Tag Archives: Rail

Parkway station contractor appointed

Warwickshire County Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Mott MacDonald Limited to produce the outline designs for the new Stratford Parkway Station scheme.

Mott MacDonald was appointed after submitting the most competitive proposal for the works and by demonstrating strong experience in the design of new railway stations. The firm has previously designed the successful Warwick and Coleshill Parkway stations in the county.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Highways, said: “This appointment of a contractor with such a good track record is a key milestone in the delivery phase for the Parkway Station scheme, after funding was awarded to the county council by the Department for Transport last year. The outline design work is expected to be complete by early summer 2012 and remains in line with our goal to open the new station by December 2013.”

Mark Alton, Divisional Director for Mott MacDonald Limited, said: “We are delighted to be appointed as designer for Stratford Parkway Station which completes our hat-trick of Parkway stations in Warwickshire. We have been associated with Parkway stations in the county for well over ten years now.

“Our first Parkway Station design was the highly successful Warwick Parkway which we designed in 2000 and more recently we prepared the outline design for Coleshill Parkway which was completed in 2007.”

Warwickshire County Council is being supported by experienced rail industry consultants in the delivery of the scheme. SLC Rail has been appointed to oversee the rail elements of the project including design development and procurement of the new station, and enhanced train services. SLC Rail will be supported by project and programme management provided by Right Results Project Management and Central Programme Management respectively.

Work on delivering the scheme is progressing well and it is anticipated that a package of new Saturday and weekday evening train services will be announced in due course. A whole raft of sustainable travel measures are also to be announced during 2012, in preparation for the station opening the following year.

The £8.8 million Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project has the support of London Midland, Centro and Network Rail, rail users, potential passengers, both Stratford District Council and Stratford Town Council, Sustrans, the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group and Rail Future.

It is forecast that the project will attract 114,000 new rail trips to the new station and the existing town station by 2024/2025. The extra revenue generated will help fund more trains during weekdays, on Saturdays and provide a regular evening service to both Stratford stations.

 

Council reacts to HS2 announcement

Warwickshire County Council has responded to the decision of the Transport Secretary on high speed rail.

Cllr Bob Stevens, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are disappointed that the Transport Secretary has decided to go ahead with the HS2 scheme. It will have a devastating impact on the countryside and it will have little benefit for us. The county council remains committed to protecting Warwickshire’s heritage, environment and communities.

“We based our strong opposition to the scheme on the fact that it presents a flawed business case and offers poor value for money to the taxpayer. It is an expensive project which we believe will have only a very limited impact on the regional economy and certainly nowhere near as substantial as estimated in some quarters. There will also be unquantifiable hidden costs to the local authority.

“Now that HS2 is to proceed, we must ensure that the interests of Warwickshire residents are best served. In the immediate future, we will continue to work with the 51M Group to put forward the county’s case against this scheme.”

Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Communities, added: “It is too early to examine the detailed impact of the line on us but the county council will continue to work on behalf of the residents of Warwickshire. The county council’s project team has full council support to engage with the necessary authorities and work to protect Warwickshire’s interests and integrity in light of the decision to proceed.

“We should pay tribute to the various action groups who have carefully and intelligently researched the proposals, articulated their objections and backed up their assertions with evidence.”

For more information on the county council’s views and for a link to the report and supporting documentation visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hs2

New £1.26m bridge for town station

Stratford’s town train station is to benefit from a new £1.26m footbridge for passengers after the Government approved a Warwickshire County Council funding bid.

Transport Minister Norman Baker MP, who last month visited the station ahead of the announcement, approved the funding for a new disability compliant footbridge at the town station which will be fitted with lifts. The scheme is to be completed by March 2014.

The improvements are being funded as part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme which aims to improve access to railway stations. The funding bid was for a £1m contribution, with the balance expected to be met from developer contributions collected in the Stratford area.

Warwickshire County Council will be working with London Midland and Network Rail to deliver the scheme. It is expected that the county council will manage and deliver the scheme and hand it over to Network Rail once constructed.

When it is built, the new footbridge will mean that people will no longer have to use the barrow crossing – a mini level crossing between the platforms – if taking a train from the island platform. The barrow crossing is problematic for passengers who cannot manage the stairs because it requires a long walk and a wait for station staff to escort them across the track.

The existing step footbridge will remain in place, following its recent restoration by Network Rail.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, said: “The new footbridge is a much-needed improvement which will help bring the station up to date by providing better access for passengers.

“The securing of this funding reaffirms our commitment to the long-term future of the town station and that it continues to be a vital transport hub after the opening of the new Parkway station.”

Nicola Moss, London Midland’s Head of Franchise Management said: “We are delighted that Stratford-upon-Avon station is going to become step-free as a result of this funding. This will be of real benefit to many of our customers.”

 

Green light for NUCKLE plan

The Government has given the go ahead for a multi-million pound upgraded rail link between Nuneaton and Coventry.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening today rubber-stamped a £9.8 million funding bid for the £18 million scheme which will include a new station at Bermuda Park.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, said: “This is welcome news from the Government and the favourable decision by the Transport Secretary is testament to the hard work put in by everyone behind the bid, and is a shining example of partnership working between Warwickshire, Coventry and Centro.

“The NUCKLE rail link is a key element of our transport strategy and will make a fundamental difference to the economic regeneration of the area.

“Once it is completed, the scheme will give people better access to jobs and open up new possibilities for leisure and services. In the future, we will see even more growth in the corridor between Nuneaton and Coventry, and this scheme will help to reduce traffic congestion and deliver more reliable trains between the two destinations.”

NUCKLE will mean an increase in the frequency of services between Nuneaton and Coventry of two car trains every 30 minutes, new stations at Bermuda Park and Coventry Arena, and longer platforms at Bedworth station.

Council reacts to select committee report

Cllr Bob Stevens, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “I believe that the committee report offers an unenthusiastic – and at best cautious – approach towards proceeding with HS2, and they have made it crystal clear that the Government must give much greater consideration to a range of issues and alternatives at their disposal. It is reassuring to note that the Transport Select Committee has acknowledged the deeply held and well-informed views on both sides of the debate.

“The country does need investment in a fully integrated transport infrastructure with good connectivity to the rail network and other proposed schemes in order to revitalise our economy and generate growth – this is absolutely vital to the national and regional economy. The committee emphasises that an integrated transport plan must be agreed before progressing with any high speed rail scheme and more detail is required on the financial and economic case and the environmental impacts of HS2.

“The report also acknowledges the devastating impact that the proposed scheme will have on the countryside and states that more investigation is necessary before any scheme is finalised.

“Our opposition to the £32 billion scheme is based on this lack of consideration being given to the alternatives to HS2 and that it offers poor value for money to the taxpayer, together with a flawed business case.”

While the county council officially opposes HS2 it has continued to work to ensure that the interests of Warwickshire residents have been represented throughout the process.

Warwickshire has been working with borough and district colleagues, members of the 51m group which represents the local authorities along the route, the action groups and HS2 Ltd, to gather data and information about the scheme and its likely impact on the area.

For more information on the county council’s views and for a link to the report and supporting documentation visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hs2

Minister backs town transport scheme

Transport Minister Norman Baker MP has spoken about the benefits of planned improvements to public transport in Stratford following his recent visit to the town.

The Minister was shown around Stratford town station and the site for the new Stratford Parkway station at Bishopton by Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport.

The two stations are central to the £8.8 million Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project which will deliver vastly improved train services, enhancements to the Park and Ride bus services, smarter choices measures, electric vehicle charging points and a ‘Boris Bikes’ cycle hire scheme.

The county council is funding the project to the tune of £1.86m and the Department of Transport has awarded £4.995m through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Transport Minster Norman Baker said: “This £4.9m funding will make a big difference to the area – creating growth and cutting carbon in a way that exactly meets the twin objectives of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

“The new railway station and park and ride service will be crucial in encouraging travel by rail, thus easing congestion on the road network as well. The secure cycle parking will also encourage more people to travel by bike and rail – one of the greenest and healthiest ways to travel.”

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, added: “The visit of the Transport Minister Norman Baker MP is a ringing endorsement of the Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project. It provides recognition that the scheme will provide better public transport for rail passengers in Stratford and surrounding areas, and will help to put the town back on the railway map.

“It is thanks to the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund that we have been able to take this scheme forward, which will deliver improvements including enhancements at the existing town station and a brand new station on the outskirts of Stratford.

“The tourist industry is worth £360 million a year to Stratford and these transport developments will provide important connections to Birmingham and London for tourists and businesses.”

The scheme has the support of London Midland, Centro and Network Rail, rail users, potential passengers, both Stratford District Council and Stratford Town Council, Sustrans, the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group and Rail Future.

It is forecast that the project will attract 114,000 new rail trips to the new station and the existing town station by 2024/2025. The extra revenue generated will help fund more trains during weekdays, on Saturdays and provide a regular evening service to both Stratford stations.

It is hoped that new evening and weekend services will start in April 2012 and the weekday off-peak services will start when the station opens in December 2013.