The New Northern Franchise

Transcription

1 The New Northern Franchise The? Shape of things to come This document is produced by Noel Henry for the Friends of Reddish South and Denton stations campaign group (FORSADS), to highlight the benefits to the rail industry of including a service within the new franchise invitation to tender (ITT), which uses stock that currently terminates at Manchester Victoria, from various locations within Lancashire, that need to be moved on to free up platform space. 1

2 Contents page Manchester Victoria 3 Stockport 5 Advantages of extending services to Stockport from Victoria 8 Surveys 9 Stockport to Stalybridge Service 10 Reddish South 11 Denton 12 Potential Service Changes 13 We are not alone 13 Summary 14 Appendices: Results of surveys & petition appendix 1 15 appendix 2 16 appendix 3 18 Contact details: 18 there is an accompanying DVD with hard copy of this report inside the back cover 2

3 Manchester Victoria Manchester Victoria is undergoing exciting changes, with the work currently ongoing rejuvenating the building, and recent investment in the Ordsall Chord which will bring about new opportunities for service change. All being well, a new 1km section of track, called the Ordsall Chord, will be constructed by the end of December This will then allow TransPennine Express services from the North East, and Yorkshire, direct access to Manchester airport, via Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly stations. Currently there are train services from the North West which terminate at Victoria on the through platforms, examples are Southport, Clitheroe, Wigan Wallgate, Blackpool North, Liverpool Lime Street and Kirby. By 2017 these will be in the way of the express trains to/from the airport, and therefore need to be moved on to another location. Some through services dwell at the platform for up to 10 minutes, some train sets have to use the reverse sidings at Victoria, some return to Newton Heath depot and others have to roam the network as empty stock, for example to Bolton and back, or Brewery junction and back. The challenge facing Network Rail and the Train Operating Company (T.O.C.) is how to accommodate these services once the fast services from Yorkshire to Manchester Airport start. 3

4 The Department of Transport (DfT) in the High Level Output Strategy (HLOS) suggests moving them on to Rochdale or Stalybridge. Both stations have had new bay platforms built, but the option to Stockport, which required no new infrastructure was ignored. Why can t some go to Stockport? Allowing Network Rail and the T.O.C. planners to include Stockport as a choice of destination will improve their capability to secure efficiencies in operation of train services through Victoria. Sending all services to Rochdale and Stalybridge wouldn t necessarily produce any new business, and the new Franchisee is charged with the task of reducing service frequency in the peak and/or off-peak where demand is low and the current service represents poor value for the subsidy needed. The option to Stockport meets the DfT requirement of the new franchise, chapter 3.22 on page 32 of the Stakeholder Consultation says; 'we (DfT Rail Executive/Rail North) want rail services that drive forward growth and bring about a transformation in overall rail service provision. We are working together to achieve these aims, and will be seeking innovative and different ideas from bidders to maximise the potential opportunities'. The option to Stockport would provide new connections, generate new business, provide a more balanced service pattern and help fulfil the aspirations of the Northern Hub at providing cross Manchester connectivity. The option to Stockport utilises spare capacity on an underused part of the network, therefore improving the overall efficiency of the network. 4

5 Stockport With 14 off peak services per hour north from Stockport, only 2 get past Piccadilly (=14%) along the Castlefield corridor; one to Preston and one to Liverpool. The work associated with the Ordsall Chord and Northern Hub will provide extra paths for Manchester airport services accessing Piccadilly and Victoria stations, no guarantee of available spare paths through the Castlefield corridor for trains from Stockport. Growth in passenger numbers north from Stockport will only come with new destinations. Services to Piccadilly are well catered for, and if there are no spare paths through the Castlefield corridor, growth will only come by running services through to Manchester Victoria and beyond. The addition of one extra train per hour off peak improves the percentage from 14 to 20. Improved service patterns is one of the aims of TfGM Local Transport Plan. 5

6 Castlefield corridor Any extended service from Salford Crescent / Manchester Victoria to Stockport will address long outstanding complaints that Stockport doesn t connect with the Calder Valley and doesn t connect with all central Manchester stations. It also delivers on the core objective of TfGM Local Transport Plan that all parts of Greater Manchester have good access to Central Manchester stations. Connecting Stockport to Manchester Victoria gives better connection to Metrolink for services to Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. (See route map to the right). Rail North has three over-arching objectives for devolved rail services in the North of England. 1. To support economic growth by delivering more rail capacity and better rail connectivity. 2. To improve the quality to the railways in the North, with a better offer for passengers to encourage more use. 3. To deliver a more efficient railway and to secure greater value for money for the support from the public purse. Extending a service from Manchester Victoria to Stockport delivers better rail connectivity and improves the choice to passengers at Stockport, which will encourage more use. Extending a service is more cost effective than a dedicated service between Stockport and Victoria, and delivers the objectives of Rail North. 6

7 The diagram below is Northern Rails route map, highlighted in yellow are the services from Hazel Grove to Preston, operated by Northern, and Nottingham to Liverpool, operated by East Midlands, which pass Piccadilly. Ideally any extended service from Manchester Victoria to Stockport would not duplicate too many stations on the north with the existing Stockport Preston service. For example a service to Southport, Kirby or Wigan Wallgate would only duplicate Salford Crescent. Journey times from Victoria to Stockport of approximately 33 minutes give ample time for a robust timetable for hourly services; possible extension to Hazel Grove (42 minutes from Victoria) with its large free car park and increased catchment area to boost footfall. Service chosen would help maximise stock displaced at Victoria, therefore keeping costs to a minimum, and would be the best option for timetable and operational requirements. Whilst at present the Southport service could be extended with very little, if any, alteration to its current timings, other services may prove more favourable to be extended when the timetables are altered in December 2016 (completion of the Ordsall Chord) and again in December 2018 (completion of the electrification through to Stalybridge). 7

8 Advantages of extending services to Stockport from Victoria 1. The Stockport corridor would have instant access to Calder Valley services at Victoria. 2. The Stockport corridor would have access at Victoria to Metrolink services to Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. 3. Stockport passengers would have access to the Noma53 development at Manchester Victoria ( 4. Stockport passengers would have better access to the Northern Quarter, retail outlets, arenas, theatres and business at Manchester Victoria.( to list a few. 5. Stockport would have better access to Salford Central, giving better employment opportunities at Spinningfields. ( Stockport provides better level interchange with the intercity services to London for those passengers from the North West who would have to interchange at Piccadilly between the through platforms 13/14 and platform 12 where the London service terminates. 7. Stockport would better connect with Reddish South and Denton stations en route from Victoria. 8. Stockport has good connections with Piccadilly, but has poor connections beyond Piccadilly, a service to Victoria would help address this imbalance. 9. Having scheduled services between Stockport and Victoria will allow for better recovery from unplanned service disruptions between Stockport and Piccadilly. 8

9 10. Better use of spare capacity in the network. Extended services from Victoria could either terminate at the under-used bay platform 3a at Stockport or spare capacity could be utilised by terminating on the bidirectional platform 1 - or run through to further destinations like Hazel Grove for example. Surveys. Surveys have been carried out over the last 14 months by the Friends of Reddish South Station and a petition launched by the Friends of Denton Station on behalf of the campaign group. The results have been summarized in Appendices 1 & 2 of this report. You will see that part of the survey asks if potential passengers would be as - or more- in favour of a service to Stalybridge in preference to a service to Manchester Victoria. This was asked in response to a Transport for Greater Manchester(TfGM) suggestion that a service to Stalybridge would be more used and therefore more cost effective. As you will see from the results, most of those surveyed (locally and further afield) are very much in favour of a reinstated service from Stockport to Manchester Victoria. There is little or no possibility of Metrolink being extended to this area of Greater Manchester. 9

10 Stockport to Stalybridge service. Current service does not engage the communities of Reddish and Denton, in choice of destination or frequency. The service is inadequate to the business community. Stockport Good access to Piccadilly, access to Stalybridge and Guide Bridge from Piccadilly. Poor access North of Manchester. No access to Victoria or Salford Central Stations. Reddish South No Access to town (Stockport) or city. Very poor 'service' (one train per week) which is stunting business growth and life choices. Denton Very poor 'service' level of one train a week which restricts business opportunities and life choices. Guide Bridge Good access to services for Piccadilly. Stockport Messenger May 15 th

11 Reddish South It can be seen that the population within 800m of Reddish South is well above the Manchester Average and does NOT receive a level of service appropriate to its size. New housing in the 1980 s and 90 s close to the station and new apartments within Victoria Mill have all contributed to this figure, and with more apartments planned for in Elisabeth Mill, the population near to the station is set to increase to an all time high. Reddish South has a much larger business community than Reddish North; two mills located not more than 500m from Reddish South are the award winning Houldsworth Mill and Broadstone Mill Both are poorly serviced by quality rail destination i.e. to Stockport and Manchester, to be able to bring in more business and employment opportunities. Houldsworth Mill Broadstone Mill 11

12 Denton Good Motorway connections With a private developer eager to build a Park & Ride at Denton station, which would ease the traffic congestion along the A57 towards Manchester, and with more workers and business opportunities across the road, wwwtamesidebusinesspark.co.uk all that is missing is a regular train service into Manchester and Stockport. 12

13 Potential service change. The current level of the Stockport to Stalybridge service is one train a week one direction, whilst station footfall at Stockport (3,367,276), Stalybridge (1,028,260) and Guide Bridge (254,200) are high due to other services, Reddish South (122) and Denton (194) will always be low until a quality service is introduced. The communities of Reddish and Denton were not consulted in 1992 when the service was reduced, or in 2004 when Northern won the last franchise, but we do have a voice in the new franchise especially as the franchise objective is to support local communities to help deliver local transport integration, local regeneration and investment at and around stations. Footfall from Reddish South and Denton stations will always be greater into Manchester Victoria rather than Stalybridge, giving better access to service connections, jobs, universities, shops and leisure activities. This would also meet with a further two objectives of the franchise bid, realising the benefits from rail investment in the north of England (Ordsall Chord), and securing efficiencies in operation of the franchise through innovative and transformational approaches to operations, i.e. extending services from Victoria to Stockport for operational necessity due to platform constraints at Victoria as a result of public investment in the rail network (Northern Hub), and utilising spare capacity in the network to Stockport, creating new connections and new business, which would help the economy of the north of England thrive by offering good quality rail services for travellers across the region. We are not alone. The Friends of Reddish South (Stockport Council) and Denton (Tameside Council) have the full backing of their MP Andrew Gywnne and both Stockport and Tameside councils have given full and unanimous cross party support for a regular passenger service from Stockport to Manchester Victoria. We also are proud of support from Reddish Business Forum, Broadstone Mill, South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership (SEMcrp), Railfuture, Greater Manchester Transport Campaign(GMTC), Association of Community Rail Partnerships(ACORP), Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Stockport Chamber of Commerce, Heatons & Reddish Area Committee. We have forged links with Retrorail who now use Reddish South station as a scheduled stop on every chartered trip and Friends of Chapel-en-le-Frith station (Buxton line) who have put a direct service to Manchester Victoria on their 'wish list'. 13

14 Summary The communities of Reddish and Denton need a service which extends from Victoria to Stockport (or further), calling at Denton and Reddish South en route. Service pattern will be determined by current service pattern of extended service from Victoria, minimum of an hourly service with extra at peak time. Business located near to these stations need a service which can bring in customers and potential employees; better service will encourage more business to open. Reddish South and Denton at present have no desire to see any increase in the service to Stalybridge, so would like to see a service change to, Stockport to Manchester Victoria rather than the current Stockport to Stalybridge service. Stockport and Tameside councils will have their own views on service patterns and levels. 14

15 Appendix 1: Results of Surveys - Summary: The surveys took place over fourteen months at different locations, Stockport (Edgeley) Station, Hazel Grove and Cheadle Hulme. Reddish residents were questioned at 'Reddfest' in 2013, and opinions were also gathered at a Charity Day at Stockport Station in August of that year.the surveys were performed in 2-hour 'snapshots' bearing in mind we were questioning passengers early in the morning when they were going to work or out for a relaxing time. Results are detailed in Appendix 2 (p.16) but summarized as follows: Overall - 65% of passengers from all stations said a service direct to Manchester Victoria from Stockport would be useful. (Anecdotally, Hazel Grove rail staff reported that they had been asked, more than once or twice, for tickets direct to Manchester Victoria) Over 73% of passengers said a service to Manchester Victoria would be more useful than one to Stalybridge. Over 61% would find a service to Manchester Victoria from Stockport as useful as a service to Piccadilly. Reddfest Survey: 100% of Reddish residents surveyed would use a service to Manchester Victoria from Reddish South Station. 94% would use a service to Stockport from Reddish South Station. Over 94% of residents would find a service to Manchester Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge. Stockport Station Charity Day: Over 93% of Stockport residents surveyed would find a service direct to Manchester Victoria useful. 87% would find a service from Manchester Victoria to Stockport as useful as a service to Piccadilly. Over 91% would find a service to Manchester Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge. 15

16 Appendix 2 FORSS - Station passenger survey. Respondents answers. Railway Station & Date Question Question Question Question Question Question Service from Stockport to Mcr Victoria useful for you? Service to Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge? Service to Victoria from/to Stockport as useful as service to Piccadilly? Service from Stockport to Mcr Victoria useful for you? Service to Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge? Service to Victoria from/to Stockport as useful as service to Piccadilly? Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Yes Yes Yes No No No Edgeley - 11/04/2013 (survey 133) Edgeley - 20/04/2013 (survey 125) Hazel Grove - 27/03/2014 (survey 115) Cheadle Hulme - 10/04/2014 (survey 179) Total (survey 552) Results Percentages Edgeley - 11/04/2013 (survey 133) 66.92% 65.41% 66.17% 33.08% 34.59% 33.83% Edgeley - 20/04/2013 (survey 125) 79.20% 59.20% 79.20% 20.80% 40.80% 20.80% Hazel Grove - 27/03/2014 (survey 115) 55.65% 81.74% 49.57% 44.35% 18.26% 50.43% Cheadle Hulme - 10/04/2014 (survey 179) 59.78% 83.24% 52.51% 40.22% 16.76% 47.49% Total (survey 552) 65.04% 73.19% 61.23% 34.96% 26.81% 38.77% 16

17 Appendix 2 FORSS - Reddish South Residents Survey. Do you know where RS Station is and that there is no passenger service The line goes north to M/c Victoria would you use it? The line goes South to Stockport would you use it Service to Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge? Yes FORSS Survey August Fun Day Would you find a service from Stockport to Manchester Victoria useful to you? Would you find a service to Victoria from/to Stockport as useful as a service to Piccadilly? Service to Victoria more useful than a service to Stalybridge? No Yes No Yes % 98.08% % 94.23% 94.23% No % 1.92% 0.00% 5.77% 5.77% Yes % 93.62% 87.23% 91.49% No % 6.38% 12.77% 8.51% 17

18 Appendix 3: Petition - Friends of Denton Station: The petition was carried out over the last 12 months in the Denton area. The question asked: 'We are trying to reintroduce a service from Stockport Station to Manchester Victoria via Reddish South & Denton Stations. Please sign below if you would use the service' 1,234 Denton residents signed the petition and would use the service. This included 62 signatories from 'Centre Pointe' who also made the following statement in support of a reinstated service: 'We are a full time vocational college and evening dance school. We have people who travel a great distance to get to Denton. This station would be fantastic for us to use- we also have the Royal Ballet mid & junior associate programme which is run at Centre Pointe and people travel from country wide (London, Wales, Scotland etc..)' where to find us: contact: forss1@ntlworld.com 18