HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL
TUESDAY 8th JANUARY 2011 AT 10.00 AM
Agenda Item No.
8
LONDON AND SOUTH EAST ROUTE UTILISATION STRATEGY
Report of the Director Environment and Commercial Services
Author: Trevor Mason
tel: 01992 556117
1.
Purpose of Report
1.1
To inform the Panel of the publication of Network Rail’s draft Route Utilisation
Strategy for the London and South East, and to recommend a response to the
consultation.
2.
Summary
2.1
The draft London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy was published by
Network Rail on 16 December 2010. The deadline for responses is 18 March
2011, and the final strategy is expected to be published in Summer 2011.
2.2
The geographical scope of the strategy means that it has implications for rail
routes in Hertfordshire.
2.3
Implementation of the RUS would help tackle capacity issues on existing
routes in Hertfordshire, and would also open up new travel opportunities by
linking into the Thameslink, Crossrail and High Speed 2 projects.
3.
Recommendation
3.1
The Panel is asked to endorse the draft consultation response set out in
Appendix 4.
4.
Background
4.1
The draft London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) was
published by Network Rail on 16 December 2010. It considers the existing and
forecast ‘gaps’ in capacity, and sets out a series of options for filling them.
4.2
For Hertfordshire, the RUS covers all of the rail routes in the county, although it
focuses on specific problems previously identified.
4.3
This is the latest in a series of RUSs that Network Rail is required to produce
under its Network Licence. It is one of the first of the ‘second generation’ RUSs,
and it builds on the outcomes of previous RUSs, including Greater Anglia
(published December 2007), East Coast Main Line (February 2008), East
Midlands (February 2010) and West Coast Main Line (draft December 2010).
4.4
Consultation on the London and South East RUS closes on 18 March 2011. It
is expected that the final document will be published in Summer 2011.
1
4.5
In general the recommendations from the RUS will influence transport and
other planning policy for Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (2019 – 2024) and
beyond, although some may be implemented in advance.
5.
Committed Schemes
5.1
The RUS assumes the completion of a number of schemes, including the
following which have, or could have, implications for Hertfordshire:




Crossrail – services to start in 2018.
Thameslink Programme Key Output 1 – 12-car trains on existing routes by
2012.
Thameslink Programme Key Output 2 – 24 trains per hour through central
London and connection to East Coast Main Line by 2018.
West Anglia Main Line platform lengthening to allow 12-car trains.
5.2
The Thameslink Programme has significant implications for Hertfordshire rail
services. The illustrative peak service from St Pancras low level from 2018
includes 8 trains per hour to the East Coast Main Line, including four 8-car
services to Welwyn Garden City, two 12-car trains to Peterborough, and two
12-car trains to Cambridge. All trains would use the new Thameslink rolling
stock. This will provide an additional 11,700 seats in the peak period from the
East Coast Main Line.
5.3
At Kings Cross there will be a decrease of 3,600 seats (37%) in the peak
period for suburban services as some trains are re-routed via St Pancras low
level.
5.4
It is also assumed that the new services from Welwyn Garden City via St
Pancras will transfer passengers away from the Moorgate branch. Therefore
additional trains will be routed onto the Hertford loop, giving 10 trains per hour
in the peak period (currently 6 per hour).
5.5
The overall implications of the Thameslink Programme changes are shown in
Appendix 1.
6.
Uncommitted Schemes
6.1
The London and South East RUS includes several uncommitted schemes from
previous RUSs within its ‘baseline-plus’, on which further enhancement options
have been assessed. The key uncommitted schemes relevant to Hertfordshire are:
Route to
Service group
Recommendation
Moorgate
Inner suburban
Liverpool
Street
Inner
Suburban
Liverpool
Street
Outer
Suburban
Improve headways
on branch and run
two tph extra
Run Cheshunt –
Seven Sisters
shuttle.
Lengthen all outer
peak trains to 12car
2
Source of
recommendation
ECML RUS
Greater Anglia RUS
Greater Anglia RUS
6.2
For the Hertford loop, the combined changes of the additional capacity on the
Moorgate branch and the re-casting of services following Thameslink would
increase the number of peak period services to 12 per hour, double the current
level.
7.
Options Considered
7.1
The options over and above the ‘baseline-plus’ that have been considered to
deal with future growth are set out below. Only those relevant to Hertfordshire
rail services have been included. Further details are included in Appendix 2.
(a) West Coast Main Line
7.2
Although forecast growth will lead to overcapacity issues on the existing
infrastructure, it has been assumed that High Speed 2 will be built and thus
relieve the problems. Therefore no further options have been considered at this
stage.
7.3
The current draft West Coast Main Line RUS (published December 2010)
considers the short-term issues in more detail.
(b) Midland Main Line
7.4
Issues are currently being addressed by the Thameslink Programme which is
due for completion in 2018.
(c) East Coast Main Line
7.5
The Thameslink Programme will help to alleviate suburban capacity
constraints. The RUS also considers an option of four-tracking throughout the
Welwyn North area, although it is rejected due to its cost.
(d) West Anglia
7.6
The RUS includes a series of options to increase capacity on the route from
Hertford East / Broxbourne to Liverpool Street / Stratford. The most significant
is the four-tracking of the Lea valley route, an option which is recommended for
further development. Shorter term options include the lengthening of peak
period Hertford East trains from 8-car to 12-car.
(e) Orbital Routes
7.7
The RUS proposes options to increase the frequency of the West London Line
services to Watford Junction and the lengthening of existing trains.
(f) Maximising the Benefits of Crossrail
7.8
The RUS raises the possibility of linking the West Coast Main Line with
Crossrail, allowing local services from places such as Watford Junction to link
directly with central London. This option is recommended for further
investigation, especially as it would provide relief for Euston during and after
the construction of High Speed 2.
3
8.
Hertfordshire’s Rail Strategy
8.1
The draft of Hertfordshire’s Rail Strategy outlines specific aspirations for all rail
routes in the county. Those that fall under the remit of the London and South
East RUS are shown in Appendix 3.
8.2
Most of Hertfordshire’s issues are at least addressed in the RUS. The most
obvious omission relates to improving InterCity connections in the county,
although the RUS is primarily concerned with commuter journeys.
9.
Response to Consultation
9.1
The draft response to the London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy is
set out in Appendix 4. The key points of this response are:

Consideration of London and South East as a network is welcomed;

Proposals for Thameslink, West Anglia Main Line and West London Line are
supported;

Disappointment that RUS does not address InterCity issues at Watford
Junction and Stevenage;

County Council would welcome further discussions on opportunities for local
services that could be provided by the Crossrail and High Speed 2 projects.
10.
Financial Implications
10.1
This paper has no financial implications for the County Council. Any costs or
benefits arising from the implementation of the RUS will be borne / accrued by
the rail industry.
Background material
London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy Draft for Consultation – Network
Rail (December 2010)
Rail Strategy – Draft for public consultation – HCC (September 2010)
4
Appendix 1 Indicative Service Patterns for Thameslink Programme
(a) Inner Suburban Services
Current Service Pattern
Stevenage
2 tph
WGC
Hertford N
4 tph
6 tph
Finsbury Park
6 tph
4 tph
St Pancras
(low-level)
Kings Cross
Moorgate
Proposed Service Pattern 2018
Stevenage
2 tph ?
WGC
Hertford N
6 tph
10 tph
Finsbury Park
4 tph
10 tph
2 tph
St Pancras
(low-level)
Kings Cross
Schematic only – stopping patterns should not be inferred from these diagrams.
5
Moorgate
(b) Outer Suburban Services
Current Service Pattern
Peterborough
Ely /
Kings Lynn
2 tph
4 tph
Cambridge
4 tph
Royston
6 tph
Stevenage
4 tph
St Pancras
(low-level)
6 tph
Kings Cross
Proposed Service Pattern 2018
Peterborough
Ely /
Kings Lynn
4 tph
2 tph
Cambridge
4 tph
Royston
6 tph
Stevenage
2 tph
4 tph
2 tph
St Pancras
(low-level)
2 tph
Kings Cross
Schematic only – stopping patterns should not be inferred from these diagrams.
6
Appendix 2 Options Considered
(only those directly relevant to Hertfordshire have been included).
Option B5
Option C1
Four-tracking throughout the
Welwyn North area to create
additional train paths.
Run additional trains on the
West Anglia route utilising
existing infrastructure.
Option C2
Four-tracking of the Lea
Valley route and run
additional trains.
Option C5
Infrastructure enhancements
in the Broxbourne area and
run additional trains.
Option C6
Lengthen Hertford East peak
services from eight-car to 12car.
Option C7
Extend West Anglia to
Stratford services through to
London Liverpool Street.
Increase West London Line –
Watford Junction (or beyond)
peak service to two tph.
Lengthen Southern WLL
services to eight-car.
Crossrail extension onto
WCML slow lines.
Option I1
Option I2
Option K1
7
Unlikely to be recommended,
due to insufficient evidence of
benefits.
Additional two tph Hertford
East / Broxbourne to Stratford
can run without extra
infrastructure (beyond current
commitments to Stratford) so
likely to be recommended,
subject to business case.
Scheme would enable an
additional four tph from the
Lea Valley to Stratford, in
addition to Option C1 (i.e. six
tph additional in total).
Recommended for further
development to confirm if a
business case exists.
Enables an additional two tph
from the Lea Valley to
Stratford, in addition to Option
C1 (i.e. four tph additional in
total). Recommended for
further development to confirm
if a business case exists.
Likely to be required to
resolve gap in the event that
at least one of Options C1 to
C5 is not implemented,
subject to business case.
Further analysis is required.
Further work recommended to
identify an operationally viable
solution.
Recommended.
Recommended for further
investigation, subject to
business case.
8
Appendix 3 Assessment Against Hertfordshire’s Rail Strategy
Route
HCC Aspiration
ECML
To maintain and enhance the InterCity service
at Stevenage
ECML
To ensure that services are fully integrated
into the Thameslink Project from 2016
In the longer term, additional capacity may be
required on the two-track section between
Welwyn Garden City and Knebworth.
ECML
ECML
Measures are required to address
overcrowding on London commuter services.
ECML
Improve the number of fast trains calling at
Hatfield station.
Met
To deliver the Croxley Rail Link
MML
The County Council would welcome the
introduction of InterCity stops at St Albans.
WAML
four-tracking between Tottenham Hale and
Broxbourne Junction
delivery of platform extensions for 12-car
trains
Enhanced service levels on Hertford East
branch to 4 trains per hour, with some of the
additional trains serving Stratford to access
employment in Canary Wharf.
WAML
WAML
WCML
WCML
enhancement of InterCity services at Watford
Junction
delivery of the Watford Junction Interchange
scheme.
9
Addressed in
RUS?
No. Subject to
separate
timetable and
franchise
consultations.
Includes assumed
service pattern.
Included as
Option B5. Not
recommended
due to high cost,
but
recommendation
to protect land
concerned so that
it is not
impractical later.
Yes.
No, but can be
considered within
Thameslink
programme
services from
2018.
Referred to within
RUS.
No. But this
aspiration is
included within
the East Midlands
Route Utilisation
Strategy.
Included as
Option C2.
Yes.
Included in
various Options
C1 – C7.
Awaits HS2
proposals.
No.
WCML
In the longer term, the High Speed 2
proposals (see Section 4.1) will relieve
capacity issues on the line. The County
Council wishes to see this released capacity
to be used for local services and for enhanced
conventional speed InterCity services calling
at Watford Junction.
HS2 issues
covered, but
further
development of
proposals
required.
WCML
Service levels via the West London Line
should be enhanced, including restoring
through services to Gatwick Airport.
Options I1 and I2
address service
levels, but
extension to
Gatwick not
included.
ECML
Met
MML
WAML
WCML
- East Coast Main Line
- Metropolitan Line
- Midland Main Line
- West Anglia Main Line
- West Coast Main Line
10
Appendix 4 Draft Response to London and South East RUS Consultation
Hertfordshire County Council welcomes the opportunity to respond to the draft
London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy. The rail network is important to the
county’s transport network and economy, but it currently suffers from capacity or
performance issues on all of the routes.
The County Council’s overall aspirations for improving rail services are set out in its
Rail Strategy, which is available at www.hertsdirect.org/ltp.
The County Council welcomes the consideration of London and the South East as a
whole. The Hertfordshire rail market is heavily dominated by commuting trips to
London, which means that radial routes have been improved at the expense of other
connection possibilities. This has been reflected in the Generation One Route
Utilisation Strategies (Greater Anglia, East Coast, East Midlands and West Coast)
which have largely looked at the main routes through Hertfordshire in isolation. The
new RUS provides the opportunity to take a wider view and look at the connections
between the lines and with destinations other than central London.
In the short to medium term the biggest opportunity arises from the Thameslink
Programme. The County Council remains fully supportive of this scheme, although it
is disappointed that completion date has been delayed by two years to 2018. The
overall split of services to the East Coast route from Kings Cross and St Pancras lowlevel, as outlined in sections 5.4.6 and 5.4.7 seems sensible, although further
opportunities to discuss service patterns would be welcomed.
The RUS assumes that the High Speed 2 scheme will be implemented, and that a link
could be constructed between Crossrail and the West Coast Main Line. Whilst the
completion of both these schemes is several years away, the County Council would
welcome early discussions with Network Rail (and others) about the resulting services
that could be provided on the current West Coast Main Line. Hertfordshire’s priorities
for capacity released by High Speed 2 would be for increased capacity on London
commuter routes and for an increase in the number and range of destinations of
services calling at Watford Junction using trains with existing InterCity speed
capabilities. Whilst the County Council has not yet fully considered the impacts of
linking to Crossrail (Option K1) it is envisaged that this could be beneficial by
increasing the range of destinations served directly provided that the right mix of
services is provided.
The County Council fully supports Options I1 and I2 to improve services between
Watford Junction and the West London Line. This route is seen as enhancing the
interchange opportunities at Watford Junction, providing a wider range of destinations
for Hertfordshire residents and reliving pressure on routes in central London. The
County Council is, however, disappointed that the RUS does not make provision for
restoring services to Gatwick Airport.
All of the Options C1 – C7 to provide additional capacity on the West Anglia Main Line
are supported in principle. However, whilst any improvement is welcomed, the County
Council ideally wishes to see the four tracking of the entire Lea Valley route (Option
C2) to be implemented as soon as possible. This would provide the capacity and
flexibility to meet all of the currently conflicting needs on this route and provide for
future growth.
11
The County Council is disappointed that the RUS does not make specific reference to
restoring a pre December 2008 level of InterCity services at Watford Junction or the
pre May 2011 level at Stevenage.
12