COUNCIL MEETING, 22 FEBRUARY 2006

REPORT OF THE

Executive Member

Environment:

South Hampshire and Resource Management

PART II

SOUTH WESTERN RAIL FRANCHISE

1. The Executive Member has approved responses to two consultations on behalf of the County Council - in its role as a rail industry stakeholder:-

a) The South Western main line route utilisation strategy issued by Network Rail.

b) The South Western franchise' issued by the Department for Transport.

The responses were co-ordinated with Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils in view of the interests which all three authorities share in having efficient rail services. The responses support aims 3 and 5 (achieving economic prosperity and improving services) of the Corporate Strategy by making representations on improved and effective rail services in the region.

South West Main Line Route Utilisation Study

2. This consultation document covers rail capacity in the area of which Hampshire forms a part and includes the services from London Waterloo to Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and the West Country, together with various suburban lines. Among the main issues are the following:

· Overcrowding of the rail network in peak periods - the Council has advised that longer trains, double-deck rolling stock, and improvements at pinch points on the network should be investigated in addition to peak demand management. It was pointed out that potential overcrowding of the network may be higher than forecast given the levels of housing growth expected in the Hampshire area.

· The Council has acknowledged the improved punctuality and reliability from the new timetable but seeks further improvements to the timetable to make more efficient use of the network, especially on the Alton line.

· The Council has welcomed the proposal to increase capacity at certain station car parks where suitable opportunities exist.

· The Council has supported the need to overcome congestion at London Waterloo by improved layout for passengers and also, possibly by re-using platform capacity currently used by EuroStar services from 2007 onwards, and has commented in detail on how platforms could be used.

· The Council has supported remodelling of two platforms at Clapham Junction to enable more trains from the Hampshire area to call at this major interchange.

· The Council has supported the need for a grade separated junction at Woking to avoid conflict between trains on the up Guildford/Portsmouth line and trains on the main line from London to Basingstoke, Southampton and Bournemouth.

· The Council has strongly reinforced the need for upgrading of rail routes from Southampton to the Midlands to accommodate taller containers. The County Council, with Southampton City Council, is already seeking funding for this through the Transport Innovation Fund

· The Council has sought an analysis of the benefits and costs of extended reversible working at Portsmouth Harbour station, to enable more through trains to the Harbour.

· The Council has supported the provision of an hourly service from Waterloo to Exeter, serving Basingstoke and Andover

· The Council has objected to the proposition that local stopping services in the Southampton area should be reduced to ease congestion on this route for long distance and freight services. There were particular objections to the proposal to truncate Romsey to Totton services at Eastleigh and have proposed instead some rerouting of freight services from the Southampton Maritime container terminal and Millbrook terminal via Romsey together with some re-signalling at Southampton Central to enable passenger trains to call at an additional platform.

· The Council has also sought improved service levels to a half hour frequency to encourage rail usage at stations between Portsmouth and Southampton.

· The Council has advised the need for additional infrastructure investment to re-instate the double line capacity between Eastleigh South and West junctions, to create an at grade chord at Eastleigh to link the Botley line to the Southampton main line and installing double track on the Botley line and provision of line enhancements on the Alton line between Farnham and Alton

The potential improvements set out above would enable Network Rail, and the train operating companies responsible for passenger and freight services, to meet the expected growth in demand for rail services in an area where high levels of growth are proposed.

South Western Franchise Consultation

3. The new South Western Franchise is due to commence on 4 February 2007 and will have a duration of 10 years. There are five short-listed companies who have pre-qualified:

· Arriva Trains South West Limited (Arriva plc)

· First South Western Limited (First Group plc)

· Great South Western Railway Company Limited (Joint Venture: GNER Holdings and MTR Corporation of Hong Kong)

· Trafalgar Trains Limited (National Express Group plc)

· Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc) - the current South West Trains operator.

4. The key objectives for the South Western Franchise will be:

· To meet affordability targets for the railway

· To improve performance in terms of punctuality and reliability

· To accommodate current and continued demand growth

· To reflect stakeholder requirements and aspirations

· To optimise the use of the network, staff and rolling stock

5. The short-listed companies will be expected to comply with a specification of train services as a Service Level Commitment, based on the current timetable with some adjustments. The main elements commented on in responding to the DfT's consultation on the draft specification were:

· Support for the withdrawal of the Brockenhurst - Wareham stopping service by extending the semi-fast Waterloo - Southampton service to and from Bournemouth and extending the Waterloo - Poole service to and from Weymouth; these extended services would pick up the stops of the withdrawn train service and should result in additional direct services and faster journey times within Hampshire

· Support for the acceleration of the existing Waterloo - Weymouth service.

· Concern at the proposed curtailment of through services from Reading to Brighton; the Council has argued that the service should be retained at least from Brighton to Winchester and ideally to Basingstoke in view of the benefits of a direct service from mid-Hampshire to Havant, Chichester and Brighton without having to divert into Portsmouth.

6. One proposal which has generated very considerable concern is the proposal by the

Department for Transport to discontinue through services from Romsey to Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh and all intermediate stations to Southampton and Totton. To do so would be a retrograde step as it would force travellers from Chandler's Ford to change trains at Eastleigh and would mean that passengers who had been encouraged to use the train would revert to making the journey by private car with adverse environmental impact. The County Council has objected strongly to the Department for Transport to this change which is considered unacceptable particularly in view of the investment made by the County Council as owners of Chandlers Ford Station on which a total of £3m has been invested. This opposition has been endorsed by Southampton City Council and also by local residents in the Chandlers Ford area. There is clearly substantial public support for the service to continue and the County Council has reasserted its opposition to the proposed change in the strongest terms.

7. The Council has commented on the lack of any proposals to increase the Southampton to Portsmouth service to half hourly and the lack of proposals for increasing station car parking selectively. There is support for the aspiration of designating the Lymington branch as a community rail line.

TIM KNIGHT

Executive Member for Environment:

South Hampshire and Resource Management