NEWS ARCHIVE

Please remember major disruption caused by engineering work between Ely and Norwich 13 to 21 February and again on 27/28 February. Trains from Liverpool and Nottingham will terminate at Peterborough or Ely, trains from Cambridge at either Brandon or Thetford. Please check with www.nationalrail.co.uk for times of revised trains and replacement buses.

Issued 9 February 2010


We have commented on plans by Norfolk County Council to update its Norwich Area Transportation Strategy in the light of planned population growth. We have welcomed proposals for:
We have made suggestions for developing these ideas, reminded officers of access issues at Wymondham station and emphasised the importance to Norwich of its Liverpool trains. Subject to value, we have supported the idea of more trains between Norwich, Wymondham and Cambridge.

Issued 29 November 2009


At a most positive meeting in Ely on 5 September, Mrs Heather Bolt spoke about the objectives, benefits and achievements of  Norfolk Rail Policy Group, "oiling the wheels". It shows the commitment of local authorities to rail, tries to marry development to rail-served sites and draws down matched funding. It has overseen growth on all passenger routes in and from Norfolk, including the Bittern line to Sheringham. Stations should be easy to find, accessible and easy to park at.

Alan Neville, who now manages Ely and March stations, believes that the station is the gateway to a town or city and should be suitably welcoming. He described his relationships with staff, train operators, District Councils and Station Friends groups. Ely now has much improved platform lights and a safer subway. March has seen four clearing sessions and four big flower tubs. March user Alan Walker praised the efforts of Alan and March staff in keeping the station bright and clean.

Issued 6 September 2009

Passengers are invited to a public meeting of Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users at 1100 on Saturday 5th September 2009 in Ely Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Ely. Guest speaker will be Mrs Heather Bolt, former chairman of Norfolk Rail Policy Group, a frequent rail passenger and someone with experience of influencing rail developments.

Also in attendance will be Alan Neville, who manages Ely and March stations and has a reputation for getting things done.

Issued 2 August 2009 


A report for the Association of Train Operating Companies advocates around 14 new or re-opened railways or stations between 2014 and 2019. Initial analysis shows a positive benefit/cost ratio for hourly trains from Birmingham or Peterborough to Wisbech.

Wisbech is at present served by half-hourly air-conditioned coaches from Peterborough station.

 The report also suggests further study of a service from Oxford/Milton Keynes to Peterborough via Corby and Stamford, as planned in the early ‘90s.

 The publication of this report does not imply that any money has been allocated to explore these schemes.

 Issued 29 June 2009

Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users much appreciates the opportunity to offer initial comments on Norfolk County Council’s outline ideas for the 20 year transport strategy for Greater Norwich.

 We warmly welcome the intention to provide excellent pedestrian facilities in Norwich City Centre. This will help to attract shoppers and tourists to the city by train.

 We share the view that cycling is likely to play a more important role in transport within Norwich and in developing sustainable tourism to Whitlingham Broad. We see a need for good cycling routes to, cycle parking at and cycle hire near Norwich railway station.

 We welcome the intention to explore the possibility of developing up to six rapid transit routes. We hope that as many as possible of these can pass Norwich railway station. There is a clear demand for high-quality and high-frequency public transport between the University and Norwich railway station; we see a similar potential between Norwich Airport and Norwich railway station.

 Development of a rapid transit corridor to Wymondham would offer an opportunity to restore frequent links between Hethersett and Wymondham railway station, with access improvements at the station.  

Issued 1 June 2009 

All Liverpool-Norwich train catering will be withdrawn from 17 May. 

Issued 20 April 2009

Our AGM will be held at 1030 on Saturday 18th April 2009 at the King’s House, Thetford. All, including non-members, welcome. Membership application forms will be available for new members. 

Issued 4 March 2009  

On many Sundays in 2009 Norwich-London trains will be replaced by buses for part of the journey. Several passengers are expected to travel from Norwich to Cambridge, changing there for London Kings Cross. We have now secured a promise that, whenever possible, those Norwich-Cambridge Sunday trains will be of three cars, giving more passengers a better chance of getting a seat.

Issued 21 December 2008

Timetable changes effective from 14th December 2008 include the 0650 from Cambridge to Birmingham starting back at Stansted Airport. The 1612 Birmingham to Cambridge will be replaced by a 1652 and the 1624 Birmingham to Stansted will be accelerated.

Issued 28 November 2008

Timetable changes effective from 14th December 2008 include a new train at 0722 from Cambridge to Ely to connect into the 0652 from Norwich to Liverpool. This is in response to a request from Cambridgeshire ACRE and Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users.

Issued 9 November 2008


Timetable changes effective from 14th December 2008 include the early morning Cambridge to Norwich train retimed to arrive earlier in Norwich to improve a London connection. The late evening Norwich to Cambridge train will leave Norwich 30 minutes later at 2240 and will be more convenient for a night out in the city. National Express East Anglia will take over from East Midlands Trains the operation of these two trains.

Issued 20 October 2008

Liverpool-Norwich stakeholder manager John Hillman addressed a public meeting in Norwich recently. Mark reports:

 John started by mentioning the stakeholder board and then moved on to the kind of passenger who uses the route. The main feature is the use by students all year round although no universities feature in the stakeholder board. Off peak leisure accounts for many other passengers. There is not too much commuting (except in the Manchester area) and very little business travel. Each year 3.8m journeys are made using 2-car 158s.

 Overcrowding is a major problem with capacity at 150% on most trains at some point. The train company receives four times as many complaints about Norwich-Liverpool than any other service. The DfT has no schemes to improve capacity although the new Nottingham-Leeds service should help. There is no need to promote the service. Over the next 10 years 75,000 more homes will spring up at Thetford, Peterborough, Grantham and Nottingham.

 158s are undergoing a £10m refurbishment – 10 weeks per unit. It is hoped to increase the use of 4-car services from seven to 15 by Dec 2011 but platform lengths is a problem. Seating capacity goes up from 138 to 157 with fewer tables and thinner seats. Refurbishment due to be completed by April 2010.

 There is hope that some 150s might become available from London Midland and London Overground in 2010 at the earliest. Their use on local services would enable more 158s to be released for our route. Aspirations include the 1352 from Liverpool running to Norwich. The business case is cost neutral and the unit would return on the 0552 the next morning.

 Overall impression – quietly positive without the spin, being open about the obstacles. 

Issued 4 October 2008


A letter we recently had published in the “Fenland Citizen”:

 “Dear Keith,

A rumour is circulating in March that the town is to lose the services provided by one of its franchised train operators. The truth is that, from now till 13 December, the normal daily through trains to and from Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield have to start and finish their journeys in Chesterfield and Nottingham due to restoration work in Bradway tunnel. The direct trains will be back in December, though the 1806 to Manchester will then be replaced by a later train to Nottingham.

 Also from December the last four evening trains from March to Cambridge will all be extended into Stansted Airport on Mondays to Fridays, providing extra journey opportunities.

 March is generally well served by its railway, with up to 27 daily trains into Peterborough and hourly trains to Birmingham, Cambridge, Leicester, Stamford and Stansted Airport. In response, passenger numbers have grown from 163,000 a year a decade ago to 296,000 a year now, a sustained success story.

 Yours sincerely, 

www.penrug.org.uk

Issued 19 September 2008  

Members of Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users, Travel Watch East Midlands and Travel Watch North West (together with staff from Passenger Focus) did a Liverpool-Norwich line survey in the week starting 18 August, enabling the concerns and experiences of passengers to be fed into a formal development bid for the route. 

 Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users has also written to the Office of Rail Regulation urging approval of a scheme to change the layout of tracks at Nottingham station during planned resignalling so that Liverpool-Norwich passengers gain some punctuality benefits.  

Issued 31 August 2008  

Over 50 painted elephants grace the streets of Norwich until 31 August in a spectacular display of popular art. For more details go to www.goelephants.co.uk. There are up to hourly trains to Norwich from Nottingham, Peterborough, Cambridge, Brandon, Attleborough and Wymondham, twice hourly from Ely and Thetford.

Issued 17 August 2008

Journeys between Cambridge/Liverpool/Peterborough and Norwich will be seriously disrupted up to 16 August by engineering work. Please check before you travel.

Issued 2 August 2008

New guidelines have produced a dramatic reduction in Liverpool-Norwich cancellations east of Ely and west of Warrington. Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users welcomes a significant step forward.

Issued 13 July 2008

The Liverpool-Norwich service development stakeholder board held its first meeting on 1 July, bringing together representatives from Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire passenger transport executives, Liverpool, Nottingham and Peterborough City Councils, Derbyshire, Norfolk and Nottinghamshire County Councils, East Midlands development agency and regional assembly, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, the train operator, Travel Watch East Midlands and Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users.

 There were presentations from the train operator, TWEM and from Christopher Irwin, who initiated the campaign to develop the Cardiff-Portsmouth route.

 Objectives are to:

 Issued 2 July 2008