Strategic business plan, England and Wales (Network Rail) (pdf)

Strategic business plan, Scotland (Network Rail) (pdf)

2013-01-08 all related releases

_______________________________________________________________

date 1 Feb 2007 00:00
source Department for Transport
type Press release

The rail line between Barton-on-Humber and Ulceby North Junction and the service onto Cleethorpes have been designated as a community rail line, Rail Minister Tom Harris announced today.

The designated line and service allows for a more flexible approach to be adopted by the train operating company (Northern) working alongside the local community rail partnership. This enables them to manage the service with greater emphasis on meeting local needs. Together they will continue to look for ways to increase patronage and improve the service.

Transport Minister Tom Harris said:

"Designation of the Barton on Humber branch as a community rail line is good news for passengers. It will ensure that management look to meet local needs at an affordable price, encouraging involvement from local stakeholders."

Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern Rail said:

"Northern welcomes the designation of the Barton-upon-Humber Line as a community rail route. This line plays an important role in the area and helps ensure the vitality of Barton itself as a market town. Designation will assist in identifying innovative ways of developing this line to the benefit of local people and visitors to the area. The community rail partnership for the line is already doing a great job and this will enable it to go from strength to strength."

Dave Walford, Rail Development Officer, Community Rail Humber said:

"This is excellent news for this railway route and the communities in Northern Lincolnshire.Since we set up the Community Rail Partnership, just over a year ago; we have been working with the DfT-Rail and the train operators, (Northern Rail), to promote the services along this line. Formal designation may enable us to customise many aspects of the services to suit the needs of local people and businesses. It could have a major positive effect on the economy of the region, along with environmental benefits, while helping to run a more cost effective railway."

Notes for Editors:

1. The Community Rail Development Strategy looks at innovative ways of operating local branch lines, through a programme of cost management, a drive to increase passenger numbers and direct community involvement via local authorities, community rail partnerships, and other stakeholder groups.

2. To date, 12 lines with their services have been designated as Community Rail lines:
St Ives Bay Line - Cornwall
Looe Valley Line - Cornwall
Tamar Valley Line - Devon/Plymouth/Cornwall
Island Line - Isle of Wight
Abbey Line - Hertfordshire
Penistone Line - South and West Yorkshire
Esk Valley Line - Teesside and North Yorkshire
Tarka Line - Devon
Maritime Line - Cornwall
Derwent Valley Line - Derbyshire
East Lancashire Line - Lancashire
Gainsborough Line - Suffolk/Essex

3. Previously we have designated lines with the services running on them. The Strategy was extended last year to allow for the designation of services without designating the lines on which they run. This change was made to recognise that it is not always possible to designate the line because it also carries heavy freight, is part of the Trans European Network or because of specific local issues, but that the services on the line can neveretheless benefit from the community rail approach. To date three services have been designated: Atlantic Coast Line - Cornwall
Poacher Line - Lincolnshire
Marston Vale Line - Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire

4. The Minister also announced today the designation of additional community rail services running in East Anglia between Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Railhub Archive ::: 2007-02-01 DfT-002