Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2016, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Mr D Okey, Regional Development Manager/Mr M Barnes from GWR to report.

(Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

Mr L Ward, Regional Development Planning and Programme Manager, gave a presentation which covered:

·         passenger growth

·         performance

·         fleet update

·         speed to the West

·         stations investment

·         depot investment

·         community rail

Matters discussed by Members with Mr Ward included:

·         the Tarka line - Barnstaple growth and the need for early train to Exeter St David’s; and increased passenger capacity to be resolved by expansion;

·         the use of Class 143s on the Exeter – Okehampton Sunday Rover service when available;

·         new developments leading to population growth at Exminster and Bideford;

·         lack of crossovers at Teignmouth.

[NB A copy of the presentation given is appended to these Minutes]

Mr C Loder, Head of Service Strategy, South West Trains to report.

Mr C Loder, Head of Service and Pricing Strategy at South West Trains provided an update and matters discussed with Members included:

·         refurbishment of the Class 159s, made up of 3 cars/200 seats;

·         availability of Wi-fi from the end of March - good feedback received;

·         Cranbrook Station - dealing with around 100 people a day with busiest train being the 0710 from Waterloo;

·         additional Yeovil – London morning train;

·         popular Summer Saturday service to Weymouth;

·         changes to timetable from December 2016 to cater for large capacity events e.g. Saturday rugby matches;

·         additional stations and the difficulties with infrastructure and capacity;

·         opportunity for direct route Barnstaple - Waterloo;

·         two shortlisted bidders for the new SW rail franchise – SWT had operational capability to June 2017.

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/16/19) on progress on a range of projects being undertaken jointly by Devon County Council and its partners, attached.

The Working Party considered the Report and presentation of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/16/19) on progress made by the County Council and rail project partners since its February 2016 meeting and further planned work in 2016/17 on the following ExeRail and other projects:

·         Peninsula Rail Task Force – final report to be submitted to Government shortly;

·         Marsh Barton Station – interim stopping pattern currently with full calling pattern planned from December 2018;

·         Exeter St David’s – National Stations Improvement Programme funding secured;

·         Exeter – Honiton – feasibility of second station; and the Network Rail GRIP 2 study on Exeter;

·         Tavistock Extension (the Drake Line) – design options progressing;

·         Exmouth – enhancements to Station;

·         Service Enhancements on the Sunday Rover, Avocet and Riviera Lines;

·         Tarka Line Strategy – partnership working to improve journey times and car parking;

·         Bus Real Time Information at Stations – expected to go live in the autumn;

·         electric bikes – Department for Transport funding secured by Co-Cars as part of Devon Metro strategy.

Matters discussed by Members with the Head of Service included, inter alia:

·         recognition of all partners to the opportunities on the Tarka Line and those included within the Tarka Strategy;

·         GPS fitted to electric bikes and the security managed by Co-Cars;

·         the work ongoing in relation to the Tavistock (Drake Line) and the complexities of the scheme;

·         timing of stops at Lapford and access difficulties.

Members questioned the Listed Building status of the “red brick building” to the front of Exeter St David’s station and Mr Ward from GWR would ascertain this and apprise Members at the next meeting.

[NB A copy of the presentation given is appended to these Minutes]

To fix a date for the next meeting.

RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Working Party be held on Friday 17 February 2017 at 2pm.