Since publication of the full Oscar Faber study and Executive Summary in
December 1999, distinct progress has been made in beginning to translate its
recommendations into a strategy for implementation.
In March, Railtrack presented the
conclusions of its parallel infrastructure study to the Cotswolds and Malverns
Partnership. Rather than starting with a fixed view of infrastructure enhancements,
Railtrack examined the works required to meet those timetable options which were predicted
to meet the patterns of demand growth identified from the study's
market research work and be financially viable on an operating basis.
The option most favoured includes hourly services between Hereford and both Birmingham and London in the peak and off-peak, 2 trains per hour between Worcester and London in the peak and a strengthened pattern from Malvern and Worcester to Birmingham. Line speed enhancements would also form part of such an option.
Delivering
the track capacity necessary to meet such an expanded service, whilst
maintaining reliability and punctuality, is estimated to cost circa
£100 million. Whilst this is clearly a considerable level of investment,
the Partnership is now commencing work on gaining agreement and funding from all possible
stakeholders within the context of a
staged implementation plan, possibly over 3 years.
Potential sources of funding include
Train Operating Companies' Track Access Charges reflecting the new capacity available,
passenger fare box income, rail industry capital funding, 'Rail Passenger Partnership'
(RPP) funding from the Strategic Rail Authority,
and contributions from County Council Local Transport Plan
(LTP) monies. An additional
possibility is European funding.
As well as the internal processes
within the rail industry and local authorities which will address the proposed strategy,
the Partnership is meeting the Strategic Rail Authority in
late March to commence the pre-qualification stage of a bid for RPP funding. The
Partnership
is also producing a standard summary of the strategy
to be included in LTPs for each of the 5 counties. As the LTPs to be adopted in July 2000
will cover a 5 year period from 2001-2006, it is especially important that consistency
across the counties concerning the strategy is maintained.
Whilst much remains to be done to
achieve the type of improvements needed on the Cotswold and Malvern route, the
constructive, open and committed work of all members of the Partnership suggests there is great room for optimism over 2000.
Ian Baxter
Chairman
Cotswold Line Promotion Group.