Boris in bid to run all of capital’s rail by Peter Brown


London mayor Boris Johnson has proposed taking full control of all suburban services in the area. In a move backed by passenger group


London TravelWatch, Johnson has called for the government to devolve power to him to set standards for rail services run by the private train operating companies. He has submitted a report stressing that he


wants Tocs integrated into the Transport for London network. By adopting TfL’s contracting model, he believes millions of pounds of savings could be made to promote more reliable and frequent services; safer and cleaner stations; more staff; and simpler fares.


He said: ‘The fractured organisation of


London’s suburban railways is totally inefficient and needs a complete overhaul. My vision is for one integrated suburban service operating to the standards we have demonstrated can be achieved on London Overground. ‘There are 85 million trips each year on London’s rail network that could benefit from this approach. Devolving the commercial franchises would allow us to invest millions of pounds in improving stations and to simplify the ticketing system.’


London TravelWatch vice chair David Leibling


explained: ‘This is something we have been advocating for several years. We hope the proposal will lead to all London’s rail services reaching the


much-improved quality of London Overground services since TfL took over. ‘It is excellent news that the document has recognised so many issues that match our passenger priorities – such as the need to provide value for money, an effective interchange and improvements to station security. ‘We also welcome the opportunity to improve interchanges such as West Hampstead.’ The mayor’s Rail Vision report prioritises the devolution of suburban services from Dartford, Sevenoaks and Hayes; and the West Anglia inner services from Enfield Town, Hertford East and Chingford – locations already included in the London railway area as defined by parliament. n peter.brown@railpro.co.uk


Directors of Network Rail pass on bonuses


Network Rail’s board members have opted to forego their bonuses and donate the money to rail safety, in the wake of public and political pressure. CEO David Higgins would have received up to 60 per cent of his £560,000 salary, had a revised remuneration policy been ratified at Network Rail’s members’ meeting on 10 February. This would have seen bonuses reduced from the previous level of 100 per cent of salaries.


Directors Simon Kirby, Paul Plummer, Peter Henderson, Robin Gisby and Patrick Butcher have also relinquished their bonuses. The six men would have shared up to £1.4m. In view of the decision, the


February meeting was adjourned. Transport secretary Justine Greening had said she would vote against the proposals at the members’ meeting. Higgins said he and his


fellow directors would ‘forego any entitlement and, instead, allocate the money to the safety improvement fund for level crossings’. In January, Network Rail


pleaded guilty to health and safety offences that led to the deaths of two girls on a level crossing in Elsenham, Essex. The accident, which happened in 2005, predates Higgins’ appointment to Network Rail.


PAGE 6 MARCH 2012


Derby works gets reprieve until 2014 n


Bombardier has decided to keep its Derby-based train


factory open for at least another two years, it has announced, following a review of its viability after it lost out on the £1.4bn Thameslink rolling stock contract. The Derby works is the last


factory in the UK to manufacture trains, with factories based in Germany and Japan awarded the


contracts for the last two major rolling stock orders for the UK. In the last few months,


however, Bombardier has won smaller contracts to build trains for Southern and to do some modification work on Voyagers. While most staff will now keep their jobs, many temporary workers have already been let go, and the communications team


was made redundant. A spokesman for the Derby


and Derbyshire Rail Forum, which represents over 100 rail-related business in the East Midlands, said: ‘Bombardier’s decision to retain its train manufacturing facility in Derby comes as a huge relief to the region’s extensive supply chain, the employees of the business and their families.’


NEW STATION PLANNED FOR CAERPHILLY n


Plans have been unveiled for a new station to serve the


growing residential area of Energlyn, Caerphilly. It could be open within two years and provide direct services to Cardiff.


Energlyn lies in an area of


congested roads where there is increasing demand for rail travel. The project is being developed jointly by the Welsh government, Network Rail, Caerphilly Borough Council, South East Wales Transport Alliance and Arriva. Designs for the two-platform


station, which will have waiting shelters, step-free access, ticket machines and bicycle storage, went on show in February. A grant is being sought from the Welsh European Funding Office. ‘Public support will be vital to


help this application,’ said Mark Langman, route managing director for Network Rail Wales. Meanwhile, a collaboration between DB Schenker and Network Rail has seen the revival of a long-


Network Rail is to strengthen a rail bridge, dating back to 1849, across one of the busiest approach roads to Manchester city centre. The bridge, which carries the ‘through’ rail lines between Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations, needs to have its 100-year-old concrete, which encases the original iron ribs, replaced.


disused freight line linking the Unity coal mine at Cwmgwrach, Neath Valley, with Aberthaw power station, Vale of Glamorgan. It re-opened three months ago


and 21-wagon trains, each carrying around 1,400 tonnes, are expected to take 50 lorries off the road. Network Rail says there has been no cost as the line has always been maintained.


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