Greater Anglia Newsletter [Issue 12]

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ISSUE 12 2020 Take a look…

2 Times are a

changin’ for the Wherry lines

6 Bids in to make more stations accessible

New train transformation continues New trains have now replaced most of our old diesel trains on our rural routes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. We’ve also started introducing our new intercity trains into passenger service on our mainline too. These are all trains made by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, which is making 58 trains for us in total: 38 bi-mode trains, powered by diesel and electricity, and 20 electric trains: ten intercity and ten Stansted Express trains. We now also have the first of our 111 electric commuter trains made by UK manufacturer Bombardier on our patch. The first five-carriage train arrived at our depot in January, ready for performance and safety testing. We’re planning to start putting these trains into passenger service – which will run on routes into Liverpool Street from Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Ipswich – from later this spring. We’re replacing every single train on our network with brand new longer trains. The new trains have more seats, USB and plug points, free fast WiFi, air conditioning, better passenger information screens and improved accessibility features.

You said

We did

In December, you may have seen some media stories suggesting our new trains were to blame for signalling issues on our rural lines in Norfolk and Suffolk. Our investigation showed that these issues were not caused by the design or performance of our new trains. We have successfully completed hundreds of passenger journeys using our new trains since July 2019, and we are confident that they will ultimately bring us greater reliability, as well as a much-improved journey experience for customers. To find out more about our new trains and what goes into introducing them into passenger service, go to the news desk section of our website to read news articles and blogs about them.

Making it easier to find the ticket office at Liverpool Street Customers told us that since we moved the ticket office at Liverpool Street next to platform 10, signs for it were not prominent enough. So we’ve put up some new signs to make it clearer – distinguishing where to go for tickets and information and where to pick up and collect tickets.

AFTER

BEFORE


Dawn of a new decade and new era on our railway

Times are a changin’ for

Here we are at the start of a new year and new decade. The year ahead is going to be very exciting. Our new train roll-out programme will start to enter a new phase, as we begin replacing the trains used by thousands of commuters on their journeys to London every day with trains made by UK manufacturer, Bombardier.

Preparations are well underway for the biggest transformation of the Wherry lines since their inception. This February, a programme of 23 days of construction works will commence that will see the final stage of resignalling upgrades take place which will improve safety and reliability of the lines.

2019 ended on a difficult note for our customers who use our rural lines in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, as signalling issues led to a great deal of disruption. I’m very sorry for the inconvenience this caused. We worked with Network Rail to resolve the issues as quickly as possible and I personally was in constant communication with my counterpart at Network Rail throughout the whole period of disruption. I know how difficult it was for our rural line customers, especially as we’d worked so hard throughout the year to improve reliability and punctuality across our network. We will continue to push up the punctuality and reliability of our service this year, working with all of our partners including Network Rail and the manufacturers of our new trains. Punctuality for the whole of 2019 was a good deal higher than 2018, and we need to make sure we stay on that upward curve.

The modernisation of the lines between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (NYL), will see the introduction of a new computer-based signalling which will replace the old mechanical Victorian signalling equipment currently in operation. It has taken many years of planning and development, as well as several years of physically working on the ground to get the system ready for the big switch over in February 2020:

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia

How are we doing? Punctuality – how many trains run on time*

Responsibility for delays

Greater Anglia performance:

4 weeks to 9 November 2019

57.7%

29.5% 12.8%

4 weeks to 7 December 2019

51.4%

34.5% 14.1%

4 weeks to 4 January 2020

43.5%*

49.9%* 6.6%

4 weeks to 9 November 2019

4 weeks to 7 December 2019

4 weeks to 4 January 2020

86.2% 85.0% 86.4%

Annual average performance: 12 months to 9 November 2019

12 months to 7 December 2019

12 months to 4 January 2020

2

89.7% 89.9% 89.7%

Network Rail

including external factors

*Based on Public Performance Measure figures. For more details see greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/our-performance/performance-figures

Greater Anglia

Other train companies

* These figures could change, once the findings of the investigation into the signalling issues on rural lines in Norfolk and Suffolk are finalised.


the Wherry lines

An article in association with

•  Phase 1, (October 2017): Remodelling of Yarmouth and Somerleyton track layouts, installation of new track and points, surveys and materials delivered across the route to enable later re-signalling works. •  Phase 2 (February 2018): Lowestoft track remodelling and initial re-signalling works to install signal bases & cable containment. •  Phase 3 (October 2018): Remodelling and re-alignment of Reedham Junction track layout and installation of new signals, lineside equipment housings, cables and other enabling works. •  Phase 4: (March 2019): Completion of Lowestoft track remodelling stage 2 with two new track point ends and 1000m of track renewed and twenty-six new signals installed The final phase of work in February will involve the full commissioning of the new signalling system, with six public level crossings modernised, eleven user work crossings upgraded including track remodelling at Lowestoft. A number of planned maintenance and renewal works are also taking place to make full use of the extensive 23-day possession. A worn out old bridge at Postwick is being replaced with a new structure and track renewals are also taking place in the vicinity of Hassingham and Acle. The works are being delivered over three phases starting on Saturday 1 February: •  Saturday 1 February to Sunday 2 February – works between Norwich and Yarmouth •  Monday 3 February to Sunday 16 February – works between Norwich and Yarmouth, Norwich and Lowestoft and Beccles and Lowestoft •  Monday 17 February to Sunday 23 February – works between Norwich and Lowestoft A rail replacement bus service will be in operation. More info can be found here: www.greateranglia.co.uk/NYLFeb20 On Monday 24 February, the Wherry lines will be substantially transformed with signalling and control re-directed to Colchester. The Berney Arms branch line, which has been closed since autumn 2018, will also reopen allowing passengers to travel once again to this scenic area of rural beauty and wildlife. The focus now for Network Rail’s team is to ensure that everything is in the place for the work to take place for a successful delivery and, working with Greater Anglia, ensure that passengers and communities are informed of the changes taking place in February and what it means for them.

How to… check ahead for engineering works Network Rail tries to pick the quietest times to carry out engineering works, so that the fewest number of customers are affected. It’s easy to check on the Greater Anglia website if your journey is affected by engineering works. Go to the service alterations www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/ service-alterations section of our website. Look for the date you want to travel on the handy calendar. Check the information for that date. We don’t just put details of engineering works on these pages, we also list details of extra services we put on for special events such as football fixtures.

Increase in security patrols at Cambridge cyclepoint New patrols are now being carried out at Cambridge station’s cycle point bike parking as part of a drive to improve security. Additional patrols will take place at least eight times a day, in addition to our station staff patrolling the site every four hours. We’ve also set up regular meetings to discuss how we can work with customers and local authorities to keep the cycle point as secure as possible.

Passenger numbers up at stations across the network We’ve seen rising passenger numbers at many of our stations in the last year, according to latest statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road. Numbers grew by 66 per cent at Cambridge North, which opened in 2017. Chelmsford is the busiest station in Essex, with numbers growing by 3.6 per cent to 82,000 people a week. In Hertfordshire, the biggest increase was at Cheshunt, which saw people using the station rise by 6.1 per cent. A total of 4.2 million entries and exits were counted at Norwich station – up 2.3 per cent.

New station help points provide advice and extra security We’re installing new help points at every station to give customers better access to train information and advice, as well as improved security. They feature the ability to speak to a customer service assistant via a help button, CCTV and an emergency button which connects straight to 999. More information here: www.greateranglia.co.uk/help-point

£5,000 to good causes We’ve given a total of £5,000 to 20 charities nominated by staff, through our corporate donation scheme, staff survey and HQ dress down days. More information here: www.greateranglia.co.uk/charity

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Engineering works in February Please refer to journey planner for full details greateranglia.co.uk

Sheringham

Norwich – Sheringham Buses replace trains Saturday 8 February Sunday 9 February

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March

Whittlesea

Ely – Cambridge North/ Bury St. Edmunds

Cambridge North

Buses replace trains Sunday 2 February

Newmarket

Shelford

Newport

Stansted Airport

Elsenham

Stansted Mountfichet

Hertford East

Cheshunt – Hertford East/ Stansted Airport

Bishops Stortford

Buses replace trains Sunday 2 February

Enfield Town

Theobalds Grove Turkey Street

Stansted Express

Southbury Edmonton Green

Buses replace trains Saturday 1 February Sunday 2 February Direct buses replace trains between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport until 1700. Sunday 16 February

Limited Service

Woodbridge

Ipswich Mistley

Hackney Downs – Cheshunt

Hythe

Colchester

Broxbourne – Stansted Airport

Braintree

Cheshunt

Buses replace trains Saturday 1 February

Braintree Freeport

Marks Tey

Kelvedon

Cressing Waltham Cross

Trains will be diverted via Tottenham Hale (Lea Valley route) from 23.35 until 05.15 the next morning. Monday 10 February Tuesday 11 February Wednesday 12 February Thursday 13 February

Bethnal Green – Cheshunt Trains will be diverted via Seven Sisters (Southbury route) until 09.50 and from 23.15 until 05.00 the next morning. Sunday 2 February

Witham – Colchester

Enfield Lock

White Hart Lane

Meridian Water

Limited Service

00.18 and 00.46 Liverpool Street to Colchester services, operating into the next day, will terminate at Witham, with a bus running from Witham to Colchester. Monday 24 February Tuesday 25 February Wednesday 26 February

Brimsdown

Northumberland Park

Witham Hatfield Peverel

Chelmsford

Chingford

Romford

Ilford Manor Park Forest Gate Maryland

LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET

Stratford

Battlesbridge

Buses replace trains Saturday 1 February Sunday 2 February

Hockley Emerson Park

Goodmayes

Bethnal Green

Shenfield – Southend/Southminster

South Woodham Ferrers

Upminster

Rochford Southend Airport

for c2c

Prittlewell

Southend Victoria

Seven Kings

Cambridge Heath

Southminster

North Fambridge

Chadwell Heath

Lea Bridge

Kirby Cross

Buses replace trains Weeley Sunday 2 February Thorpe 22.56 Colchester to Walton service le-Soken will operate between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea. Bus service will Clacton-on-Sea operate from Thorpe-le-Soken to Walton-on-the-Naze. 23.18 London Liverpool Street to Clacton service will be replaced by a bus between Colchester and Clacton. Monday 10 February Tuesday 11 February Burnhamon-Crouch Wednesday 12 February

Wickford

Gidea Park

Hackney Downs

Frinton-on-Sea

Great Bentley

Rayleigh

St. James Street

London Fields

Colchester – Clacton/Walton

Harold Wood

Highams Park

Clapton

Alresford

Colchester Town

Billericay

Brentwood

Walthamstow Central

Rectory Road

Harwich Town

Walton-on-the-Naze

Althorne

Wood Street

Stoke Newington

Dovercourt

Wivenhoe

Ingatestone Shenfield

Tottenham Hale

Stamford Hill

Harwich International

to Stansted

Broxbourne

Ponders End

Seven Sisters

Wrabness

Manningtree

Chappel & Wakes Colne

Roydon

Felixstowe

Trimley

Derby Road

Westerfield

Bures

Silver Street

Bruce Grove

Buses replace trains Sunday 9 February

Wickham Market Melton

White Notley Bush Hill Park

Harwich – Manningtree

Saxmundham

Sudbury

Harlow Town

Rye House

Darsham

Buses replace trains Sunday 9 February

Harlow Mill

St. Margarets

Buses replace trains Monday 3 February to Sunday 16 February

Brampton Halesworth Needham Market

Lowestoft

Beccles – Lowestoft

Beccles

Braintree – Witham, Sudbury - Marks Tey, Ipswich – Ingatestone

to Colchester

Sawbridgeworth Ware

Stowmarket

23.30 Liverpool Street to Norwich service will be replaced by a bus between Ipswich and Norwich. Saturday 1 February Monday 3 February Tuesday 4 February Wednesday 5 February

Audley End

Buses replace trains until 17.00. Sunday 16 February

Oulton Broad South

Ipswich – Norwich

Great Chesterford

Norwich – Lowestoft Buses replace trains Monday 3 February to Sunday 23 February

Oulton Broad North

Haddiscoe Somerleyton

Buses replace trains Saturday 8 February Sunday 9 February

Whittlesford Parkway

Berney Arms

Reedham

Elmswell

Thurston

Ipswich – Bury St. Edmunds

Dullingham

Cambridge

Cheshunt – Hertford East/ Stansted Airport/ Audley End/

Cantley

Great Yarmouth

Acle Limited Service

Buckenham

Diss

Bury St. Edmunds

Kennett

Waterbeach

Buses replace trains Saturday 1 February to Sunday 16 February

Lingwood

Brundall Brundall Gardens

for Northern England and Scotland

Norwich/Reedham – Great Yarmouth

Roughton Road Gunton North Walsham Worstead Hoveton & Wroxham Salhouse

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Littleport

Peterborough

Limited Service

Sh

Watlington Downham Market

Norwich

d

Kings Lynn

Cromer

West Runton

Liverpool Street – Shenfield Services from Norwich, Ipswich and Clacton will start/terminate at Shenfield. Travelling to/from London – bus replacement service between Newbury Park tube station and Ingatestone. Saturday 15 February Sunday 16 February Saturday 22 February Sunday 23 February Saturday 29 February

Liverpool Street – Southend/Southminster Bus replacement service between Newbury Park tube station and Southend Victoria. Buses replace trains between Wickford and Southminster. Saturday 15 February Sunday 16 February Saturday 22 February Sunday 23 February Saturday 29 February

Southend Victoria – Hockley – Wickford Some Liverpool Street to Southend services will terminate at Wickford or be diverted through to Southminster. Some Southend to Liverpool Street services will not run after 21.05 each night. Monday 3, 10, 17, 24 February Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 February Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 February Thursday 6, 13, 20, 27 February

Red lines Indicate engineering works taking place all day Purple lines Indicate engineering works taking place for part of the day only Greater Anglia Sunday service only Greater Anglia limited service

Pindar Creative 22.1.20 (GA96)

Operated by TfL

4


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Meet... Paul Rogers If one of our trains runs into difficulties while it’s in service, Paul Rogers - or one of his team - rushes to its location to try and effect a quick repair. Paul is the team leader for our Line of Route technicians - mobile engineers who attend to faults that can occur on the company’s older trains while they are in passenger service, with the aim of reducing delays. They’re based at key locations around the network including London Liverpool Street, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Southend and Cambridge, ready to respond to requests for help from fleet support technicians and drivers as well as to issues reported by customers. They need a good working knowledge of Greater Anglia’s different train fleets and because the existing fleet is getting quite old, they can be called out to a range of problems that occur spontaneously - anything from not being able to release the brakes on a train, a head light or tail light not working, faulty seats, door faults, air-conditioning faults, heating faults and broken toilets. As a result of their work, and the efforts of the engineers and teams at Ilford and Norwich Crown Point depots, reliability of Greater Anglia’s Class 321 commuter trains in Essex improved by 165% last year compared to the year before. Paul says, “There are a lot of quick fixes and we don’t want to have a

train pulled from service if we can avoid it. We really take pride in a job well done. Seeing that train leave - that’s it. You’ve cleared the train, you’ve made it safe. You get job satisfaction for every failure you save.”

Changes to first class arrangements We’re no longer selling first class tickets for journeys on our regional routes, following the introduction of our new trains which offer high quality standard seating throughout. This change mainly affects the Norwich-Cambridge, Ipswich-Cambridge and Ipswich-Peterborough routes, where First Class seating was previously available. First Class tickets on other routes across the network will remain on sale until 6 September 2020, from when they will only be available on the intercity route between Norwich and London. First Class seating will be “declassified” on any existing old trains still on the network from 6 September. First Class annual season ticket-holders will be able to change over to a standard class season ticket at any time without financial penalty. By September, Greater Anglia’s new electric commuter trains for Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Ipswich should be starting to replace many older electric trains. These new trains, which are all either five or ten carriages long, with many more seats than the existing old trains, do not have First Class seating areas.

Bids in to make more stations accessible We’ve put in bids to improve access at four of our stations – Wymondham, Colchester, Needham Market and Bury St Edmunds, as part of the Government’s Access for All scheme. The Wymondham scheme, in partnership with Norfolk County and South Norfolk District Councils, is to improve access on the Cambridgebound platform. At Colchester, we’ve applied for funds to build a new passenger lift to link the platforms and subway to the main booking hall and car park. The scheme has support from Colchester Borough Council, Essex County Council and the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership. For Needham Market, the application is part of a coordinated, partnership approach with Suffolk County Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and the Needham Market Group to try to improve access to the Ipswich-bound platform 2 at the station. While there is stepfree access to the Norwich-bound platform at Needham Market station, Greater Anglia currently pays for London-bound disabled passengers to travel via taxi to Ipswich, where they can continue their journey. At Bury St Edmunds, a plan to build a new accessible entrance on the north side of the station, linking the newly-built car park with the station concourse, has support from West Suffolk Council, Bury St Edmunds Town Trust and other local organisations.

More information is here: www.greateranglia.co.uk/firstclass

Find out more about Greater Anglia 6

If you want more news and updates about Greater Anglia, there are plenty of places you can get them. Follow Greater Anglia News on Twitter @GreaterAngliaPR. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/greateranglia or follow Greater Anglia on LinkedIn. Check out the News Desk section of our website for the latest news articles and blogs greateranglia.co.uk/newsdesk


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