Agenda item

RESOLVED – that National Express East Anglia be advised that, (A) in relation to ‘the proposal to deliver increased capacity timetable consultation for West Anglia services for May 2011 and December 2011 timetables’, East Herts Council, in respect of:

(1)       Proposal 1: generally supports the plan to introduce a faster, hourly off peak service between Cambridge and London, using the new class 379 trains, which calls only at Whittlesford, Audley End, Bishop’s Stortford and Tottenham Hale;

(2)       Proposal 2: while supporting the increase in local services for stations in East Hertfordshire that a twice an hour service from Stratford would bring, would prefer that at least one of the two timetabled  trains should continue to Stansted Airport, in order to ensure that the only direct link to Stansted from other Hertfordshire stations is maintained;

(3)       Proposal 3: raises concerns that the planned reduction in Stansted Express journey times by looping the Hertford East service at Broxbourne to allow a Stansted Express service to pass it, thereby adding around 3 to 4 minutes to the journey time of the Hertford East service, will be a disbenefit to users of the service in the southern-central part of East Herts, particularly those in and around Hertfrod, Ware and Stansted Abbotts/St Margarets; making an already relatively long journey even less attractive to users, thus potentially reducing patronage and encouraging journeys to be made by less sustainable modes;

(4)       Proposal 4: expresses no preference on the option of whether to run, in the morning peak, 3 x 12 car services with new trains from Cambridge to London or, alternatively use the same new trains to run 2 x 12 car services from Cambridge and 1 x 12 car service from Stansted Airport;

(5)       Proposal 5: supports, in principle, the introduction of a new service either from Cambridge or Ely to Stansted Airport on the opposite half hour to the Cross Country service, as provision from either location may help engender modal shift; and

(B)      other service issues of concern, as now detailed, be referred to National Express East Anglia, as part of the Council’s response.

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Transport submitted a report setting out the Council’s proposed response to National Express East Anglia’s proposal to deliver increased capacity and amend timetables for West Anglia services for May – December 2011.  The Executive noted that the proposed response had been published under the non-key decision process, but in view of the extensive interest shown by Members, had been withdrawn, so that it could be considered at a formal meeting.

Some Members opposed the suggested responses to Proposals 1 and 3 on the basis that this would disadvantage residents in Bishop’s Stortford.  Various concerns were raised in respect of general service issues, such as the time of the last train from Cambridge towards London, the stopping points of trains from London towards Cambridge and the poor standard of service on the Hertford East line in respect of timings and poor quality rolling stock. 

The Executive Member suggested amendments to his recommendations which the Executive agreed.  He also undertook to convey the concerns raised in respect of the other service issues raised and now detailed.

The Executive agreed the proposals now detailed.

RESOLVED – that National Express East Anglia be advised that, (A) in relation to ‘the proposal to deliver increased capacity timetable consultation for West Anglia services for May 2011 and December 2011 timetables’, East Herts Council, in respect of:

(1)       Proposal 1: generally supports the plan to introduce a faster, hourly off peak service between Cambridge and London, using the new class 379 trains, which calls only at Whittlesford, Audley End, Bishop’s Stortford and Tottenham Hale;

(2)       Proposal 2: while supporting the increase in local services for stations in East Hertfordshire that a twice an hour service from Stratford would bring, would prefer that at least one of the two timetabled  trains should continue to Stansted Airport, in order to ensure that the only direct link to Stansted from other Hertfordshire stations is maintained;

(3)       Proposal 3: raises concerns that the planned reduction in Stansted Express journey times by looping the Hertford East service at Broxbourne to allow a Stansted Express service to pass it, thereby adding around 3 to 4 minutes to the journey time of the Hertford East service, will be a disbenefit to users of the service in the southern-central part of East Herts, particularly those in and around Hertfrod, Ware and Stansted Abbotts/St Margarets; making an already relatively long journey even less attractive to users, thus potentially reducing patronage and encouraging journeys to be made by less sustainable modes;

(4)       Proposal 4: expresses no preference on the option of whether to run, in the morning peak, 3 x 12 car services with new trains from Cambridge to London or, alternatively use the same new trains to run 2 x 12 car services from Cambridge and 1 x 12 car service from Stansted Airport;

(5)       Proposal 5: supports, in principle, the introduction of a new service either from Cambridge or Ely to Stansted Airport on the opposite half hour to the Cross Country service, as provision from either location may help engender modal shift; and

(B)      other service issues of concern, as now detailed, be referred to National Express East Anglia, as part of the Council’s response.