committee report Network Rail: Route Utilisation Strategy: Stations Draft for Consultation

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Christopher Floyd
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1 cmmittee reprt Netwrk Rail: Rute Utilisatin Strategy: Statins Draft fr Cnsultatin Cmmittee Strategy and Prgrammes Date f Meeting 24 June 2011 Date f reprt 31 May 2011 Reprt by Assistant Chief Executive (Business Supprt) 1. Object f reprt T seek Cmmittee apprval fr SPT s prpsed respnse t the draft Netwrk Rail Rute Utilisatin Strategy (RUS) n Statins 1. The RUS specifically identifies Glasgw Central (Lw Level) and Glasgw Queen Street (High Level) as lcatins where crwding is knwn t ccur. The reprt will respnd specifically t issues at these tw lcatins as well as making reference t ther lcatins in the SPT area where statin cngestin is knwn t ccur. The respnse is attached as Appendix 1 fr submissin prir t the cnsultatin clsing date f 8 July Backgrund Netwrk Rail issues Rute Utilisatin Strategies fr all aspects f the rail industry. The draft RUS primarily addresses issues surrunding crwding at majr statins acrss the rail netwrk and what can be dne t alleviate it. Issues regarding verall quality f facilities are nt directly addressed within the RUS but are seen as a cnsequence f well regulated statin lcatins. 3. Outline f prpsals SPT s respnse identifies thse aspects f the draft RUS which are mst pertinent t the rail netwrk in and arund Glasgw including: Crwding issues at Glasgw Central lw level Crwding issues Glasgw Queen Street high level and lw level Cngestin issues between Glasgw Central high level/lw level Ptential impact f ticket barriers at Glasgw Central statin Other busy statin lcatins where cngestin ccurs; including Paisley Gilmur Street, Partick, Hyndland, Mtherwell, Cry and Airdrie as well as special event statins such as Exhibitin Centre and Munt Flrida where regular nearby events are knwn t impact n statin infrastructure. 1 S&P/24 JUNE 11/6034 Page 1 f 2

2 4. Cnclusins Cngestin ccurs at a number f rail statins in the SPT area, particularly as a result f special r sprting events. SPT has emphasised in its respnse that measures t ensure the ease f use as well as, critically, safety fr all passengers and rail statin users has the utmst pririty within any prgramme devised fr statins which are identified as cngested. 5. Cmmittee actin The Cmmittee is asked t apprve the enclsed respnse t the Netwrk Rail Statins RUS. 6. Cnsequences Plicy cnsequences Legal cnsequences Financial cnsequences Persnnel cnsequences Scial inclusin cnsequences Risk cnsequences In line with stated plicies. Nne Nne as yet. Nne Nne as yet. Nne Name Valerie Davidsn Name Grdn Maclennan Title Assistant Chief Executive (Business Supprt) Title Chief Executive Fr further infrmatin, please cntact Charles Hskins n S&P/24 JUNE 11/6034 Page 2 f 2

3 31 May 2011 fr 8 July Netwrk RUS Cnsultatin Respnse Natinal RUS Manager Netwrk Rail Kings Place 4 th Flr, Sectin O LONDON N1 9AG Our ref: Yur ref: Direct Dial Direct fax: charles.hskins@spt.c.uk Dear Sirs Netwrk Rute Utilisatin Strategy (Statins) SPT welcmes this pprtunity t cmment n the draft Netwrk Rute Utilisatin Strategy (Statins) and wuld raise the fllwing pints: General Cmments: SPT ntes that within this Rute Utilisatin Strategy (RUS) it culd be the case that there are perhaps different levels f tlerance t cngested lcatins within the rail netwrk acrss the UK, and that as such, it is perhaps difficult t make a statin-by-statin cmparisn acrss the whle rail netwrk. It is, therefre, perhaps difficult t make valid cmparisn f passenger perceptin f cngestin acrss the UK. Hwever, it is nted that Glasgw Central Statin(s) and Glasgw Queen Street statin(s) have cmparable patrnage t Lndn King s Crss, Leeds, and Manchester (Piccadilly). Interchange levels at bth Glasgw statins are cmparatively high perhaps predictably due t the high level and lw level nature f bth statins and the netwrks they serve. SPT supprts the cntinued develpment f existing plans at Glasgw Queen Street (high level) as well as the stated intentin within the RUS dcument t examine ptins at Glasgw Central (lw level). Hwever, SPT is aware that prblems f crwding and cngestin are nt unique t these tw lcatins and we make reference belw t ther lcatins within the lcal rail netwrk where there are issues f cngestin. Glasgw Central and Glasgw Queen Street Statins: Passenger cngestin at Glasgw Central and Queen Street statins can als, in part, be explained by the high vlume f rail services n the lcal netwrk (the largest lcal rail netwrk utside the suth-east f England) as well as shared access/egress t bth statins at certain lcatins. There are als ptentially issues f layut at bth statins which can, and almst certainly d, add t bttlenecks. At Glasgw Central lw level the island platfrm statin and the stairways/lifts becme heavily cngested during peak hurs this has been recgnised by the pening f an alternate rute frm the platfrm since the line repened althugh bth exits eventually rejin at a cmmn pint ptentially leading t cngestin at this pint albeit away frm the platfrm. The situatin is exacerbated when a large vlume f alighters cnflicts with passengers awaiting r arriving fr trains and is bviusly further exacerbated when tw trains arrive sp240611_agenda11 - app1 Page 1 f 3

4 simultaneusly given the frequency f train services this is nt an unusual ccurrence. This is ptentially als an issue fr Argyle Street statin sme 500 metres east f Glasgw Central (lw level) where a relatively narrw platfrm, as well as limited escalatr and stair access/egress can becme cngested as certain times again particularly when 2 trains arrive simultaneusly. Whilst peratinal cnflicts are perhaps mre difficult t predict there are issues between the tw statins where ptential cngested areas have been created. Cnnectin between bth levels at bth statins is necessarily, relatively limited, hwever, there are sme avidable bttlenecks which have evlved as the statins have been mre widely develped. Mst nticeably at Glasgw Central high level the natural passage frm the lw level where the lifts, escalatrs and stairs emerge clse t the ends f (recently increased in number) platfrms 10-15, and almst immediately cnflicts with an area where a relatively new, but much needed, destinatin screen has been erected. This is an area where a large vlume f passengers tends t cngregate prir t ascertaining their platfrm f departure. There are als used and unused cmmercial utlets in this relatively cnstrained walkway/waiting area as well as adjacent cash-machines and tables/chairs utside a fd retailer, all f which lead t a bttlenecked area. This situatin, which already causes cngestin will require t be clsely mnitred prir t the planned intrductin f ticket barriers at Glasgw Central later in Indeed careful mnitring f the impact f these new ticket barriers at Glasgw Central will have t be undertaken shuld cngestin becme an increasing issue. At Glasgw Queen Street there are als areas f cnflicting passenger mvement. The interactin between lw level/high level as well as the adjacent Glasgw Subway statin n Buchanan Street des give the ptential fr cnsiderable passenger cngestin, and any alteratins t the statin layut ptentially as part f the EGIP develpment - will have t be clsely mnitred as t the ptential impact f increasing cngestin in a ptentially decreased waiting area. Netwrk Rail s aspiratins regarding future develpment f land at Queen Street (high level) will als require careful prgramming t examine the ptential fr increased passenger cngestin as well as disruptin caused during cnstructin, shuld this prject be pursued. Events Statins: Setting aside issues at bth Glasgw Central and Queen Street which have been identified within the RUS, SPT wuld make the fllwing suggestins regarding statins where cngestin is knwn t ccur as part f sprting r ther special events. This is particularly relevant in the Glasgw area due t the plans being made fr the 2014 Cmmnwealth Games which will be held in the City in July/August f that year. Whilst active management f cngestin and crwds at statins adjacent t the prpsed sprting venues is already undertaken it is perhaps wrth emphasising issues which already impact, and culd impact increasingly, at Exhibitin Centre statin, Munt Flrida (fr Hampden Park), as well as ptentially Dalmarnck (fr Celtic Park and the new Cmmnwealth Games Stadia) and Sctstunhill statins. SPT is wrking clsely, with rail industry partners, and has taken the lead at Dalmarnck Statin, t ensure that any issues arising during events are clsely mnitred and lessns learnt as we mve frward twards the Cmmnwealth Games in sp240611_agenda11 - app1 Page 2 f 3

5 Other statins in the SPT area: SPT wuld specifically emphasise that general cngestin at statins in the SPT area is nt restricted t Glasgw mainline lcatins and we wuld make specific mentin f the fllwing statins: Paisley Gilmur Street: The 4 th busiest statin in Sctland and a significant gateway, with interchange t/frm the Glasgw Airprt bus link as well as rail t rail interchange. Whilst the infrastructure has been incrementally imprved in recent years there are still areas within the statin which wuld benefit frm imprvements in additin t the rf renewal which is currently underway. Partick Interchange: The 6 th busiest statin in Sctland has recently benefited frm an extensive upgrade t make it fully DDA cmpliant with imprved links t the integrated Subway statin and the adjacent bus statin SPT led these imprvements in partnership with the lcal authrity and the rail industry. Hyndland: The 9 th busiest statin in Sctland is als adjacent t a majr hspital and requires cnsiderable upgrade. Plans exist fr a majr revamp at this statin with particular emphasis n DDA access SPT believe that this scheme shuld be prgressed as a pririty. Mtherwell Statin: The 13 th busiest statin in Sctland is an imprtant lcal hub fr bth shrt and lng distance rail services. The current statin, althugh incrementally upgraded recently, culd still be cnsidered as nt being fit fr purpse and SPT strngly supprts any scheme which can imprve this imprtant hub lcatin fr a large urban, suburban and rural catchment. Cry Statin: A recent example f gd practise, Cry is the 19 th busiest statin in Sctland primarily as a park-and-ride statin fr Glasgw and Edinburgh cmmuters. SPT led, alng with lcal authrity and rail industry partners, the recent delivery f a 700 space DDA cmpliant park-and-ride facility. Airdrie: The 20 th busiest statin in Sctland and anther example f gd practise within the lcal rail netwrk. Airdrie has been extensively imprved as a result f Netwrk Rail s Airdrie-Bathgate re-pening prject. Finally, as part f the McNulty Reprt Rail Value fr Mney Study it is nted that there is a presumptin in favur f clser partnership wrking at lcal levels t reslve lcal issues such as statin cngestin. SPT wuld strngly supprt this aspiratin and will remain an integral part f engagement with industry partners in this regard. If yu wish t discuss, r seek clarificatin n any aspect f SPT s input int this cnsultatin prcess please d nt hesitate t cntact me as per the details abve. Yurs sincerely Charles Hskins Directr Prjects sp240611_agenda11 - app1 Page 3 f 3

ALI ZAGHARI Deputy District Director Caltrans, District 7 Division of Traffic Operations

ALI ZAGHARI Deputy District Directr Caltrans, District 7 Divisin f Traffic Operatins Backgrund Califrnia law permits ILEV (Inherently Lw Emissin Vehicles) and previusly hybrid vehicles t access HOV lanes