Issue - meetings

The Advisory Committee received the following updates from train operators:

SWR

Phil Dominey thanked everyone for their patience whilst full services had been restored between Basingstoke and Woking.  Every effort had been made to improve communications after some initial issues.  The line had re-opened fully on 24 February 2023.

The Reading to Waterloo line was carrying extra passengers today due to a fire next to the line at Maidenhead stopping all GWR services.  Extra resources had been provided to help deal with the additional demand.

Phil indicated that there was a lot of weekend engineering work coming up which would impact on a number of routes.  Work would be taking place at Pirbright Junction most weekends until the end of May.  In response to a question, he advised that all events likely to impact on traffic were supposed to be recorded on the One Network system, but the Fleet Marathon had only been added on 26 February.  As a result, replacement bus services had had to skip Fleet Station.  This was something every effort was made to avoid.  Events relating to the coronation and carnival road closures should be on One Network.  The Pirbright Junction works were still scheduled over the weekend of the coronation.

Phil undertook to investigate why the 6.40am from Fleet to Waterloo had regularly been cancelled or operated with fewer carriages.  There had also been issues around cleanliness.

The RMT’s industrial action remained ongoing but the scheduled strikes had been postponed so it looked like negotiations were progressing in the right direction.

Phil also invited colleagues to review the latest station travel plans which had been written with the aim of promoting integration at stations.  Local councillors and organisations could help ensure that everything had been covered as they often knew of things that the rail operators might not.  Phil undertook to provide the plans requested by members of the Committee.

He concluded by reporting that a service would be running from Wareham to Swanage via the Swanage Railway on Tuesdays Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 4 April to 10 September 2023.  In addition, the two-train service from Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin was to resume following engineering works at Ryde Pier.

The Advisory Committee received the following updates from train operators:

GWR

GWR had held a very useful Webinar covering the whole of the region.  It was noted that this had focussed on operational issues.  Ed Goose had hoped to attend the meeting but had circulated information on the following:

Industrial Action

ASLEF had announced two new dates for industrial action by drivers on the 1st and 3rd February.  These would have a significant impact with a very minimal service to run across the network.  Talks were continuing with the RMT.  It was hoped that a deal could be concluded but a mandate remained for further action, but no additional dates had been announced.

769s:

It had been decided to pause the roll out of the 769’s and their lease was not going to be renewed.  Services would continue to be provided by the current fleet. The 769 programme, using third-rail, overhead wires or diesel engines along the North Downs route, had anticipated passenger numbers to have grown by around 12% across the network by this year.  However, changes in customer behaviour and demand since the pandemic meant the expected passenger numbers had reduced by around 3%

Greenford Battery Train:

Vivarail had sadly entered administration.  GWR was working with the DfT and wider industry to understand the next steps to ensure the vital battery train trial could happen.   Further details would be provided as soon as possible.

Ed was happy to respond to any questions on these or other matters.

SWR

Phil Dominey provided an update on Infrastructure issues including the landslip at Hook over the last weekend which had left 50m of track hanging in the air.  This had had major implications for the network.  Most services to the South West were therefore starting and terminating at Basingstoke.  A 90 minute shuttle service was running from Basingstoke to Woking.  Hook, Winchfield and Fleet were not being served.  There were also insufficient buses and drivers available to provide a scheduled replacement bus service.  Network Rail was looking at how to overcome a number of logistical issues to enable two track running as soon as possible.  They had also sent out an invitation to attend a virtual public meeting about Hook.

Phil also apologised for a series of problems on Monday which had resulted in only the Reading line being unaffected by problems.

There were a number of concerns expressed about communications which were described as poor, both to commuters and councillors.  Phil was surprised as he understood that an email had been sent to 2,500 recipients.  There were also concerns about the initial estimates of how long it would take to repair the line.  It was suggested that it would take several weeks or even months, not the days which had initially been suggested.

Phil indicated that Network Rail was seeking to find a way to restore a service as soon as possible.

It was also reported that there had been chaos and overcrowding at Waterloo on Monday with cancellations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14