Atoc: Britain’s rolling stock could grow by up to 18 per cent by 2019
by Pippa Vine
Industry options for additional vehicles needed
Electrostars named by Chelsea
Pensioners by Peter Brown
Two Chelsea Pensioners have proudly unveiled
the name of a Class 357 Electrostar unit as part of celebrations celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. The ceremony took place
on platform four of London Fenchurch Street station on Friday 4 May as C2C managing director Julian Drury watched Marjorie Cole and David Donaghey name the train Diamond Jubilee 1952-2012. Donaghey, who served for 22 years in the Royal Medical Corps and the Territorial Army for a further 12, admitted after the ceremony that memories came flooding back as he used to live along the very route that train number 357 006 will be working. He said: ‘As someone who
lived in Essex for almost half my life, it was a real privilege to be asked to name this train in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.’ Marjorie Cole, who was a member of the Women’s Royal Army Corps for 14 years, also admitted to having railway connections. She said: ‘My father worked
on the railways and was with British Rail until he retired. I never expected to be asked to name a train and it brings back such wonderful memories.’ Another four Electrostars
have been wrapped in special vinyl to mark the Jubilee with the Union Flag on one carriage and the official Diamond Jubilee emblem on the doors. They are operating on C2C services between London Fenchurch Street, Shoeburyness, Tilbury, Grays and Southend.
PAGE 10 MAY/JUNE 2012
between 2014 and 2019 – Control Period 5 (CP5) – have been set out by the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), laying the ground for a longer-term, more comprehensive cross-industry strategy scheduled to be completed in the autumn.
The document, which follows
a discussion paper on rolling stock published by Atoc in December 2011, says the total fleet could grow by 11 to 18 per cent above the total fleet size expected by the end of CP4, and gives figures of between 13,601 and 14,512 by the end of CP5. Significant, government-led
new vehicle orders already in place for delivery in CP5 include around 2,100 to 2,900 vehicles for Crossrail, Thameslink and the Intercity Express Programme (IEP). Franchising and commercial deals over the period are also likely to account for between 500 and 1,500 units, although these figures depend on franchising process decisions about levels of passenger
growth and whether existing vehicles can continue in service. Michael Roberts, chief executive
of Atoc said of the forecasts: ‘We hope they will support policy makers, suppliers and other parts of the government with the best available information about the possible size and nature of future rolling stock orders, and the potential to extend the life of sections of the existing fleet.’ Responding to Atoc’s
publication of the overview, Jeremy Candfield, director general of the Railway Industry Association, described it as a welcome step in the right direction. ‘However,’ he added, ‘much
more needs to be done to narrow the ranges in the forecasting before it allows suppliers to plan their businesses with confidence and reduce costs. We look forward to working with Atoc and other parties to develop the strategy further.’
MPs concerned rail network won’t cope
More than 80 per cent of MPs believe the current UK rail network will not be able to cope with
capacity demands in 20 years’ time. The findings – revealed in a survey of 156 MPs and 2,050 British adults by ComRes and Westminster Advisers – highlight serious concerns about capacity. They also flag up a widespread belief among more than 70 per cent of the public, and nearly two-thirds of MPs questioned, that UK rail
operating companies are less competitive than others overseas. Identifying an ‘uncommonly strong consensus
among MPs of all parties, and among the public, over the future of the rail industry and rail capacity’, Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes said: ‘MPs and the public are more than usually united in their concerns over the network’s ability to cope’.
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT EXTENDED FOR NORTHERN
Northern Rail has been granted a continuation
of its Northern franchise, originally due to end in September 2013. It will now continue to operate local and regional railt services across the north of England until 1 April 2014. Responding to the news,
Ian Bevan, managing director, Northern Rail said: ‘We are delighted that the Department for Transport has chosen to
confirm this continuation.’ During the life of
the current franchise, Northern Rail has improved punctuality, increasing on- time arrivals from 83.7 to 91.9 per cent. It has also seen 40 per cent growth in passenger demand, with more carriages to ease overcrowding; and £130m investment from franchise owners Serco and Abellio for improvements, against a specification of a
‘no growth, no investment’ franchise. Upgraded cleanliness of trains, plus improved ticket office, waiting room and toilet facilities at a number of stations are promised soon. ‘We’re also working
with partners to install more customer information screens at stations, making sure passengers get accurate information about how their train is running,’ said Bevan.
Peter Brown
www.railimages.co.uk
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