Agenda item

(To receive a report by Jayne Wingad, Rail Policy Officer and Jason Copper, Transport and Growth Manager, which provides an update regarding changes to rail franchising and the impact of COVID-19 from the Department for Transport. Representatives from East Midlands Railway (EMR), Network Rail and Midlands Connect will be in attendance to outline current rail schemes/proposals for Lincolnshire and answer questions)

(Councillor M Whittington left the meeting during this item)

The Committee received a report in connection with an update regarding changes to rail franchising and the impact of COVID-19 from the Department for Transport (DfT), East Midlands Railway (EMR), Network Rail and Midlands Connect and for them to outline their current rail proposals for Lincolnshire.

(a)  Eddie Muraszko, (DfT)

He outlined four issues:-

(1)   The short term-effects, including the severe reduction in patronage when the lock down started in March 2020; the introduction of emergency timetables; the effects of absenteeism; and that franchisees should only provide services they were able to deliver.

(2)   The medium term-effects including delays to infrastructure; the suspension of driver training; the prioritisation of services that worked and on-going work with Network Rail and train operators.

(3)   The massive financial impact to revenues; the need to ensure social distancing on trains; the increased managerial role of the DfT; the use of Emergency Measure and Emergency Recovery Agreements; the increased role and responsibility of the Department and increased co-operation of rail operators would lead to simpler fare structures and better co-ordination of services.

(4)   The implementation of certain parts of the Williams Review, particularly the reform of fares; future demand uncertainty; the need for flexibility by train operators and the uncertain financial outlook facing the country.

Comments by Members included:-

·         The improved service to Gainsborough was welcomed.

·         There was a need to improve services on the joint-line between Peterborough and Doncaster.

·         To get patronage back to the levels of pre-Covid-19 it was essential that the service was improved so much not to make people use their cars.

·         "Building Back Better" was welcomed.

·         There was a need to improve connectivity for passengers on the Nottingham to Skegness line at Grantham.

Eddy Muraszko stated that it was hoped to improve regional services but he was unable to give a precise date when these would take place, agreed with the comments about increased patronage adding that train operators had been working on marketing campaigns for 2020 to increase patronage before the Covid-19 crisis and that the new arrangements would allow train operators to improve connectivity for passengers.

(b)  Max Taylor, East Midland Railways referred to the reduction in patronage due to Covid-19 but that patronage had slowly increased in recent months; a 97% restoration of the timetable in recent

months; the withdrawal of 37 services because of self-isolation by train crews; the protection of middle of the day services; the need to run a reliable service; outlined improved services for 2020 with the 2021 timetables still being examined and that it was hoped to respond to service provision when the new contractual arrangements were in place. 

Comments by Members included:-

·         The proposed improvements on the joint-line in Peterborough would help to improve services for the southern half of Lincolnshire.

·         Reliable services were important.

·         There were many small towns and villages in South Holland and rail and bus services were poor. The Peterborough to Lincoln service going via Spalding had been welcomed by local residents as it allowed people to get to Lincoln County Hospital. It was noted that this service had been removed due to the Covid-19 crisis despite highway services still being provided and this rail service needed to be restored. Max Taylor explained the reason for the reduction in this service and stated that the Member's comments would be considered in the 2021 timetable consultations.

(c)  Paul McKeown, Network Rail, Eastern Region

He highlighted the effects of Covid-19 on the workforce adding that after four/six weeks it had been possible to resume work and good progress was being made on the operational sites; referred to devolution of Network Rail to the regions and closer to passengers and stakeholders; stated that the Kings Cross was Network Rail's largest project with February 2021 planned for the final phase and referred to the on-going work to complete the Wellington interchange in 2021.

Comments by Members included:-

·         An enquiry was made about the life expectancy of the East Coast mainline electrification. Paul McKeown stated that there was a programme of renewal of the wires only and that because of the increase in the electric fleet on this line funding was being sought from the DfT to increase the power supply.

·         Reference was made to the upgrade of the old shared joint Great Northern and Great Eastern route running from Peterborough to Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln with space being left for electrification which would help the eastern part of Lincolnshire.

(d)  Andrew Clark, Midlands Connect

He highlighted the on-going work with Network Rail to examine an increase in the speed and frequency of trains between Newark to Lincoln; referred to the on-going work with Network Rail to examine an increase in speed between Nottingham and Newark and thanked the local authorities for the contribution towards the improvement of both these lines.

Comments by Members included the need to examine the speed of rail traffic north and east of Lincoln. Andrew Clark stated that they were only able to examine the business case for trains on those railway-lines mentioned and agreed that the wider rail corridor needed to be examined.

The Rail Operators were thanked for their presentations. Members requested that they should receive a six monthly update on rail matters during the current Covid-19 crisis, welcomed the likelihood of a more co-ordinated approach amongst rail operators in the future and welcomed the contribution by other local authorities in the area.

Officers stated that while it might not be possible to get all the operators to attend on a six monthly basis a progress report could be produced for Members. Officers stated that work was on-going to produce Local Transport Plan 5 and the commissioning of reports into maximising service improvements and infrastructure on the railways were also being examined.

RESOLVED

(a)  That the presentations by Rail Operators, and the comments of Members, be noted.

(b)  That the Committee receive a progress report in six months.

(c)  That a progress report be submitted to a future meeting in connection with the outcome of consultations into improvements to the rail service on the Peterborough to Lincoln railway-line by East Midlands Railways.