WebTAG appraisal processes which should a better understanding of the wider impacts of investments and improved service specification. A high threshold for minimum service quality standards should regardless of operator or method of service procurement, delivering a dependably excellent whole journey experience from planning to arrival. Operators should be encouraged to develop ad hoc for in-fill electrification, selective additional loops etc., pending route upgrades. Electrification of main lines should be completed before the new bi-mode trains are due to have their diesel engines replaced. To meet the projected capacity gap, Government should authorise procurement of additional new rolling stock which should be fit for purpose (including improved reliability and reduced loading times). The specification should encourage exploitation of new service opportunities created by HS2, East West Rail, the Elizabeth line (Crossrail), western access to Heathrow, etc. Service quality Services planning should enable network connectivity between routes and modes; easy transfers should be facilitated, particularly at key interchanges. The provision of facilities should take account of the age composition of the potential market, addressing the needs of those with physical or cognitive mobility limitations. of disruption passengers should receive clear and precise information as to its likely impact on their journey and how they might work around it. use should be made of diversionary routes, (requiring maintenance of driver route knowledge), reducing dependence on road replacement services. vehicles should be fit for purpose – better on-board information systems, WiFi and mobile connectivity, luggage space, door provision to aid speedy access and egress, areas in which young families can travel without disturbing those who wish to read, work, listen to or just snooze.
between 10,000-30,000 that ‘play very important roles as ‘hubs’ in the rural areas around them (rural hinterland) in terms of providing services, employment and businesses’. South West towns identified as rural hub towns comprise: Amesbury (10,116), Bideford (28,672), Blandford Forum (11,694), Bodmin (14,614), Bridport (13,737), Brixham (16,693), Burnham-on-Sea* (23,325), Calne (17,274), Chard (13,074), Cinderford (12,942), Cirencester (17,153), Clevedon (21,002), Coleford (10,397), Dawlish* (11,312), Devizes (18,064), Dorchester* (19,060), Dursley* (14,992), Gillingham*(11,298), Helston (12,814), Honiton*(11,483), Ilfracombe (11,184), Ivybridge* (11,581), Melksham*(19,357) Midsomer Norton/Radstock (27,136), Minehead (11,981), Nailsea*(20,543), Newquay* (20,189), Penzance*(19,872), Royal Wootton Bassett (11,265) Shepton Mallet (10,369), Sidmouth (12,569), St Austell* (25,447), Street (12,911), Swanage (12,594), Tavistock (12,280), Teignmouth* (17,483), Tewkesbury*(19,778), Thornbury (11,687), Tiverton (19,544), Truro*(23,041), Warminster*(17,490), Wellington (13,822), Wells (11,343). (Bracketed figures show the 2011 Census population for each built-up area, excluding the population of the rural hinterlands for which each qualifies as a hub.)
aspiration for Bristol to Yeovil linked to Heart of Wessex Community Rail Partnership aspirations for an hourly semi-fast Bristol-Weymouth service. Signalling and line speeds improvements required between Pen Mill-Dorchester to solve route capacity/resilience limitations. 3 Bristol-Bath-Westbury local Hourly Part of Bristol travel to work area; serve by extension of MetroWest service from Bath. 4 (Milton Keynes/Cambridge) semi-fast Reinstatement of service: hourly Connectivity between the significant and fast expanding conurbations on this is currently poor and the relevant strategic road network inadequate. Access to Cross-Country services through Oxford requires intending passengers to double back from Reading. The service would be relevant to and proposals
Hourly service is inadequate, running every two hours. A service connecting Gloucester, Cheltenham and (combined populations of around half a million), with at least hourly calls at Ashchurch, is required. There is potential to dovetail additional services with those of the West Midland franchise. 9 MetroWest Half-hourly (with quarter-hourly to Clifton Down and hourly from Avonmouth to Severn Beach) West of England combined authority foresees services whose basic pattern links Bristol hub with Bath (see also item 3 re extension to Westbury), Avonmouth, Yate (see also item 7 re extension to Gloucester), Portishead, Henbury, Patchway (see also item 5 re extension to Cardiff), and 10 Bristol-Exeter corridor Hourly fast and hourly semi-fast (see item 6); Currently there is inadequate
Hourly semi-fast, Taunton-Exeter (extension of Berks & Hants semi-fast service – see also item 11) Local: Hourly through to Exeter Central (in addition to MetroWest provision for service to of the inter-city service on this corridor, which should be rationalised into two trains per hour. Also, there are emerging plans for new stations at Cullompton and Wellington and mounting pressure for regular faster services from Bridgwater (population of over 40,000 with a catchment area of much of NE and NW Somerset, and the major manufacturing and commercial centre of the county and hub for the massive Hinckley Point nuclear project) than those presently provided by the stopping service via Current timetable plans for December 2018 currently envisage a reduction in the frequency of this service. London Semi-fast service: hourly The current incumbent’s proposal to introduce an hourly Castle
Heathrow Airport as a priority with special provision made for easy interchange for with luggage at Reading pending consideration of through service provision from further west. 23 Links to LGW Twice-hourly A fast service should be provided from Reading to Gatwick Airport, possibly as a continuation of local services into Reading from further up the Thames Valley. Special provision made for easy interchange for those with luggage at Reading. Present arrangements, and journey planners, encourage travel via London accentuating local overcrowding. 24 General 7-day service Changing work, leisure and retailing patterns 25 General Minimum of hourly service throughout franchise area supplemented in peaks. Continental experience of shift. Changing work patterns require pre 0730 London arrivals for all main commuter flows.