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SubscribeCongratulations RDS member Philip Smart has been elected Mayor of Ipswich for 1996-7. He has been an RDS member and a borough councillor for many years and has been particularly active in campaigning for better rail links between East Anglia, the Midlands and the North West. He also played a key role in organising events to mark the 150th anniversary of the coming of the railway to Ipswich this summer.
150 years of trains to Lowestoft The Lowestoft-Reedham-Norwich Rail 150 Committee will mark the 150th anniversary of the first railway to Lowestoft, in May 1996. RDS will publish a commemorative book as its main contribution to the celebrations. There will be an indoor Rail Day, lectures and a filmshow, a specially commissioned painting and an exhibition. Members with photos, memorabilia or reminiscences which could be featured in the exhibition or the book are asked to contact Committee Secretary, Rod Lock, The Beehive, Hall Road, Oulton Broad, NR32 3AW.
Added value In contrast to the redundancies elsewhere on the railways, West Anglia Great Northern Railway is taking on more staff. The branch has welcomed the move which will result in extended ticket office hours at some stations, and "conductors" on all the company's new Class 365 units when they enter service.
Franchise demands The branch has produced a simple leaflet setting out the robust standard which members consider must be met by any private company bidding for the Anglia franchise. These include recognition that the present level of service must be the bare minimum, full through-ticketing facilities and proper publicity for other rail and bus operators' services.
Daft or what? The draft Anglia PSR has reduced the number of Sunday trains at Manningtree by 45% - to just five trains a day. There is also no requirement to operate the London to Harwich boat trains. The branch has complained to both the Rail Users Consultative Committee and the Franchise Director that this does not meet the "based on existing service" criteria laid down following the High Court case last December. In addition to making detailed comments on the PSR, the branch has produced a wish list outlining improvements to the existing service. 1000 copies of a leaflet detailing our requirements have been produced and distributed to rail users.
Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.
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