Shelford and Whittlesford Rail User Group

Initial meeting

19th December 2016

Sawston Village College

1.Apologies for absence

Tony Kirby

Kirk Taylor

2.Introductions

Peter Wakefield and Paul Hollinghurst from Railfuture

Peter McDonald (Duxford)

Simon (Cambs Campaign for Better Transport),

Brian Milnes (Sawston Parish council) possibility of a station in Sawston?

Edward Harris (Duxford)

Michael Kilpatrick (Whittlesford)

Peter Fane (Shelford/Stapleford)

Jim Rickard (Great Shelford)

Jim Chisholm (Cambridge Cycling Campaign, et al)

Tim Stone (Whittlesford)

Emma Fletcher (Smithson Hill)

Chris Burton (Railfuture EA)

Representative from (Rail Haverhill)

Susan van de Ven (Meldreth RUG)

3.Background

Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton RUG (Susan van de Ven): South Cambs District Council keen to set up a Whittlesford RUG, possibly a Community Rail Partnership (CRP) with statutory powers (ie. only one LA).

Start working with Rail Operating Company(ies) to increase and improve user numbers.

4.Aims

  • train service and modal shift from road
  • stations - access and parking cycle storage, pedestrian links
  • working with community (open group as at Foxton - open meetings after short committee meeting)

5.Narrative, based on discussion led by Peter Wakefield

Rail user group for just Whittlesford and Shelford to avoid crossing the county boundary, otherwise would have considered including Great Chesterford and Audley End.

Group should have an open outlook - bringing the station back into the community.

Recent Whittlesford audit shows:

  • Nearly 500,000 passengers per year +6% p.a.,
  • Some driving from Newmarket, even Ipswich!
  • 'Dreadful' station - lots of work to do!
  • Poor provision for cycling, much cycle parking under canopy - 'all over the place'.
  • Land available - but previously rejected by Greater Anglia
  • New parking machine badly sited.
  • People are walking up to a mile to avoid using the station car park.
  • Narrow cycle / footpath to Sawston,
  • No lifts for disabled on return.
  • A505 crossing 'most dangerous’

When Cambridge North opens there will be many extra passengers. Also for Cambridge South.

Alan Neville rejected lifts as at Audley End (700,000 users).

Parking spaces Abellio (Greater Anglia) rejected 2nd level on car park (and parking spaces too small).

Land allocated next Welch’s depot for footbridge which CCC can't afford.

Car park to East 700 spaces?

New franchisee has obligations and funds for improvements

e.g. Waltham Cross new lift beside footbridge - avoids need to shut railway during construction. £60,000 cost 2013 (cf new footbridge £millions). Possible use of scissor lift design.

6 mile limit on funding from City Deal now more flexible, Devolution deal might mean now all county.

Brian- would tram trains be cheaper and more cost effective for Haverhill line? (DPL Colin Harris)

Greater Cambridge City Deal tranche 1 £200m (2015-19).

Bristol City deal funds are used for tram train (Portishead Line) and new rail line.

Francis Burkitt (now vice-chair) supports bus links to Whittlesford. Local liaison forum will be formed but only for A1307 Haverhill Road (Emma).

Shelford Station 175,000 -200,000 passengers p.a.

New Norwich to Stansted line will stop at Whittlesford.

Railfuture will do station audit for Shelford too.

See Cambs and S. Cambs Transport Strategy - access to stations a live issue, some S. 106 money for paths and ramps, maybe also small sums from PCs under S.137.

RUG and CRP - District, CCC and rail industry round the same table. Railfuture audit + travel plan. Leads to collaborative funding.

Shelford station issues:

  • Level crossing issue
  • Proposal to close the level crossing
  • Ticket machines cannot be read on a sunny day

6.Structure

Membership, newsletter, subscriptions and committee, station adopters (gardening etc).

Chair, Treasurer, Sec, membership, website and social media, station adopters, finance, constitution, see (Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton RUG), set up Feb 2010.

Susan described how the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Rail User group manages fine without a membership fee.

  • Parish councils provide room hire
  • The train company print leaflets
  • Website is only £20
  • They get spontaneous donations from people grateful for what the RUG achieves.

Peter W proposes a shadow group and start talking to commuters and regular users et al.

Also Duxford IWM keen to join and help (discounts for those arriving by rail as at Linton).

Involve existing gardeners and station adopters.

History buffs and hotel at Whittlesford all interested parties.

Proposed, Michael Kilpatrick as Chair and Emma Fletcher as Vice-chair.

Brian to set up website and diary to include next meeting early Feb. (Emma at CFCI FORUMS ON Monday.)

Susan van de Ven obvious benefit are gardens and reduction in crime levels.

Next Meeting

Wednesday 1st Feb (with Stansted Manager and Paul Oxley - PW to inform them of group being formed) in 7.30pm – 9.30pm Walnut Room, Sawston Village College.