The future of Community Rail

Great Western Railway

The Future of Community Rail

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director GWR

Overview

Great Western RailwayGWR and Community RailThe new GWR FranchiseThe Future of Community RailSummary

“The future is bright for Community Rail. The Franchise specifications from the Department for Transport say there has to be strong support for Community Rail and we are seeing the operators want to do it because it is so valued by them. We are seeing a rail renaissance in this country, pulled through by Community Rail”

Claire Perry, Under Secretary of State for Transport, September 2016

Great Western Railway

• We provide high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services across the Great Western franchise

• More than 103 million passengers in 2014/15

• We will run the franchise until at least April 2019, during a period of major infrastructure upgrades on the network

• The £7.5bn Great Western Mainline modernisation programme

• New or refurbished trains on every part of the network including on designed Community Rail Lines and services

GWR and Community Rail (1)

• We have well developed community links and strong network of volunteers across the Great Western network

• 5 CRPs in our franchise area involving 18 partner organisations

• 26 Rail User Groups and line forums

• 350+ volunteers

(Heart of Wessex volunteers alone contribute 13,000 hours annually valued at £169k using ‘Value of Volunteering’ methodology, Jan 2015)


• Working with our partners to secure new local services:

- Exeter – Paignton- Swindon – Westbury

• Working with communities to improve stations on the Riviera Line - £390k invested at Torre and Exeter St Thomas

• A new station at Newcourt (first new station in Devon for 20 years!)

• Bringing forward station improvements including ticket machines, CCTV, improved shelters, signing and accessibility at selected stations

Recent Successes


• We have underpinned our approach with more investment in communities and Community Rail Partnerships

• £90k match funding secured in 2014/15 through our investment, adding value to projects

• In return for our investment, CRPs have developed sound plans for the year ahead

Partnership Investment Plans

GWR and Community Rail (4)We are proud of the communities we serve and our work with CRPs. Together we have a strong track record of growth across our franchise.

Bristol - Severn Beach

Bistol - Weymouth

Exeter Barnstaple

Exeter - Exmouth

Plymouth - Gunnislake

Liskeard - Looe

Par - Newquay

Truro - Falmouth

St.Erth - St. Ives

Westbury - Swindon

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

2006/72014/15

+182%

+93%

+112%

+70.5%

+42%+59% +66%

+181%+37%

+143%

Our New Franchise began on 20 September 2015

GWR will revalue rail hearts and minds in the travelling public

Communities are at the centre of our plans

The Future of Community Rail (1)

• better rolling stock, longer trains and improved services to support Devon Metro in May 2017 and Dec 2018

• service improvements on Cornish mainline with more local services between Plymouth and Penzance from December 2018

• Enhanced services on branch lines, facilitated by cascade of trains – Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Looe, Newquay, Falmouth branches

• Wifi on the local fleet

Improvements in local Services

11

Fleet Changes December 2018Now

12

Service changes

13

Local stock changes


• Working with Devon County Council on plans to open a new station at Marsh Barton

• Assisting Torbay Council’s plans to open a new station at Edginswell

• Working with Devon County Council to and bring forward an extension of the railway to Tavistock

New Stations and Lines

We welcome the proposal for a half hourly Exmouth to Paignton service … which should help to encourage further journeys and

better connections … onto long distance services, as well as cope with existing high passenger volumes”

– Teignmouth Town Council DfT stakeholder consultation response, June 2014

15


• £50million investment in stations across our network including £3.5m available to match fund third party contributions

• Work with partners to bring forward masterplans for Exeter St David’s and Plymouth

• Programme of CCTV and New Customer Information Screens

• Work with Cornwall Council to deliver the West Cornwall Transport Interchange at St Erth

• Wifi at Stations in Cornwall

Investment in Stations

16

The Future of Community Rail (4)Investment in Community Rail Partnerships

• Our investment in Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) will continue providing extra funding for core activities and projects

• Support for local charities and community outreach

• Support for local businesses – e.g. local food served on High Speed trains

17

The Future of Community Rail (5)Supporting local business


• GWR pioneering approach• £2.3m fund to support community

projects addressing a social need• £750k per year for 3 years starting

April 2016• Over 1,000 organisations

canvassed for ideas and proposals• Over 100 responses put forward• Total first year bid value £8million• Proposals from outreach projects,

promotions, station projects, reusing old station buildings

Customer and Communities Improvement Fund

Summary – The Future• Communities are at the heart of GWR• We have ambitious plans to support communities

through new services, improved rolling stock, better stations, new stations and lines through our new franchise

• We will continue to support Community Rail Partnerships with more funding and look for innovations in project delivery

• We have pioneering new funding streams like the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund to support your work

• Our future together is bright!

Any questions?

Travel

The future of Community Rail