Railwatch 069 - October 1996

North Midlands

By Bill Collins

Midland Main Line MEP Phillip Whitehead who is also a broadcaster, told the branch AGM in March that the line had been included in the European Commission's Trans European Transport Networks. The branch sent out 563 letters and 50 press releases stressing the need for the UK Government to match the EC funding which would become available. The response has been very good, with the branch chairman Graham Nalty speaking on Radio Sheffield and Radio Nottingham. Our campaign coincided with a meeting between the East Midlands Railway Consortium and the train operator. The Nottingham Evening Post devoted its front page to the issue on June 13. Four days later, however, the European Commission decided that the line would not be included as a top-priority route within the TENS because it does not qualify as a high-speed route. The branch must now reassess the position, but is encouraged by the Nottingham Evening Post's conversion to the view, expressed in its editorial, that some of the £140 million at one time scheduled for the widening of the M1 should be spent on the line.

Derbyshire Structure Plan We are hopeful that the branch'scomments on the consultation draft will be taken into account in the final document.

Nottinghamshire Public Transport Plan All credit to the county for producing this plan because there is no longer a statutory duty to do so. The branch's detailed response appears in the latest county council minutes, alongside claims by Trent/Barton Buses that funding for Nottingham light rail scheme is disproportionate, that light rail will not lead to reduced congestion and that road infrastructure in the Ilkeston, Bingham and Sandiacre corridors should be improved before the Greater Nottingham Area Rail Development Strategy is implemented.

Robin Hood Line We have learned that work on Kirkby station has finally begun. As a town centre station (unlike Sutton Parkway), it is expected to generate considerable non-car based traffic. Stage 3 (Mansfield, Woodhouse to Worksop ) is top priority in the West Nottinghamshire transport policies and programme which county council officers set out to RDS members -and other groups - at a meeting in Burton Joyce. Naturally we wrote to endorse the council view.

Flood warning Railtrack has confirmed in writing that there is a history of flooding on the Midland main line in the Long Eaton and Borrowash areas and that remedial work is to be carried out.

Future Meetings We look forward to receiving ideas on venues for meetings, following the success of the first-ever workshop meeting on July 20, where minds were concentrated by the need to catch the 12.15 Saturdays only to Cleethorpes via Gainsborough Central, an outing enjoyed by members despite the obvious lack of investment in the line.

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