Minutes of the TVRUG Committee Meeting held on 26th July 2011

Those present: Malcolm Chainey, Julie Gibbon, Robert Forsythe, Sylvia Chainey,
Duncan Walne, Colin Moore, Andy Cope

Apologies: Denis Peel, Peter Johnson

Matters Arising (not already on this agenda)
May 2011 Timetable - a good response from Northern to our compilation of anomalies which has already been shared with members.
Photo opportunity to promote the extra stops took place at Bardon Mill and Wetheral stations but as yet no one had seen any press coverage.

Campaign Survey
Andy Cope was present having offered a while ago to prepare a survey for us to assist with our campaign.
It was decided that the purpose was to:-
• find out why people do not use the train
• establish latent demand
• elicit views on what is right and wrong
• establish the percentage of the population using the service and how often
• find out the awareness of the benefits of railcards and knowledge of products
• other modes of transport being used with respect to connectivity (eg bus meets train)
A prize draw would be held to encourage the public to complete and return the survey.
The survey could be completed on line as well as on paper.
The survey areas would be Prudhoe and Haydon Bridge and possibly Stocksfield as well. These areas were chosen because of their existing community newsletters that are delivered to all households in their areas. JG to contact the editors of the Haydon News. MC to contact Yvonne Probert at the Prudhoe Partnership. MC to contact Gordon Harrison of Nexus with respect to surveying people coming into the area on the train. Employers in Prudhoe could also be surveyed including Daisy, Furniture Company, SCA.
Suggested date for the survey is to be late September / October.

Contact with other groups
CM reported on his meeting with Neil Carney and Bryan Scott of Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd (HWHL). They are keen to be involved and to join TVRUG. They have invited us to join their access group. They offered their presentation skills to help our campaign and were particularly interested in integrated ticketing, the re-opening of Gilsland Station and that the train operating company understands their needs.
JG to contact Bryan Scott re joining TVRUG. CM to report back to HWHL that we agree to send a representative to their access group.
Railfuture - Railwatch MC to draft an article to which RF will 'respond'.
Passenger Focus - MC to tell them what we are about
Copeland Rail User Group and Friends of Settle and Carlisle Line - keen to collaborate and meet together with MP Rory Stewart, awaiting next meeting - MC to chase.
LEP - Local Enterprise Partnerships - awaiting more information.
MetroCentre - Steve Beverley is supportive.
Alex Nelson - RF and MC to meet in August.
Bary Earp - did the photo opportunity at Wetheral
MPs along the line - RF to meet Guy Opperman again in October; Dave Anderson MC to send JG info;
Lib Dem Group of NCC support call for a Northumbrian Franchise MC to meet them.
Northern - meeting in the Autumn MC to arrange with Drew Haley.

Flyer
A draft had been circulated prior to the meeting and it was agreed to make a few minor changes. RF had supplied both photographs that had been used and it was agreed to acknowledge his contribution on the leaflet. JG to make the changes and send to CM who would ask HWHL for any comments or advice prior to printing. JG to obtain costs for printing from 1000 to 5000 flyers.

Membership
Growing slowly - currently 94 with 39 'likes' on Facebook.
Station Surveys Update
MC to send around the information in the next few days.

AOB
Passenger Focus had sent a letter detailing changes of restructuring due to funding cuts. JG to complete form with contact details.
World Car Free Day - 22nd September - raised by a member - what can we do to support it - MC to contact Drew Haley at Northern to see what might be possible.
Leaflet boxes at gateway to HWHL platform at Carlisle Station are empty. JG to ask member Ian Watson if he would fill them with appropriate leaflets from the display area near the ticket office. Also our leaflet in due course.
Michael Portillo - Great Railway Journeys - members sent lots of information and RF spent several days gathering information including meeting them and showing them places of interest. They then asked him to be on standby one weekend but failed to make contact. RF believes filming has now taken place.

TVRUG

Northern Franchise Renewal

Discussion and Planning Document

 Version: 0.1

Updated 18th February 2011

Authors: Steve and Julie Gibbon

Please treat this document confidentially. It is being emailed to members only and placed on the member's only are of the web site at the moment. It is an in progress draft document and not for general circulation outside of TVRUG.

We now welcome your comments, feedback and additional points for this document so we can move the process forward.

Please contact Julie Gibbon the Secretary with any comments or input you may have.

Contents

SUMMARY / INTRODUCTION

The present Northern Franchise ends in September 2013. It was let in 2004 on a standstill basis (existing timetable, no new rolling stock). Passenger numbers have continued to increase since, to the point of serious overcrowding on peak trains.

Tyne Valley Rail Users Group (TVRUG) need to think now as to how we can influence the franchising process to require bidders to offer a better service. We are talking to other rail user groups in the region so that we can run a joint campaign and also have planned meetings with local MPs and Councillors.

This document represents one of the first steps in that planning and the document will be developed further. At a meeting members and other interested parties on Thursday 17th February 2011 at Hexham Community Centre TVRUG held a planning workshop as to how as a group we could influence the new franchise conditions and scope.

At this initial meeting high level ideas were generated in the following areas:

• The good parts of the current franchise which should be retained and built upon;

• The not so good aspects of the current franchise;

• A vision for the future - ideas that should be considered by the franchise process or any future franchisee;

• What worked well in our 2005 Northern Services review (which we may use again or build upon);

• Identification of useful allies;

• Ideas for a campaign slogan;

• Developing a plan of action.

The purpose of the workshop was to generate ideas rather than get bogged down in detail. The only rule of the evening is that no ideas or comments were to be dismissed or criticised as even the seemingly most extreme ideas may generate other more mainstream thoughts.

The meeting was supplemented with ideas and comments received from members unable to attend but contributing by email or post.

Please note that as an initial planning workshop and document there is not a lot of detail or supporting evidence and facts yet present. The ideas generated from this process will be built upon as the plan develops.

One overwhelming message from the evening was 'Get rid of the Pacers'.

Please treat this document confidentially. It is being emailed to members only and placed on the member's only are of the web site at the moment. It is an in progress draft document and not for general circulation outside of TVRUG.

The good parts of the current franchise which should be retained and built upon

The bracketed number e.g. (2) in the table below represent the number of views expressed on the matter and thus give an indicative weighting.

The not so good aspects of the current franchise

The bracketed number e.g. (2) in the table below represent the number of views expressed on the matter and thus give an indicative weighting.

A vision for the future - ideas that should be considered by the franchise process or any future franchisee

The bracketed number e.g. (2) in the table below represent the number of views expressed on the matter and thus give an indicative weighting.

What worked well in our 2005 Northern Services review (which we may use again or build upon)

• More trains stopping at Prudhoe, Haydon Bridge and elsewhere

• Better station lighting

• Better station platforms

• Improved Booking Office hours at Hexham

• Additional early morning trains

• Additional late evening trains

Identification of useful allies;

• NEXUS

  • Their 1997 Prudhoe campaign was seen as very good but..

  • They are seen as something of an 'Achilles Heel' by Northern

• MPs - generally, the 5 on the line specifically, all Northern franchise MPs and MSPs from Glasgow southwards

• Northern

• Other bidders

• Rolling Stock manufacturers including the Chinese

• Other line User Groups in the franchise area

• Transition Tynedale, Green Ovingham and other green groups.

• Tourism marketing e.g. Hadrian's Wall Heritage

• Tyne and Wear Public Transport Users Groups

• Northumberland County Council and Local Authorities

• Employers / Employer Groups / Business Forums (getting their staff to work)

• Prudhoe Community Partnership Transport Working Group

• The Community Rail Partnership

Ideas for a campaign slogan

Some ideas for a campaign slogan were generated:

• Use it or shoot the cat!

• Better trains for a better life.

• We don't mind taking you for a ride.

• Green Transport for a Green Valley.

• We'll keep you on the right lines.

• On time, on a seat, with a ticket!

• Meanwhile back on Planet Earth.....

Developing a plan of action.

The meeting produced some ideas for moving forward:

• Target 'missing' Parish Councils e.g. Stocksfield and Town Councils e.g. Hexham, Prudhoe as group members.

• Consider increasing group membership to e.g. £40 in line with other groups such as the Settle Carlisle Rail User Group.

• Run an aggressive membership drive. The more members we have, the wider our representation and the more power we can be seen to have.

• Put his document to the members only section of the web site for comment (and email to all members).

• Is there a 'Big Society' link for us to utilise in this campaign for membership and for the franchise renewal?

• Working with other groups - to be less parochial and more franchise wide co-ordinated whilst still dealing with our local issues.

• Revisit the Station Survey.

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

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 19th May 2011

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

Duncan Walne, Peter Johnson, Colin Moore

Apologies: Denis Peel

May 2011 Timetable

List of anomalies and comments to be sent around committee before being sent to Northern. Action JG

JG to contact Alan Sharp re possible photo opportunity to promote new stops in timetable.

Station Surveys Update

Previous survey and template to be sent to various people to complete and return by 30th September. Action MC

Campaign

Add to aspirations - connectivity both at Newcastle and Carlisle and that the Tyne Valley Line is a Trans European route and should have the aspiration of an intercity line.

We need to work towards a presentation document detailing our aspirations for the franchise.

Contact with other groups

Railwatch - article to be written about our campaign - Action MC

Passenger Focus - Action MC

Letter to MPs Action MC

Meeting with Copeland Group, Settle and Carlisle Group and MP Rory Stewart already planned Action MC

Alex Nelson Action MC

Bary Earp Action MC

Steve Beverley Action MC

City Canals Action MC

Hadrian's Wall Heritage Action CM

Flyer

Plan, finalised and print for September. Say what we want to say and see what size paper it fits re printing and folding.

Distribution - Prudhoe Waterworld, Libraries, Shops, Post offices, Noticeboards, TVCRP, MC to contact Drew Hayley and Craig Johnson about handing them out on trains and platforms.

Content:- extra stops, station refurbishment, transport interchanges, ticket machine at Prudhoe. Aspirations - see list. Also voice with Northern, communication and debate, lively website, facebook. Action JG and CM then copy to rest of committee for comments.

Membership

Looking to increase membership to at least 400 (currently 88).

1 renewal and 1 new member joined using PayPal from website so far in May.

JG has contacted the following Parish Council's for support:- Gilsland, Stocksfield, Greenhead, Broomhaugh and Riding, Prudhoe Town, Hexham Town and Corbridge.

AOB

Information from FixMyTransport discussed. It is a mySociety project of UK Citizens Online Democracy which is a registered charity. Agreed to put a link on the TVRUG website to the site when it is operational.

A member has requested sharing our working document from the meeting in Hexham in January with another group. The Committee preferred it remained private. Our campaign presentation document will be widely distributed when it is ready.

Date of Next Meeting Thursday 28th July 1930 at Malcolm's house