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West Anglia Rail Services. Hertfordshire County Council Scrutiny Panel 20 May 2010 Geraint Hughes Stakeholder Manager. Franchise profile. Greater Anglia franchise commenced 1.4.04 7 year franchise with 3 year continuation West Anglia route serves
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West Anglia Rail Services Hertfordshire County Council Scrutiny Panel 20 May 2010 Geraint Hughes Stakeholder Manager
Franchise profile • Greater Anglia franchise commenced 1.4.04 • 7 year franchise with 3 year continuation • West Anglia route serves • Inner suburban services to Enfield, Chingford and Cheshunt • Outer suburban services to Hertford East • Inter-urban services to Harlow, Bishops Stortford & Cambridge • Fully electrified service • Key markets • Commuting, airport, leisure • Franchise replacement – 1.4.11 • Consultation, procurement
Performance summary • Franchise targets • Public Performance Measure (PPM) to 88.6% by 2010 • Reduce % of service cancellations to 0.41% of trains run • Reduce number of short-formed trains below 0.17% of trains run • Reduce delay minutes caused by NXEA operations • West Anglia performance ahead of targets • PPM at start of franchise was 90% for WA local services and 71% for Stansted Express • Combined PPM now 92.7% across all WA services • Delay minutes significantly reduced year on year • WA cancellations and short formations consistently lower than targets • All continuation criteria targets met
Maintaining good performance • Good working relationship with Network Rail • Integrated Control Centre • Contingency plans to manage incidents • Joint Performance Improvement Plan • Risks • Infrastructure failure: Overhead lines, signalling • Critical points on route: Liverpool Street, Cheshunt – Broxbourne, Stansted Airport, Cambridge • Fleet performance • Robustness of the timetable • Prompt train dispatch • Freight operations • External factors: Weather, fatalities
Capacity issues • Route operating close to capacity • Limits to timetable structure and flexibility • Strategy for growth based on longer trains • Long term capacity enhancements linked to airport growth and London commuting • Current overcrowding issues minimal • 4 morning peak trains requiring attention • Economic downturn has reduced numbers travelling • Short / medium term strategy to tackle capacity
High Level Output Statement (HLOS) • £185m package agreed with DfT in April ’09 • 30 new 4-car trains for WA route • Redistribution of existing fleet within franchise • 12-car trains • New timetable from December 2011 • Key benefits • Peak seats into Liverpool Street increased by 20% • 12-car platform extensions at Cheshunt, Broxbourne & Sawbridgeworth • New island platform at Cambridge • Overcrowding issues resolved and capacity for future growth
Fares and Parking Charges • DfT policy that a higher % of railway income should come through the farebox • Key fares regulated by DfT policy (RPI+1%) • Industry steps to simplify fares structure • 2010 regulated fares reduced by 0.3% on average • NXEA decision to freeze unregulated fares • Car park charges set by TOC • Reflect demand and need to secure return on investment during the franchise term
Investment in the service • New trains • Car park extensions • Audley End, Harlow Town, Broxbourne • Station rebuilding • Waltham Cross • Access schemes • Audley End, Harlow Town, Broxbourne, Waltham Cross • Bus/rail integration • Audley End, Cheshunt • Cycle parking • Minor station improvements
Conclusions • West Anglia route a steady performer that consistently meets operational targets • Effective partnership with Network Rail is key to performance • The route will benefit from capacity enhancements and significant supporting investment in the next 18 months • Franchise renewal may bring additional opportunities for improvement, dependent on DfT priorities
What can the County Council do? • Maintain a strong policy stance on rail as a key travel mode for the county. • Lobby for enhancements and renewals in Herts to be prioritised in DfT and Network Rail programmes • Establish clear priorities for improvement during the anticipated period of financial restraint and communicate these during franchise renewal • Continued commitment to partnerships with TOCs on station improvements, local marketing and other customer benefits.
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