Contact: Andrew Wilson, ext 6389 email: andrew.wilson@hants.gov.uk

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the current situation regarding the project to open a new railway station at Chineham, on the Basingstoke-Reading line.

2. Background

2.1 Laing Rail consultants, part of the M40/Chiltern Railways Group, were commissioned to carry out preliminary feasibility studies to determine any timetable constraints and resource implications on introducing an additional stop at Chineham in the Basingstoke-Reading service. This initial work was completed in 2004.

2.2 Reading Borough Council is promoting a scheme for an additional station on the same line at Reading Green Park, part of a substantial development funded by Prudential. Laing Rail is also acting for Reading Borough, and the opportunity has been taken to realise the synergy between the two proposals, each of which potentially benefits the other.

2.3 Laing Rail's studies showed that the timetable is capable of operation, but that an additional three-car train would be required to operate the service reliably. This is the case whether one additional station is introduced, or two.

2.4 Part of the consultants' brief was to engage with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to ensure that development of the project fitted with SRA procedures for new station projects, and was compatible with wider SRA strategic and capacity studies, notably the Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy published in 2004.

2.5 The SRA also published its own document `New Stations: a Guide for Promoters' in 2004. This codifies the requirements for new station projects from the rail industry's perspective and is aimed at discouraging developers from putting forward speculative projects. It sets out a rigorous procedure in several stages to ensure that only the most robust schemes receive ultimate approval.

2.6 The position of the Chineham project is about halfway through this process. However, Laing Rail were able to secure Chineham's inclusion in the SRA's Single List of Enhancements, meaning that while the SRA does not yet endorse the project, it figures on its `radar' as a recognised project, acceptable in principle for development. Listing is a necessary pre-requisite for further progress through the SRA's processes.

2.7 While the demise of the SRA is likely to occur in September 2005, following the new Railways Bill which is going through Parliament at the moment, the procedures and strategies set up by the SRA will continue to be applied through the Department for Transport's newly established Rail Group and by Network Rail.

3. Current Situation

3.1 In response to a request from the County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Laing Rail has now produced a proposal for further work to progress the proposal in line with the SRA procedure.

3.2 The stages proposed cover obtaining full SRA sign-off for the timetable and performance aspects, reviewing anticipated passenger demand in the light of evolving housing and commercial developments and demonstrating the credibility and robustness of the engineering and operational solutions for the new facility, leading to compilation of a full business case.

3.3 Further work proposed involves assessment in the context of local and regional transport planning and liaison within the rail industry, which is vital in the situation where the new franchise for the Basingstoke-Reading local service is to be awarded in 2007 (part of the new Greater Western franchise).

3.4 The Laing Rail proposal is currently being studied by officers. The Laing Rail team has expressed its willingness to give a presentation on the Chineham project to Members at the earliest convenient opportunity.

3.5 Informal discussions have been held at officer level with Reading Borough Council which established that there is support for the concept of working closely together, with the schemes for Reading Green Park and Chineham potentially proceeding in parallel, since the individual business cases would be improved by joint benefits in terms of demand generation.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

9260/AW