March 2011 Committee Meeting Minutes

Secretary: Julie Gibbon Cornmill Cottage, Station Road, Bardon Mill, Northumberland. NE47 7HY

Telephone: 01434 344383 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Minutes of the TVRUG Committee Meeting held on 17th March 2011

 Those present: Malcolm Chainey, Julie Gibbon, Robert Forsythe, Sylvia Chainey,

Denis Peel, Duncan Walne

Apologies: Peter Johnson, Colin Moore

Membership

  • Refresh leaflet - rewrite, update for the campaign, encourage joining - Action JG

  • On line 'Join Here' button on website using Paypal - Action JG to ask SPG

  • Contact Parish Councils along the line who are not members:-

    Prudhoe Town Council - Action RF

    Prudhoe Community Partnership - Action RF

    Corbridge PC - Action DW

    Riding Mill PC - Action DW

    Stocksfield PC - Action MC

    Hexham Town Council - Action MC

List of others to contact - Action MC

  • Mission Statement - Action MC

Additional Actions

  • May timetable - check all changes. Action - everyone, when you can source a copy please pass to Julie to distribute

  • Prudhoe Life - questionnaire, contact Andrew Jones Editor. Not sure who is doing this???

  • Sustrans, Andy Cope has offered to compile a questionnaire which will help with evidence. Action MC

  • Update Station Surveys, especially footbridges and ramps. Action MC to contact those who did the original surveys.

Other Groups to contact

  • SENRUG

  • Passenger Focus

  • MPs

  • Councillors

  • Community Partnerships

  • Chamber of Commerce - note: Alex Nelson is a member

  • Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd - Colin Moore knows Neil Carney, Marketing Manager, 07875 020407

Consolidating Aspirations - the franchise should:-

  • have a management structure that has local awareness

  • have performance management units that are managed locally and independently from other areas and physically located somewhere in the Tyne, Tees and Wear area. There needs to be a responsibility to develop business and grow the business at the expense of other modes of transport (e.g. Prudhoe).

  • allow for an increase in capacity (more units)

  • improved rolling stock and no Pacers, especially following the Competition Commission's report that train operating companies should have more flexibility in the leasing of trains

  • have a long length with review points

  • have a minimum service level of the May 2011 timetable plus another train between the 06.16 and 07.19 from Hexham to Newcastle and also another train from Newcastle to Carlisle between the 06.47 and the 08.24

  • have allowance for growth in the service

  • have a rationalised fare structure

  • have more reasonable single fares

  • have a better commuter service to Hexham and Prudhoe

  • have awareness of the one extra passenger train path per hour that is already available on the line and be aware of the further capacity that will be available with improved signalling

  • have continued resilience in bad weather

  • have policy support for an improved service to Blaydon, Dunston and the re-opening of Gilsland station

  • have a north east 'Oyster' type card - pay as you go (to cover all services using sets from the Heaton depot)

  • have integration with bus services and PLUSBUS

  • have improved ticket sales - an annual ticket scheme, carnets (being used on the Harrogate line now), season tickets

  • have improved passenger information with screens at all stations