Community rail development and strategy: frequently asked questions
Why do you need a Community Rail Strategy?
The Community Rail Strategy is intended to help put rural and local railways on a more sustainable financial footing. Railways as a whole consume a large amount of public funding and it is essential to demonstrate value for money. We believe that we can double the number of passengers using these lines, and cut the subsidy by a third.
What is the Strategy?
The Strategy can be seen as a set of ideas to increase the value of the railway to the community it serves and reduce the gap between fares revenue and central government support. These ideas fall into three areas:
- Increasing revenue - increasing both ridership and revenue through raising awareness amongst potential traveller, better marketing, adjusting fares (both up and down), introducing cost effective service enhancements.
- Reducing costs - ensuring that all work on these railways is done efficiently and to the right standard avoiding over specification.
- Increasing community involvement - allowing the community to improve the railway through locally funded investment, voluntary effort.
What is the point of separately designating these lines?
There are three purposes in designation. To provide the flexibility to adopt a different (and appropriate) approach on standards and ticketing without implications for the rest of the rail network, to ensure that the specific needs of local railways are addressed, rather than following as a consequence of policy decisions on the main lines, and to take them out of scope for EU interoperability (in order allow use of equipment cascaded from the main line).
What are "designated lines"?
As part of the Strategy we are proposing to "designate" 56 lines in England and Wales - separate designation is to encourage the application of appropriate standards and enable exemption from some EU legislation which is inappropriate for lines that are local in nature. Many of aspects of the Strategy will be possible on non designated lines.
The lines proposed for designation cover 1154 miles (10.5% of the franchised network) and 390 stations (15.5%). The characteristics of these lines vary, but are all relatively low speed, often have low frequency services and are not heavily trafficked. Examples include rural branch lines (St Ives Bay in Cornwall, Bishop Auckland in County Durham), longer routes through rural areas (e.g. Heart of Wales Line from Swansea to Shrewsbury) and quieter commuter routes (Watford - St Albans and the Stourbridge Town branch).
A local consultation is planned for each line before designation is confirmed.
What happens next?
With a Strategy with so many elements, it is possible to start work on some aspects almost immediately. There are already partnerships established in many parts of the country to link communities with their railways and we will continue to work with them to improve the amenity and viability of their lines.
The SRA will concentrate initially on the 7 pilot projects, chosen to demonstrate different aspects of the strategy, and we will lead the work on designation of routes. Working with others including train operators, Network Rail and the Office for Rail Regulation, we will also seek to improve understanding and management of costs.
The SRA has led the development of the Community Rail Strategy. With the abolition of the Authority expected in 2005, further development will be taken forward by the Department for Transport.
What is the timescale for Community Rail Development?
Many aspects of the Community Rail Development strategy can be implemented right away by local communities, Community Rail Partnerships, and the rail industry. The SRA will concentrate on the pilot projects initially and quickly move to designating the other routes. There is an urgent need to show results from Community Rail Development and our aim is to double the fares income on these lines in five years.
Where are the pilot projects?
We have chosen 7 routes for the pilot projects:
- St Ives-St Erth (South West)
- Looe-Liskeard ("Looe Valley" South West)
- Plymouth-Gunnislake (Tamar Valley)
- Watford Junction-St Albans Abbey ("Abbey Line" East)
- Grantham-Skegness (East)
- Middlesbrough-Whitby ("Esk Valley" North East/Yorkshire)
- Huddersfield-Barnsley ("Penistone Line" Yorkshire)
What will the pilot projects demonstrate?
The 7 pilot projects have been chosen to demonstrate different aspects of the strategy. The detailed proposals for each line will be confirmed following local consultation and discussion with the Community Rail Partnerships or Railway Development Company, local authorities and Rail Passengers' Committee. Some aspects can be implemented quickly, others may take some months.
What will be the measure of success of the strategy?
Putting the lines on a sustainable footing for the future. A reduction in the difference between the amount of subsidy going into these lines measured in terms of £s per passenger journey.
But the benefits will be seen in associated objectives of social inclusion, environment and economic development. As well as the government and local authority shared objectives of increasing air quality; increasing road safety; reducing congestion; and ensuring health/jobs/education/food shopping accessible.
Does the strategy cover independent and heritage railways?
The strategy focuses on local and rural railways which form part of the franchised national network, but at the margins it gives independent and heritage railways the option to apply for designation as Community Rail lines to provide a consistent approach on standards.
Will freight be allowed on Community Rail lines?
The aim is to provide for existing freight flows in the specification of Community Railways, as well as for prospective flows that are value for money. On lines that have no prospect of future freight traffic, it is important to reflect this in the specification so that unnecessary infrastructure costs are avoided.
We hope that the strategy will generate some innovative ideas about increasing the freight on local and rural railways, such as those developed in the Scottish Highlands.
What can be done to make sure fares are collected?
Revenue Protection can be improved by a variety of measures. For example, making it easier to buy tickets, ensuring that the conductor has time to check the tickets by replicating door controls by each passenger door so that he/she does not have to return to the rear cab of the train to dispatch the train.
What about stations that are not on Community Rail lines?
No change is proposed to the safety requirements governing access to these stations but the strategy recognises that many such stations could benefit from ideas contained in the strategy, such as station adoption and support of a 'friends' group.
What is a Community Rail Partnership?
Community Rail Partnerships are an essential strand of the Community Rail Development strategy. They exist independently of the strategy, but each Community Rail line will need to have the support of a Community Rail Partnership.
Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are a means by which stakeholders along a rail corridor can play an active role in the development of their local rail service and they bring together train operators, Network Rail, local authorities, local employers, development and tourism agencies, community groups and other, locally based groups. They are established by mutual agreement and are typically staffed by a paid officer supported by a committee of stakeholders.
There are now over 40 CRPs across the UK, ranging from Devon & Cornwall, through East Anglia and Wales to the North of England and Scotland as well as many more under development. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) is their representative body.
Is there additional funding to support the Community Rail Development work?
Community Rail Development seeks to get better value for money from the subsidy which the government is already putting into local and rural routes. The Community Rail Development approach looks to a variety of sources to fund improvements to the service provided with the subsidy from the SRA. and the strategy contains some guidance about funding.
Is this an opportunity to re-open closed railway lines?
Re-openings fall outside the scope of the proposed strategy. Even where extensions represent value for money in economic terms they invariably require additional subsidy, which is currently unaffordable. The Community Rail Development approach looks at making better use of the existing franchised network.
What is the scope for microfranchising?
The creation of a full-scale microfranchise is a long rather than short term consideration and will not be suitable for more than a handful of Community Rail routes, primarily those where the operation is self-contained. In the vast majority of instances Community Rail lines will benefit from the economies of scale that large organisations can provide, especially when working together with local stakeholders. They will also be able to benefit from the other initiatives outlined in the consultation paper.
What will the role of volunteers be on Community Railways?
Volunteer support must complement, rather than replace, the work of professional staff employed by the station facility owner or operator. Volunteer enthusiasm would best be channelled into non 'safety critical' roles, supporting the Community Railway, such as station adoption.
Why do the proposals exclude Trans European Network (TEN) routes from designation as Community Railways?
The European Commission designated TEN routes, after consultation with local authorities, in the 1990s. The aim of the network is to contribute to the implementation and development of the Internal Market and reflect the European Union's free movement of goods, persons and services in a modern and efficient infrastructure linking up the Member States. TEN routes are outside the scope of Community Railways (and hence the consultation) because of the obligations associated with them. For a map of TEN rail routes within the United Kingdom click here.
How can we learn from other European Railways?
In designating Community Rail lines we are using an idea developed and used successfully around Europe. In preparing the strategy we looked at ideas from across Europe.
Will buses replace trains on Community Rail routes?
A policy of permanent bus substitution for rail services is not one we intend to pursue.
However, where buses can provide feeder services, or supplement an infrequent rail service, there may be an opportunity for integration.
Will designation of Community Rail routes result in additional changes of trains for passengers?
No! The routes proposed for designation are described using the station or railway junction where they start and end. This is for the purposes of infrastructure specification and associated standards. The description is in no way intended to inhibit the provision of through services and it will not lead to trains all stopping, and all passengers having to change.
When did the consultation close?
The Community Rail Development consultation closed on 28th May 2004.
Who replied to the consultation?
There were over 300 well-informed and thoughtful responses from a wide range of stakeholders. For further information about the responses, including a list of respondents, please see the Summary of Responses to the consultation, which was published on 30th June 2004 and which forms Appendix C to the Community Rail Development Strategy.
Where can I ask further questions?
The Community Rail team is part of the National Rail Strategy Division and is made up of:
David Hibbs
Email: david.hibbs@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Kulvinder Bassi
Email: kulvinder.bassi@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Their postal address is:
Community Rail Team
Department for Transport
Zone 5/27
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
[This information was updated on 28 April 2008]
