East Midlands 2006 Branch


East Midlands Branch


		News

Corby station - A planning application has been submitted for a station at Corby and can be viewed at the offices of Corby Borough Council or via its website http://www.corby.gov.uk

Stagecoach wins East Midlands Franchise
STAGECOACH WIN, BUT WILL WE? (for comment follow this link) Stagecoach have won the franchise to run most train services in the East Midlands for over 7 years, but £238 million is due to be paid in premiums to the Government. So have we all lost out? We will be asking this question because both the West Midlands and Cross Country franchises will get well over £1 billion each in subsidy from the Government. We will ask why should a Birmingham commuter or a holiday maker travelling to Devon be subsidised but someone travelling from Nottingham to Lincoln pay a premium. Also both the other franchises will get new or longer trains but the East Midlands has to make do with what it has, apart from one 30 year old HST for the Olympic Games in 2012. New Services: - Lincoln to London - Nottingham to Matlock - London to Corby? But: - no Robin Hood Sunday service yet - unregulated fares to rise by 3.4% above inflation each year - no new trains

NETWORK RAIL AT OUR 2007 AGM

£24.5 million budget 500 space car park and modest canopies over platforms are in the budget, but plans submitted show 1000 car park spaces and hope is to secure external funds for the extra 500 spaces and better canopies. 2 x 10 car platforms and 2 x 5 car platforms – had to fight to get the latter included. Coffee shop and news shop Line and junction enhancements 8 minutes off London to Sheffield by 2008 with some trains under 2 hours but “……...this is it! To get quicker times means a complete rebuild”. Wellingborough to Kettering 3^rd line (5kms) in 2009 Line speed and junction improvements shown for : Trent east (Xmas 08/09) [ to be doubled and 30mph] Clay Cross junctions (Aug 07?) [two 2 track high speed railways] Trowell [modest speed increase?] Station Enhancements Chesterfield to get 3^rd platform to go with Clay Cross junction improvements

Worksop cut off by floods
During the Sheffield floods our committee member and intrepid commuter Gordon Bestwick had to use various transport modes including the tram & a transit van to get home to Worksop. The railway line he usually used was then closed for major repairs. The alternative bus service was slow in coming and lacking in quality with the usual failures to arrive at all. Bus drivers not being local and so not knowing where to go was a problem as was Worksop station staff not being given information to pass on from Northern Trains management. We hope that Northern Trains are now meeting their obligations and we are monitoring the situation as people’s livelihoods are at stake. By contrast we understand that Central Trains got their bus service from Worksop to Mansfield up and running quickly and efficiently, so credit where it’s due “well done” to them. The latest news as we went to press is that the Worksop to Sheffield line is open again and that "the new embankment is awesome!"

Nottingham NET phase 2

The Government has announced that it will fund plans to expand the Nottingham tram network and means around £400 million could be invested. For further details and Railfuture Comments, please use the link from the headline.

Kinchbus Airline Shuttle links Derby and Loughborough railway stations to East Midlands Airport

The Kinchbus Airline Shuttle linking Derby and Loughborough to Nottingham East Midlands Airport now runs at half hourly intervals during working hours and hourly during the early morning and evenings with just a 4 hour gap over the midnight hours. Latest evening departures are 22.45 to Derby and 23.55 to Loughborough, with early morning departures starting at 02.20 at Loughborough and 03.20 from Derby, ideal for catching those early morning flights and giving you a reasonable chance of getting home if your evening flight is delayed. To see the full service timetable


Railfuture President Peter Lawrence addresses the Branch at the AGM March 11th 2006


Peter Lawrence spoke to the branch on "Britain's Railways - Development or Decline?". A lively discussion followed.



		*Railfuture National News*

STAGECOACH WIN, BUT WILL WE? (for comment follow this link)