SINTROPHER
Regional Workshop
David Morgan
Date 22.09.10
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Heavy rail for the Fylde Coast
RUSs, Electrification, Refranchising
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Passengers Freight Users Stakeholders
DfT/Transport
Scotland
Office of Rail
Regulation
Train Operators
Date 22.09.10
Network Rail
3
5 Year Industry Funding Settlement
RUS
ISBP
HLOS
& SOFA
SBP
ORR
Determination
Delivery Plan
Refranchising
Date 22.09.10
Access Rights
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What is a RUS?
• Rail industry study
• Co-ordinated by Network Rail
• Looks at current and future use
• Identifies performance/demand requirements or issues
• Proposes interventions that are value for money and
consistent with RUS timescale
• Success depends on industry engagement and information
sharing
• Generally takes a 10-year horizon with a 30-year overview
Date 22.09.1000
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RUS Objective
‘To make effective and efficient use and
development of the route capacity
available, consistent with the funding that
is, or in reasonably likely to become,
available during the period of the route
utilisation strategy and with the licence
holder’s performance of the duty’
from Licence Condition 7
Date 22.09.10
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RUS Process
RP
Date 22.09.10
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RUSs covering the Fylde Coast
• North West RUS, published in May 2007
• Lancashire & Cumbria RUS, published in August 2008
• Northern RUS due for publication as a consultation draft in
October 2010
The Northern RUS covers almost the whole of northern
England, reviewing earlier RUSs and considering only what
has changed since those RUSs were published.
Date 22.09.10
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Key points in the NW and L&C RUSs
• Limited capacity on Kirkham - Blackpool South line due to being one
single line section, occupied 50 minutes in each hour to sustain hourly
service
• Some potential for half-hourly service on Blackpool South line, but not
pursued due to high cost (over £5m) of signalling upgrade
• Line speed improvement on Preston – Colne line would improve
performance of Blackpool South service
• Once Sheffield tram-train trial and Watford – St Albans conversion
prove successful, possible scope for tram train on Blackpool South line
• Blackpool North – Manchester semi-fast services have 100mph rolling
stock but much of the route has linespeed of 75mph
• Possible case for half-hourly Blackpool – Manchester semi-fast service
Date 22.09.10
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Electrification
• Announcement earlier this year by last Government
• Proposed for 2016/17
• Includes Blackpool North – Preston – Manchester/Liverpool
• Detail may depend on outcome of Government’s Comprehensive
Spending Review including rolling stock strategy
Date 22.09.10
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Refranchising
• West Coast Trains (Virgin) franchise due to expire 2012
• Northern Rail franchise due to expire 2013
• First Transpennine Express due to expire 2012 (option for five year
extension)
• Government consultation on refranchising currently taking place, closing
in late October
• Likely to lead to longer franchises – probably c.15 years
• Possible increased scope for TOC investment
• Expected to be less tightly specified, especially in later years, offering
more scope for innovation
Date 22.09.10
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Open Access
• Since RUS publication, proposals from Alliance Rail branded as Great
North Western Railway
• Subject to industry processes, could start operation in about three
years’ time
• Propose four daily trains each way between London Euston and
Blackpool North, with a further three between Euston and the Cumbrian
Coast
• Would be operated by new 125mph rolling stock via West Coast Main
Line
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Issues to consider for Fylde tram-train
• Will it replace or supplement existing Northern Rail services?
• How will it integrate with upgraded heritage tramway?
• Is it to be local or interurban service (e.g. through service to Preston)?
• Vehicles to be dual-voltage or bi-mode?
• Ownership and operation of vehicles and infrastructure?
• Impact on existing local rail network?
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Any questions?
•Any questions please?
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