HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Future of Crosslink Service [June 2002]

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 26 June 2002.

Following a two-year trial, ridership on Anglia Railways’ innovative Crosslink service remains too low to justify continued public subsidy, and the SRA announced today that the service would be withdrawn.

The service (six trains a day each way), between Chelmsford and Basingstoke, was launched in May 2000 on a trial basis and required funding from the SRA’s Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) scheme. After detailed analysis of the costs and benefits of the service the SRA concluded that continued support for Crosslink services did not represent value for taxpayers’ money, with most trains carrying few passengers.

Lack of capacity on parts of the route, and disruption as a result of widespread speed restrictions in late 2000, prevented further development of the service, and the decision recognises that there is little opportunity to provide additional capacity in the short term on this very busy section of the network.

There are no changes to the frequent mainline services between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street and between London Waterloo and Basingstoke.

The SRA is exploring with Anglia Railways alternative uses for the rolling stock, including possible provision of additional services within the region to be introduced for the Summer 2003 timetable.