This will mean people in mid Cheshire will have a bigger say on their train service and access to extra funding to improve the line will become available.

The Awards were presented on Tuesday at The Weaver Hall Museum on London Road, Northwich. 

Over 90 guests attended the evening including the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, the High Sheriff and six local Mayors. 

Announcing the Awards, John Hulme, Organiser of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, said: 

Northwich Station won the “Cheshire West and Chester Award for best efforts in the Borough. Over the past few years the station has seen a vast improvement for its passengers and a considerable reduction in anti-social behaviour. 

Greenbank Station won the “ACoRP Award” for strong partnership working where thanks to the local Rail Officer, Station Adopter and Cheshire West’s Local Area Manager there has been considerable change at the Station. 

At Greenbank they are now looking to develop a Friends Group to keep on top of the work.

“Lostock Gralam has won the “Most Improved Station in Cheshire Award” for turning a near derelict station into one that now has waiting shelters, seating, a new car park and even artwork and planters on the Station.

The judges said that the Station had a long way to go but had made a very positive start. 

David Roberts, retired Managing Director of Roberts Bakery in Rudheath and the Special Guest presenting the Awards, said:

“Roberts Bakery has been pleased to support Cheshire Best Kept Stations since its inception.  Having a better rail service with better stations is good news for those that live and work in Northwich.  Whilst there is still a lot of work to be accomplished, there is marked improvement at stations. 

I especially want to thank the Friends Groups and volunteers – those unsung heroes in the Community.” 

Sally Buttifant, the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership Officer said:

“I am absolutely thrilled that the Mid Cheshire Line has been designated a Community Rail Service.  This means we have access to new government funds and the people of Mid Cheshire will have more say in how their railway line is run.

The three awards we have won, tells us that we are already getting things right. I must thank all my partners especially the volunteers groups who have made winning these awards possible.”

Northwich Town Mayor, Cllr Alison Gerrard said:

“This week has been good news all round for our local stations and the Mid Cheshire line. Sally and her team should be congratulated on these wins and what has been achieved for the line. The Town Council are keen to support her with the many things that are still to be done.”

John Oates, Chair of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership said:

“The Awards for Lostock, Northwich and Greenbank are down to the work of the volunteers and good co-ordination by our Rail Officer. I both congratulate them and thank them for all their hard work.

Community Rail Service Designation for the Mid Cheshire Line will help us to achieve even more for passengers on our line. We look forward to having greater flexibility and the opportunity to work more closely with the rail industry, users, local councils and others to maximise the benefit of rail services and station improvements in Mid Cheshire.”

Ian Bevan, Managing Director of Northern Rail, which runs services on the route, said:

“Northern welcomes the designation of the Mid Cheshire line as a Community Rail Service. This line plays an important role in the area and designation will assist in identifying innovative ways of developing this line to the benefit of local people and visitors to the region.

The Community Rail Partnership for the line is already doing a great job and this will enable it to go from strength to strength.”

http://www.mcrua.org.uk/chairmansblog/2011/11/04/northern-hub-in-doubt-due-to-overspends-in-s-e-england/ 

…. and look at the 3rd paragraph of page 3 in Teresa’s speech.

Peter Walker from the County Durham group, Coastliners, has written to Railfuture to say that he had come across this argument before, so he’s conducted his own research.  He says “As you see, it hardly bears out what she said or indeed what anyone else has tried to claim about North/South fare variations.  As in all these matters, it depends where people look.”

Here are just a few of Peter’s fare comparisons based on the cost of a standard off-peak single ticket (arranged in ascending order of distance): -

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Billingham – Hartlepool 7.25 miles £2.80

London Bridge – Streatham Common 8 miles £2.00

Manchester Piccadilly – Cheadle Hulme 8.25 miles £3.20

Leeds – Bradford 9 miles £3.10

London Kings Cross – New Barnet 9.25 miles £2.60

Manchester Victoria – Mossley (Lancs) 10.25 miles £3.20

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There’s interesting!

So next time we hear someone in prominence coming up with this, perhaps we should ask them for evidence to justify all their new 350s, 377s and 379s whilst we carry on with (even more) 142s.

We once had TVMs, Almex machines like the Permit to Travel machines seen elsewhere which only sold tickets to destinations along the line and were also very unreliable.  The remains of the posts these machines perched on can be seen at some stations, such as at Navigation Road on the left on entering the platform.

The new machines are from a British manufacturer called Parkeon rather than from Scheidt & Bachmann (S&B). S&B provide many of the others on National Rail as well as the new ones used by Metrolink.

These machines don’t come cheap!  We hear they cost around £25,000 each. The franchise rules were changed recently meaning that a TOC investing in equipment can now get fair value for it at the end of a franchise – they just had to give it away previously!! So, before the rules change franchises would not invest in equipment like this unless it was in the franchise commitment, or there was a lot of the franchise left and/or the asset would generate enough extra revenue for the TOC to pay for their investment.

We’ve been having a discussion hoping the machines will sell tickets from our stations onto Metrolink, as those in ticket offices do. We already know that due to a software problem that the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has to resolve (not a priority we understand), we can’t buy through tickets onto the Metrolink Eccles Line from the AVantix portable machines that the conductors use.

Last Saturday, I thought I’d go and see how the newly-installed Northern Parkeon machine at Stockport worked whilst on my way to meet some friends at the very special Station Buffet on Stalybridge Station platform. (Pie and black peas recommended, together with plenty to wash it down with!)

I tried buying a ticket to Anchorage on the Metrolink Eccles Line.

It was a pretty dull day hence the poor picture, and here’s what it said ….

“Destination not available. Please try another one.”

Sounds like a line from “Oh, Mr Porter!!”

So, what do I do if I do want to go to Anchorage? I suppose I go to the ticket office and buy the ticket from there, assuming it’s open.

Anyway, this trial having “failed”, I turned to have a go with a Virgin TVM. This didn’t even have Anchorage Metrolink as a destination!

Now, aren’t we trying to encourage through travel?

If you get a chance, come along and join one of the trains, tell us your views in Knutsford, or join them and us for a “cup of tea” Booths Supermarket’s smart café.

These parts were installed a few months ago, but commissioning had to await the arrival of the signalling engineers.

Andrew’s noted the loop is now back in use, meaning the Saturdays only Northenden to Dowlow empties will now not have to go to Northwich to run round.

Anyway, whilst browsing the web one day and revisiting the essential rail travel website www.seat61.com I stumble across the Ireland page and read the headline “Discover a well-kept secret…” quickly followed by “Manchester or Liverpool to Dublin = £30”. Combine that with one of my favourite bands playing in Dublin and we had all the excuses we needed to book a trip.

Booking the tickets is easy; it’s exactly the same as booking on-line in the UK; just go to The Train Line www.thetrainline.com* and enter Dublin Port as your destination. We decided to book the Swift Seacat ferry which is an additional £5 each way, i.e. £70 return.

Our train left Navigation Road on time at 07:44, one of the old Northern Rail class 150s, although we did pass two of the ‘new’ ex-London Midland units heading in the opposite direction. Between Navigation Road and Knutsford the train was ‘full’, with standing room only, mainly school kids; our tickets were not checked until Cuddington. I wonder how many of those travelling on the train had tickets; the problem seems to be that the guard can only activate the doors from his guard’s room. It is not easy to check tickets, take money, issue tickets and operate the doors when stations are coming thick and fast as they do between Navigation Road and Knutsford.

We arrived in Chester at about a quarter to nine giving us plenty of time for a comfortable walk over the footbridge and a coffee in the new glass kiosk before we caught the 09:22 to Holyhead. Whilst drinking the coffee two freight trains go through the station in quick succession the first was a Rail Head Treatment Train, topped and tailed by two yellow class 97s, followed by a class 66 on an empty Guide Bridge to Penmaenmawr stone train supplying the new Metrolink extension.

The Holyhead train is an Arriva Trains Wales class 175 from Birmingham via Shrewsbury, requiring a reversal at Chester. This initially confused us as we were expecting the train to arrive from the opposite direction! The train left Chester a few minutes late, I think the announcement said “…waiting for a guard.”, but I could have been mistaken. If possible try to get seats on the coastal side of the train as the North Wales line is scenic all the way once you’ve passed through the industrial areas of Chester. Again arrival was on time and we seemed to make up the time from the slightly late departure from Chester.

At Holyhead, the Ferry Terminal check-in is at the end of the platforms, foot passengers’ baggage is the same as at an airport, large items are taken from you and loaded separately, you can take hand luggage onto the boat. Check in took less than 5-minutes, you then jump on a courtesy bus that runs you to the ferry. The ferry left before the advertised time of 12:00 arriving at Dublin Port at about 13:45. Baggage collection was simple and quick. At Dublin Port there is a bus to the town centre waiting for you, it cost €3.00 each.

Dublin is, well mad, there is no other word for it, it is also not cheap, but we had a great time. We visited The Guinness Brewery, Trinity College where the Book of Kells is kept and The Castle; did an open top bus tour; ate and drank in many pubs and restaurants, visited a few shops too and saw the band play at a lovely city centre venue. It is definitely not the place for a quiet weekend but a place to enjoy the craic. It was good to see that the new LUAS trams are well patronised despite the two lines not yet joining up! Why can’t Manchester have 3 carriage trams?

Returning on Saturday afternoon, we were booked on the 14:30 Seacat due to arrive back at Navigation Road at 21:02. We did consider coming back on Sunday, but the abysmal Sunday service on the Mid Cheshire Line meant a journey into Manchester and tram to Navigation Road unless we caught an earlier boat.

There probably was a bus out to the ferry port, but we didn’t research it; consequently we took a taxi from our hotel at about 13:00, it took 20-minutes and cost €15. Check-in at Dublin Port was again quick and simple as we said goodbye to our case until Holyhead and waited in the departure lounge with a coffee for our boat to arrive.

Again a slightly early departure from Dublin Port and an early arrival in Holyhead, a quick bus transfer and the bags were there at the terminal building before us! I’ve never had that happen at an airport. Our itinerary had us catching the 17:30 train from Holyhead; but we were pleased to see that the 16:37 Arriva Trains Wales to Cardiff was still in the platform and we caught it with 5-minutes or more to spare. This of course meant that we caught an earlier train back from Chester to Navigation Road (we only missed an even earlier train by 10-minutes) and we were back in our house by 20:15.

Now, a word of warning, going out was a fairly rough crossing (well it was November!) and if you are a bad sailor, the Swift Seacat may not be for you, but you could catch a later train, the 09:44 from Navigation Road, and then travel by ordinary ferry, the 14:10 from Holyhead arriving at Dublin Port at 17:25. Interestingly when we got home there was an e-mail from The Train Line Customer Services, “Today Irish Ferries have informed us that the ferry you booked for travel tomorrow is in doubt because of severe weather warnings. I appreciate this must be very inconvenient for you, and I apologise on behalf of Irish Ferries. If you still wish to travel, you would be accommodated on the other vessel – The Ulysses – at 20:55.” Yet strangely the homeward journey was calm.

Yes, we could have flown and probably done it for a similar price and quicker, but I find airports a far from pleasant experience and will avoid them is there is a viable alternative.

Mike

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(* Instead of the trainline, we recommend using a Train Operating Company’s (TOC’s) site to book tickets such as Northern Rail or TransPennine Express as they don’t charge for Ticket Delivery by post, using Ticket Vending Machines for Ticket Collection, a Booking Charge or a Credit Card Surcharge.  We hear new site “redspottedhanky” provides a similar service.  If you’re near a station with a booking office like Altrincham, Hale, Knutsford or Northwich you can buy these there, or even buy them from the conductor on the train where they’re not advance purchase, as these aren’t. – Ed)

Our committee member, Michael Ross has objected to the planning application.  With his permission, we have reproduced his objection below ….

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Objection to planning application 11/03999/FUL

Proposed 9 storey car park on the existing surface level car park with access off Station Road, on land to the west of Chester Station, Brook Street Chester Cheshire

My point of view

I chaired the Chester Station and Crewe Station project groups from their inception until 2007.  I am a town planner and a transport planner.  I am a regular user of the station.

Chester Station

Chester Station is one of 30 grade 2* listed stations in the country.  It has been sensitively renovated and modernised over the past ten years to win two national awards – a Network Rail environmental award in 2008 and ‘highly commended’ in the medium stations category of this year’s National Rail Awards.  It ranks with the Castle, the Cathedral and the Town Hall as one of Chester’s major buildings.  It is the rail gateway to the city – around 3.5 million rail journeys a year start or finish or interchange at Chester.

Renovation and modernisation

The Chester Station Gateway project is the regeneration and renovation of Chester station and its surroundings as a major gateway and economic hub to the city.  The partnership includes the railway companies, local authorities, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust.  With funding from a range of sources the main buildings have been refurbished and imaginative modern structures have been carefully inserted within the station.  The forecourt has been reshaped as the Station Square and conservation improvements have been made in Brook Street and on City Road.

Parking

Station parking is limited and, through the use of a single all-day charge, is managed primarily to attract long distance travellers.  It easily fills up during weekdays.  More spaces are needed and the existing spaces need to be managed better to encourage short term (rather than all-day) parking during the day and at evenings and weekends.

National policy

Following the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, the Department for Transport charged Network Rail with providing increased parking at stations, including Chester, which had benefitted from the modernisation.  Network Rail’s proposal is a response to this national need, rather than to local circumstances and the pressure to ‘do something’ has led it to favour a new-build solution on the most convenient area of railway-owned land irrespective of its local impact.

The proposal

The proposed car park will be twice the height of the existing station.  Although carefully designed, it is so big that it will dominate the area visually.  Its bulk and height will be totally out of keeping with the Station buildings and their setting in the Station Square.

There is a better alternative

There is a better (and probably cheaper) alternative approach to this blockbuster.  It would have three parts;

1 – a high quality car park on the whole of the west side of the station (including the area to the south of the steps), no higher than the facade of the Mold Wing

2 – more intensive management of the car parks to cater for shorter stay, evening and weekend use

3 – an agreement with Lloyd’s Bank to use part of their car park for long stay parking, coupled with a pedestrian link from their site to the Station.  This could include one or two extra levels on the part of the Lloyd’s Bank car park closest to the station.  The Bank’s car park is currently underused.  If priced below the all-day rate for the west and east car parks regular users looking for all day parking would quickly learn to access the site through the Lloyd’s Bank car park.

Why not?

The organisational structures and financing of the railway industry are complex.  The existing car parks are managed by National Car Parks under contract to Arriva Trains Wales.  Network Rail’s search for additional capacity is driven from the national level and being measured against its national targets which incentivise it to look for a new-build solution rather than one which is financially and organisationally complex – although saving capital expenditure.

CONCLUSION

I object to the application on the grounds set out above – it is out-of-scale with a major historic building and its surroundings and there is a much better alternative approach which would deliver more parking facilities for the Station and tidy up the land alongside Hoole Road bridge.

Michael Ross

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Here’s a picture of the completed work following removal of the last bits of rubble, the fencing being completed and wood chip being applied (to dissuade the weeds). This is courtesy of Chris Ingham, our Northern Stations Manager, who got “stuck in” to get the task completed.

(c) Northern Rail

A great improvement on what was our tattiest station on along the line.

Thanks to all involved.

Many thanks to Sally for coming up with the idea, and to those credited for the production.

Note that there are again add ons for selected routes off the ATW area. The Northern add-on has increased by 50p to £1.50 being valid from Knutsford and stations along our line towards Manchester. The London Midland add-on remains at £5 for our West Coast Main Line stations. There are some great value add-ons for First Great Western services to the South West.

Railcard discounts still apply with £2 off for holders of Senior or Disabled Person Railcards.

Happy travelling!