Our new Great Western Franchise Tarka Rail Association AGM June 2015
To cover New Franchise - recap Implications for the line Taking forward the strategy
3 Second Great Western Direct Award Overview Brand new franchise From 20 September 2015 to 1 April 2019 (3 Years and 7 Railway Periods) DfT may extend by up to 1 year Covers whole of the existing Great Western franchise area FGW will pay the Government a premium of around 68 million to operate the franchise over the core term There is a massive programme of infrastructure and rolling stock investment that is being made by this Government in the franchise as part of our long term economic plan. Having a stable partner that understands the complexities of this vital franchise throughout these works will allow for better value for money during this award and enable us to get to a steady state operating pitch on which to build the next franchise competition. Claire Perry, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport Extract from letter to Parliamentary colleagues, 10 October 2014
Service Level Commitments September 2015 (SLC 1) Timetable as today (with West of England service enhancements introduced in Dec 2014) May 2017 (SLC 2) Some benefits from new and cascaded trains realised Earlier direct first inter-city service to the South West at c.0637 from Paddington, arriving in Exeter by c.0845, Plymouth by c.0945 December 2018 (SLC 3) Full benefits from new and cascaded trains Faster journey times, more seats 4
West of England HSS transformation Hitachi Rail Europe preferred supplier of 29 new AT300 trains First has selected the Hitachi AT300 as its preferred rolling stock for FGW West of England services, if new trains are selected. The AT300 is a bi-mode diesel electric train, closely related to the Class 800, but with bigger fuel tanks and engines with a higher power output. 29 trains would be built (22 x 5-car and 7 x 9-car) Decision to be taken by DfT by the end of June 2015 5
December 2018 Timetable South West Services Standard pattern hourly service from London running non-stop between Reading and Taunton extending hourly to Plymouth and 2 hourly to Penzance. Depending on stock choice trains may split at Plymouth, with half the train continuing to Penzance Rolling stock will be either refreshed High Speed Trains, equipped with automatic doors and CET toilets, or new trains. A decision on rolling stock will be taken by June 2015 The core intercity service will be supported by a two hourly stopping service between Paddington and Exeter to provide connectivity to the intermediate stations. Paignton will be served by 3 intercity services each way (Mondays-Fridays) Air-conditioned 90mph Class 158s will replace 75mph Class 150s on Plymouth-Penzance local services, with some extensions to Exeter The combination of local, inter-city and Cross Country services should provide a 2tph service frequency on the Cornish Main Line 6
7 GW Direct Award: Fleet Changes - West Now December 2018
Exeter - Barnstaple May 2017 Services will be operated by better trains. 4-car trains will operate peak services December 2018 Barnstaple line services separated from other routes Standard hourly service to Exeter Central Better trains (c158) with free Wi-Fi, taking advantage of linespeed improvements which are being considered by NR. Evening peak services will also be improved, closing the existing 95-minute gap between services (1527-1702) and creating a standard hourly pattern A mix of students and commuters on the 1657 Exeter - Barnstaple now strengthened! 8
Exmouth - Paignton May 2017 Enhanced Paignton serviced secured in base timetable Improved trains (pacers removed) December 2018 Two trains an hour Exmouth Paignton Monday - Saturday Longer trains (4 car c150) All trains to operate with free wifi Enhanced Exeter Paignton service secured 9
10 Devon Metro FGW will work with Devon County Council on plans to open a new station at Marsh Barton FGW will work with Torbay District Council on plans to open a new station at Edginswell We welcome the proposal for a half hourly Exmouth to Paignton service which should help to encourage further journeys and better connections onto long distance services, as well as cope with existing high passenger volumes Teignmouth Town Council DfT stakeholder consultation response, June 2014
Cornwall mainline FGW will meet Cornwall s aspiration for half hourly services on the mainline 12 additional return local services will operate between Plymouth and Penzance Where possible we will link the services across Plymouth, and combine them with Plymouth to Exeter services Air-conditioned 90mph trains (Class 158), fitted with free Wi-Fi, will replace the 75mph trains used on local services 11
Community Rail Further investment in Community Rail Partnerships 2.2million Customer and Communities Improvement Fund Enhanced services on branch lines, facilitated by cascade of trains Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Looe, Newquay, Falmouth branches Local fleet with wifi 12 The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership
Stations investment 50million investment in stations including 3.5m available to match fund third party contributions Additional Customer Ambassadors (Plymouth) and Customer Assist Staff Enhanced car parking / interchange at Castle Cary, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway CCTV at Dawlish and Exmouth New Customer Information 13 Screens at Torre
Brand During the course of the new franchise we will embrace the GWR brand and progressively roll it out Uniforms, trains, marketing 14
Strategy for the line service issues Aspiration Short Term 0 5 years Current Status Fill AM & PM gaps in December 2018 existing service Lengthen busiest trains 0700 ex Barnstaple, 0943 ex Barnstaple (half term), 1657 ex Exeter strengthened to 3 car Next Steps Planning for cascade Planning for cascade to strengthen further Saturday late evening service Extra early Sunday AM train Reduce Chapelton to Sunday only Last train 21.00 ex Exeter NR access and cost issues First train 10.00 ex B staple NR access and cost issues (esp if take at both ends) Two request stops each way Mon-Sat Four request stops each way on Sundays Consider option to fund through CCIF Consider Eggesford option as fallback To seek NR costs Consider option to fund through CCIF Check SLC requirements and implementation Portsmouth arms too? (898 footfall in 2011/12 and static) 15
Strategy for the line service issues 2 Aspiration medium Current Status Next Steps term (5 10 years) Introduce four coach trains May 2017 (c150 trains) Planning for cascade Introduce stopping service from Eggesford to Exeter at main commuter and shopping times to and from Honiton Loop east of Exeter enhances service opportunity to Honiton TRA timetable vision produced Opportunity from Dec 2018 timetable Feasibility study to look at timetable options alongside infrastructure East Devon looking at further development options at Cranbrook Late evening service every NR access and cost issues day Hourly Sunday Service Opportunity from Dec 2018 timetable Consider cost and feasibility (opportunity from 2018) Planning for cascade Through London Service Currently unfunded Improve connectivity at Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids 16
17 Strategy for the line station issues Aspiration short term (0 5 years) Humps at Copplestone & Newton St Cyres Barnstaple Interchange Improvements Eggesford car park Eggesford platform extension Current Status Complete Night access scheme complete with DCRP and FGW CRP funding Adjacent landowner offering 20 spaces for annual rent Planning for cascade Next Steps Long term improvements at Barnstaple Develop LGF scheme for LEP consideration Interim solution Consider potential CCIF scheme
18 Strategy for the line station issues 2 Aspiration medium term (5-10 yrs) Further improvements at Barnstaple to cater for enhanced bus service to and from development areas Minor improvements at Umberleigh if Torrington South Molton bus introduced Car parking at Copplestone, Umberleigh and Barnstaple Current Status Aspiration Aspiration Land at Copplestone allocated in Local Plan. Some additional parking at Umberliegh possible within station lease area Next Steps Feasibility and cost estimate Consider bus user and car parking issues Work with Devon County Council to secure land and identify funding opportunities
19 Infrastructure issues Opportunities: Work to look at linespeeds being progressed by Network Rail Eggesford to Barnstaple Salmon Pool crossing to be renewed in 2017/18 Penstone Bridge two longitudinal bridges with raised linespeeds 2018/19 and CP6 Eggesford and Umberleigh crossings to be renewed in CP5 Kings Nympton track - 2015
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