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RMT slams
"all-out war" on rail in the North as Government reneges on
promise to scrap "Pacer" trains
RAIL UNION RMT today
slammed the Government for launching and "all out war"
on rail in the North as it emerged that they have dumped a
flagship pledge to scrap the hated 'Pacer' trains,
diesel multiple units (DMUs). The revelation comes just a week after
the close of consultation on the future of rail services on Northern
and Trans-Pennine Express led to RMT delivering 10,000 postcards
registering opposition to the Government's cuts to jobs and services
and also follows news that Northern are scrapping a wide range of
off peak fares in 2 weeks times.
The clapped out, 30 year old trains, were due to be replaced as part
of the new franchise, due to be introduced on Northern Rail by 2016,
but the Department for Transport has now been forced to admit that
the Pacers may be "modernised" instead, to keep them
running for at least another decade.
Also to meet the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, that says:-
"all public transport must be accessible by 2019", as no
Pacers currently meet this requirement, they will have to have
extensive refurbishment to be upto standard, which is a worry to
some in the industry.
The background to these trains was
that in the late 1970's British Rail (BR) started a project to
create a train, with low running costs, for use on rural and
suburban rail services and the 'Pacer' series was born. The first of
them stared coming in to service in between 1980 and 1987. In total
165 Pacer trains (totalling 340 carriages), a lightweight train
similar to railbuses, have been built
Now that the latest attack on rail services in the North is bound up
with the UK Government's shambolic fleet replacement programme which
means that they have a chronic shortage of rolling stock to cascade
through the network. The move on 26 August 2014, has been seen as a
massive embarrassment for the Government, after it promised, in a
Commons debate earlier in 2014, that the Pacers would go.
Stephen Hammond, the then Rail Minister, told MPs:- "We expect
to ask bidders for the Northern franchise to put forward proposals
for the removal of Pacers from the area. That pledge has been ripped
to shreds as the Government are once again caught conniving with the
private train companies to avoid investment in the name of
maximising profits from the Northern routes. The Pacers were
supposed to be nothing more than a short term lash up. Brought in as
a stop gap in the mid 1980's they consist of a bus body mounted on a
freight wagon chassis and the Government's ditching of its pledge to
remove them means that they will now remain in service for another
decade."
Mick Cash, RMT Acting General Secretary, said:- "The ditching
of the pledge to replace the 'Pacer's' as part of the new Northern
Franchise shows clearly, that despite all the rhetoric from George
Obsorne, this Government are waging all out war on rail passengers
in the North. Taken alongside the abolition of off peak fares, the
axing of guards and the assault on services and ticket offices,
there can be no other explanation. The end of the consultation last
week was just the end of round one in the fight to stop the carve up
of jobs and services on Northern and Trans Pennine Express. RMT is
now preparing for the next phase which is ratcheting up the
political pressure on these issues with the next election looming
large on the horizon. Politicians across the North need to recognise
that if they don't oppose the plans to rip apart rail services in
the region in the name of profit then they will be called to account
by an electorate that RMT will ensure is fully aware of the issues.
The only solution to this racketeering on our railway tracks is
public ownership and the return of our railways to the people on the
basis that they are run as a public service and not as a get rich
quick scheme for greedy private train companies."
WEST LANCASHIRE
RAILWAY 50th ANNIVERSARY OF CLOSURE TOUR
ON Sunday, 7 September
1964, British Railways succeeded in their 5 year objective of
closing the Line that ran from Southport to Preston. Join the The
Friends of the 502 Group and the Merseyside Transport Trust, 50
years thereafter, on Sunday, 7 September 2014, as they take a tour
by bus along the route of the original West Lancashire Railway, from
Southport to Preston commencing 11:30am at London Street, Southport,
at side of Southport Station. The Friends of the 502 Group will be
using vehicles provided by Merseyside Transport Trust in Burscough
where our 502 Unit is being restored. Return to Southport will be
before 17:30. "We will be visiting most of the original
Station locations with frequent stops at for example Meols Cop
Carriage Works, Hesketh Bank for visit to and trip on West
Lancashire Light Railway (included) and Preston Fishergate Hill
terminus. Refreshments are available at West Lancashire Light
Railway. This event is being organised by Friends of 502 group who
own the surviving example of 1938 Electric Stock which ran along
part of route to Crossens until 6 September 1964, Merseyside
Transport Trust, West Lancashire Light Railway Trust and Ormskirk,
Preston and Southport Travellers Association. Places; which are
going fast; may be reserved by application in advance to the 502
Group's Treasurer, Tony Kuivala, at the 502 Group, via
emailing:-treasurer@class502.org.uk
and enquiries can also be made to Tony on:- 07885 435542. Please
note that numbers are strictly limited, so book now or you are
likely to be disappointed. Also please remember that all the
organisers involved areare voluntary bodies. The Friends of the 502
Group and the Merseyside Transport Trust, as such are always ready
and willing to accept donations to help forward their aims. There
will be opportunity to see me late on the day." said the 502
Group.
Readymade
waterway days at the National Waterways Museum packed with fun
THE Canal and River Trust
Education 'Explorers' are excited to announce the
arrival of brand new family fun resources at the National Waterways
Museum. Families and school groups are now able to borrow Explorer
backpacks to help them discover the museum site. The backpacks
contain activities children can do around the site along with
objects and resources they need to complete them.
Helen Evans, the Canal and River Trust Education Co-ordinator said:-
"We have developed the backpacks in partnership with Cheshire West
and Chester Council with thanks to funding from Arts Council
England. The museum is a great place for families to enjoy and
explore together and the backpacks are designed in a way to do just
that. Families can explore engineering and focus on social history
whilst using the enclosed magnifying glass, spy book, slate and
chalk, nut and bolts set and the battle of the boats card set."
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is open all year
round and showcases the history of the canals and the lives and
times of the people who worked on them. A collection of canal boats
can be seen at the museum, with several open for visitors.
To find out the very latest
information on all that is happening at the museum can be found on
its Facebook
Page or by visiting the groups
website. |
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Liverpool City
Region's 30 year Rail future detailed in new strategy
THE rail schemes that will
support and grow the Liverpool City Region economy over the next 30
years by improving links within it and to cities and towns further
afield, have been detailed in a Long Term Rail Strategy.
The document will be put to the Merseytravel Committee on 4
September 2014, before going to the Combined Authority for approval
on 19 September 2014.
A draft blueprint, which outlined the package of 12 rail priorities,
was approved by both bodies in May. The full strategy details
potential individual schemes within these 'themes', the rationale
behind them and possible timescales.
The transformation HS2 could bring is reflected in the schemes being
taken forward as is the importance of developing East to West
connectivity across the whole of the North, including key programmes
already in development, such as electrification of the lines between
Liverpool and Manchester, to reduce journey times.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel said that:- "This is
real 'big picture' thinking by the Liverpool City Region
(Merseyside). Such strategies are not traditionally driven by local
bodies. Doing it this way, working with Network Rail, ensures that
our transport planning is intrinsically linked to our economic
planning. There's growing confidence in our City Region economy and
a recognition of the key role that we have in the 'Northern
Powerhouse' as a means to rebalance the whole UK economy. But this
can only be properly realised by ensuring that we are geared up for
a significant increase in passengers and freight over the next 30
years. The rail strategy is about co-ordination and building on our
successes, most notably the Merseyrail network. It is about ensuring
that the rail connections we have within our City Region
(Merseyside, including parts of West Lancashire, Grater Manchester
and Chester) to link seamlessly with those beyond, not only to what
we would consider the untapped potential of local catchment areas
such as North Wales and Skelmersdale, but to London and to places
like Manchester and across the Pennines to Leeds through better,
faster and more frequent connections. Delivering on our strategy
will make us 'HS2
ready' and it puts us ahead of the game in taking forward East to
West connectivity across the North. The need for City Regions to
develop their own plans to feed into this bigger picture was 1 of
the recommendations of the 'One North' report presented to the
Chancellor earlier this month."
The Long Term Rail Strategy, developed by Merseytravel as strategic
transport advisor to the Combined Authority, is intended to be
regularly reviewed to ensure it reflects changing economic
circumstances and funding opportunities over the next 30 years. All
individual schemes proposed will demand full feasibility studies and
robust business cases to progress.
As a result of all these factors, it is unlikely that all those
projects listed will become a reality. Conversely, there may be new
schemes proposed during the life of the strategy in response to new
demands, for instance, as yet, unplanned regeneration schemes.
The scheme areas proposed to be taken forward are:-
► Improving National Passenger and Freight Connections
Increasing frequency of Liverpool – London services; new direct
routes including to Scotland and South Wales; extending platforms at
Liverpool South Parkway to take longer trains.
► Enabling Growth on the Merseyrail Network
Replacing the stock with higher capaCity units with the capability
to run on parts of the network where they do not currently; power
upgrade to the network; improvements to station accessibility.
► Increasing CapaCity in Liverpool City Centre
Encouraging more use of James St and Moorfields stations especially
at peak times; extending and increasing platforms at Lime Street to
accommodate additional services (including high speed trains);
creating more platform space at Liverpool Central; investigating the
potential for a new City Centre station.
► Improving Connectivity on the City Line
Improving the level and quality of services in line with the success
of Merseyrail. Increasing capaCity at Wavertree junction for
services between Mossley Hill and Edge Hill; extending Merseyrail
services between South Parkway and the Airport, Speke and Runcorn;
creating new stations to serve the universities and Smithdown Road
corridor.
► Facilitating a High Quality Service on the Cheshire Line
Electrification and capaCity enhancements allowing for more and
faster trains; extending Merseyrail services to Warrington and
beyond; new stations at Tarbock Interchange (or Halewood South) and
Warrington West.
► Connecting via Halton Curve
Restoring direct connections to Wrexham and North Wales from
Liverpool and Liverpool Airport; faster journeys and increased
frequency to Chester; direct link to Frodsham and Helsby; creating
an alternative route between Liverpool and Cardiff via Shrewsbury.
► Improving Connections to Chester and Ellesmere Port
Electrification of Chester–Crewe line (Crewe being HS2 hub), North
Wales mainline and Chester– Warrington line and Ellesmere Port –
Helsby line; new route between Chester and Leeds via
Newton-le-Willows.
► Serving New Development on the Southport – Wigan and Ormskirk –
Preston Line
Improving links with new developments in West Lancashire and South
Preston. Electrification of the Ormskirk – Preston line;
reinstatement of Burscough curves between Ormskirk/Preston and
Southport directions; interchange station at Burscough Bridge
allowing connections between Ormskirk/Liverpool services and
Southport/Wigan services.
► Connecting to Skelmersdale and New Development in Wigan
Electrification of the line between Kirkby and Wigan; electric spurs
between Rainford and Skelmersdale and Upholland and Skelmersdale;
new stations at Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) and Skelmersdale; increased
services between Kirkby and Manchester Victoria/Rochdale line.
► Enhancing the Borderlands Line
Increasing service frequency between Wrexham and Bidston; new
station at Deeside industrial Park; full electrification of the line
longer term. This would be incorporated into the Merseyrail Wirral
line.
► Converting Freight Lines to Passenger Usage
Review the findings of the Northern Ports study to better understand
the requirements for freight access to Port of Liverpool, but
current plans include upgrade of North Mersey and Bootle branchlines
to passenger services creating new routes to Ormskirk and Edge Hill;
new stations at Anfield, Tuebrook and Edge Lane.
► Selected New Stations
Responding to new developments, new markets and areas of latent
demand, including stations that do not fit into other packages.
Proposed new stations at Carr Mill, Ditton, Maghull North, St James,
Vauxhall, Town Meadow. All these would be subject to an evaluation
exercise to better understand the potential. This would have to be
satisfied before progressing to the statutory development framework
(GRIP stages).
To read the Committee report and Long Term Rail Strategy in full,
please visit the website:-
merseytravel.uk.net.
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