expected completion date |
| Water Orton corridor remodelling and signalling. | 2004 – 05 |
| Walsall – Stourbridge reopening. | 2004 – 05 |
| Sutton Park line upgrade. | 2005 |
Developments 2005 – 2010
| Outputs | Expected completion date |
| Birmingham – Wolverhampton signalling headways. | 2006 |
| Other Schemes | Developments 2002 – 2005 | Developments 2005 – 2010 |
| Midland Main Line: incremental capacity |
|
|
| West Coast: capacity for freight growth North of Crewe |
|
|
| North East – South West axis |
|
|
Long Term (Beyond 2010)
Beyond 2010, the role of the railways will become even more important, and the key network capacity issues will have to be addressed. In particular, this involves:
- High Speed Line. Additional capacity between London, the North of England and Scotland for both freight and passenger services; to include consideration of a new line with a high speed capability, and provision of capacity for more north – south rail freight movements;
- West Midlands/Manchester Capacity. Relief of congestion with new infrastructure in regional centres such as Birmingham and Manchester;
- Multimodal Studies. Development and of rail projects identified in the Multi-modal studies;
