Blackpool Council: response to Network Rail s Stations RUS draft for consultation June 2011 1. Introduction 1.1. Blackpool s economy depends upon easy tourism access. Between 8 and 10% of the resort s visitors arrive by train and it is believed that peak time overcrowding depresses this figure. The Council has reiterated its desire for consistent rail investment. This RUS is extremely welcome in analysing the need for station investment and prioritising projects, particularly in the north west Blackpool s biggest single tourism market. 1.2. Rail services using the West Coast mainline corridor are of key economic importance to Blackpool s delicate, resort-based economy. These services with their Preston interchange are the resort s rail link to key markets and the Council is keen to see the highest possible quality timetable and trains. Thus conditions at Preston station are an important consideration for Blackpool Council, together with conditions at Blackpool s own stations: Blackpool North, Layton, Blackpool South and Pleasure Beach. 1.3. Rail priorities from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) are described briefly, some but not all of which the impending electrification will achieve. It is hoped this investment will unlock Blackpool s rail growth potential. A proposal for more partnership-based rail tourism promotion has been included within the Council s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) bid. 1.4. Re-investment in Blackpool s principal, Blackpool North, station is tied to the Central Business District development, which is taking place in that area and of which Network Rail are aware. This development offers partnership working opportunities to improve the station for passengers and provide more retail and better public realm. The station is currently scheduled for proposed improvement in the Central Business District s later phases. 1.5. The Council supports rail and is keen for investment in services visiting the resort. Within the resources available, Blackpool is committed to working long-term with the railway industry, particularly in promoting rail as high quality transport to the resort. 2. Blackpool s rail objectives 2.1. The Council s new Local Transport Plan 2011 2016 (LTP) strategy and implementation plan incorporates long-standing rail objectives, to ensure that: Services to main conurbations are competitive in price and travel time with the car Facilities at Blackpool and major interchange stations are not a barrier to rail travel 1
Infrastructure is enhanced where feasible, to optimise use of the network Services and information are better integrated with all public transport Appropriate type and quality trains are provided for leisure and family travel; and Marketing and promotional opportunities are used to help capture the market share. 2.2. The Council has a long-term commitment to work with the industry, major tourism businesses and neighbouring transport authorities to take full advantage of the resort s rail services, offering a competitive transport alternative to inter-urban car trips and achieving the following: Replacing lost inter-city services to London and Birmingham; Improved train stock quality; Assessment of travel time reductions to and from Manchester Piccadilly, the case for additional services to Manchester Victoria via Wigan and a second train to Leeds; Maximising benefit to rail services of redevelopment around North Station improving rail facilities and routes to core attractions; Enhanced semi-fast trains via East Lancashire and Leeds, to link the City Regions; Improving interchange between platforms and passenger facilities at Preston station, during Control Period 5; Realising the potential of the single track South Fylde line to Blackpool South and Pleasure Beach, Airport, Lytham and St. Anne s, including possible conversion to tramway. 2.3. Electrification between Blackpool and Manchester will deliver much of Blackpool s agenda and this project is welcomed unreservedly. A major promotional push focused on electric trains arrival will be launched. Approaches from open access operators and references within this West Coast Mainline re-franchising document, indicate that new direct London services are possible. The Council would support open access operators proposals, provided that network performance is not compromised overall. 2.4. The Council will continue to liaise with both TOCs and Network Rail regularly, contributing to RUS and other consultation exercises and working with the South Fylde Line Community Rail Partnership, providing financial support for the Rail Partnership Officer. The Council s bid to the LSTF commits it to increased direct rail service promotion, including a Blackpool travel smartphone app carrying rail timetable information, complementing information carried on the visitblackpool website. 2.5. There is some concern that South Fylde Line service levels are increasingly inadequate for the amount of housing investment being delivered along this corridor. The SINTROPHER project is appraising tram-train conversion options, but this project has no clear implementation funding path. It is hoped that the Line will receive investment within Control Period 6. 2
2.6. The new LTP supports the following potential schemes; however, there will be no funding for these during the four year programme period: Tramway extension to Blackpool North railway station: a natural extension to the current tramway scheme and a SINTROPHER project option, allowing direct heavy and light rail interchange. The Central Business District regeneration project includes a tram-link path proposal. Estimated cost is 15m An Eden Business Services rail demand study carried out in 2010, revealed considerable rail growth potential from investment. The Council s other top-level rail priority direct services to London and Birmingham demonstrated potential Additional services to Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle and Sheffield, would also open up new economic opportunities Government and Network Rail s continued commitment to national rail investment in an austere period is welcome. As Network Rail s control period 4 expires in 2014, it is hoped that the Northern Hub proposals will be taken forward over control period 5 (2014 2019), improving Blackpool Manchester rail access A high speed rail line can bring Blackpool to European markets and it is important that good connectivity to it from the resort is provided. 2.7. The resort offers a ready market to exploit, particularly if the regeneration desired is realised. Eden Business Services have demonstrated that growth and modal shift from car is available. 3. Response 3.1. This is an excellent review of the methodology used to assess station usage, condition and the facilities that might be expected at different locations. Developing this approach into a working assessment and prioritisation model will provide confidence that scarce resources are being deployed to the best effect. It is hoped that this model will balance the undoubted need to invest in London and the South East with the need to reduce localised over-crowding and grow the rail market overall in the north. 3.2. Although there seems to be some confusion as to what is happening at Preston station, the key concern for Blackpool, it is good to see that this station is receiving priority attention with the prospect of action and that it has been selected for a case study. Blackpool Council officers previously worked with Network Rail officers and were shown concept drawings for a comprehensive station renewal programme that would create a station of cutting edge design quality. It is hoped that this work remains available and can inform the station regeneration process. 3.3. Blackpool Council would make the following comments on the RUS s detail: 3
3.6.24 The discussion of count methodology is long, somewhat confusing and does not reach a full conclusion as to what is the best method. Network Rail s policy of installing footfall counters is supported as the way to establish a reliable data baseline and it is hoped that this can be rolled out to the major TOC managed stations. 3.8.5 It is hoped that Preston can achieve an enhanced improvement package under NISP, given that it is showing as 14 th rail-to-rail interchange outside London. As stated, this is Blackpool s principal interchange to the west coast main line and the rest of the national network. 3.10.10 This discussion does not mention retail s role in attracting people to the station. Concept plans for Blackpool North include a vastly improved retail offer. 4.3.1 Blackpool s obsolete and sometimes uncomfortable trains are filled to capacity at peak tourism times and it is likely that this suppresses demand. Thus new, longer and more comfortable electric trains are likely to offer medium term modal shift and increased demand at Blackpool North. This may need to be addressed before the Central Business District phase 2 is implemented, including implementation of a station travel and access plan. 4.3.4 Blackpool attracts passengers carrying higher than average luggage quantities and numbers of bicycles (the resort is a cycling town) and this would exacerbate the over-crowding issues discussed in this paragraph 5.2.8 The Central Business District project has already carried out master planning on Blackpool North. 5.2.11 The Council would like to establish a station travel plan for Blackpool North both pre and post the Central Business District development. Cycle hire bikes will be available from the station shortly. Table 5.4, Page 69 The Council is delighted to see that the de-congestion of Preston Station platforms 1 and 2 is planned for 2012/13 and looks forward to a comprehensive scheme at this station. Table 5.4, Page 73 De-cluttering at Manchester Piccadilly has not occurred during 2010/11 and it is hoped that this will now be accommodated within the Northern Hub roll out, together with the removal of the Salford Crescent bottleneck identified at Page 83. Table 5.5 Treating Preston station as a case study is welcome and it is hoped that this translates into action to regenerate this station. 5.4.10 It is not clear if these percentages indicate the priority attached to the categories; although taxi, other and bicycle achieve low percentages they should be provided for whatever as part of a balanced accessibility package, particularly if modal shift to them is desired. Table 5.6, AZ4 Timetable integration between public transport modes is often talked about but rarely achieved, whereas it is commonplace on the continent. Network Rail s commitment to supporting the provision of resources to provide interchange infrastructure and under-write services, would be welcome. 6.1.3 Blackpool North is not currently listed for consideration as a congested station. There is intermittent congestion due to the tourism cycle and this may increase when superior electric trains are in service. 4
Blackpool North should be put on a provisional list, notwithstanding that the Central Business District project may make resources available in its future phases. 6.2.10 Option 2 (g) The Preston station case study might be integrated with the pedestrian model work on Network Rail Managed Stations. This station has multiple-pedestrian entrances. 6.8.2 The Council is ready to participate in developing partnership schemes for the stations within its area. In respect of Blackpool North, the Central Business District project would be the principal vehicle for this. However, the other three Blackpool stations Layton, Blackpool South and Pleasure Beach are also important and the Council would welcome opportunities to discuss these, particularly as electrification approaches. However, the Council s already small Local Transport Plan allocations have been cut severely, thus it is unlikely that resources for all but the smallest schemes can be provided. Appendix A - Preston: Ramped subways are mentioned. It is worth noting that Platform 1 and 2 are accessed using steep steps at the end of the subway. There is no warning of this and the writer has witnessed people with mobility issues run up against this obstacle. Appendix A E summary: This refers to options developed being subject to a full business case. As stated, the writer has been shown concept drawings for Preston Station that should still be available. PZ10, Page 71 Timetable bunching leads to periodic over-crowding on platforms 1 and 2. This has been raised with TOCs on several occasions but to no avail. A better service spread would also reduce long interchange times that Blackpool visitors cite regularly. 4. Conclusion 4.1. Blackpool Council welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Network RUS: stations consultation document. The Council looks forward to station improvements that will make rail travel to the resort more attractive, particularly if these can be integrated with electrification. Rail services are vital to Blackpool, which offers passenger growth if services using quality rolling stock are delivered. 4.2. Refurbishing Preston Station and increasing the number of services able to access it will have a direct and significant economic benefit for Blackpool. Manchester Piccadilly is also a gateway to the resort and the Northern Hub proposals, together with capacity increases at Salford Crescent, will assist the resort economy. Electrification is likely to lead to further tourism peak overcrowding at Blackpool North station, which the Central Business District project will only partly remedy, if at all. 4.3. The Council is pleased to see that the potential of station accessibility and travel plans to achieve or facilitate modal shift to sustainable modes is recognised. It looks forward to high quality storage and interchange facilities being provided at a wider station cross-section. 5
4.4. Blackpool welcomes rail-borne visitors and will work to support the railway industry in promoting services, within the scarce resources available. At the time of writing, the LSTF announcement is awaited; Blackpool s bid includes a proposal for direct rail service marketing. Consistent investment providing certainty and enabling programme efficiencies are required, which can unlock the Blackpool North and South lines passenger growth potential. 4.5. The Council s officers are available to discuss any aspect of rail investment in Blackpool at any time. 5. Contact David Simper Transport Policy Officer Transportation Division Blackpool Council 6