8.4 The Role of Rail Services

We will implement a rail strategy that will enhance the works of the rail operators to deliver an increase in rail journeys.

Rail is an important element of transport provision in the County. We will maintain and improve partnership working with the SRA, train operating companies, Network Rail, relevant local authorities and other rail industry organisations to ensure that the rail system is fully integrated with the rest of the transport network and that train services meet the needs of Lancashire residents.

The local rail network has a significant role to play in meeting the transport needs of Lancashire residents along those corridors served by rail routes. Rail can play an important part in tackling congestion by reducing the impact of car journeys into urban areas.  Rail also has a number of benefits compared with other modes of transport. It is energy efficient and produces less CO2 than other transport modes and it is also an extremely safe form of transport.

Investment in rail can be important for regeneration. The Government has recognised the importance of rail accessibility in the Sustainable Communities Plan. Rail can help to revitalise our towns and cities; to bring jobs, activity, residents and vibrancy back into city centres, helping to deliver urban renaissance. Rail stations are the main arrival points for urban centres and help to define that important first impression of a place. Rail offers choices and opportunities for accessing jobs, education and major services. For non-car users rail also provides important options for regular trips to work and services, and for occasional long distance social and recreational journeys.

The recently published Rail Review White Paper and the updated 10-year plan are key documents setting out the Government's vision for the future institutional, financial and performance objectives for the rail industry. In addition to these the recently published Community Rail Strategy and the draft North West Regional Planning Assessment, both produced by the DfT Rail Directorate, and the strategic vision set out in The Northern Way documentation present important information on National and Regional policy and strategies. However, the key aspects of rail service and infrastructure provision are established nationally through the franchising process and the funding of Network Rail. The franchising process is of major importance to Lancashire as this establishes who will operate the trains, frequency of service, station developments and other aspects of train service.

Rail services in Lancashire are operated by four key franchises, Virgin West Coast, Virgin Cross Country, Trans Pennine Express and Northern Trains. A number of network and service enhancements will be implemented in the future including the West Coast Route Modernisation, through a series of upgrades that will enhance route capacity and improve performance. The key behind these improvements is the introduction of the new high-speed Pendolino trains on West Coast services between Glasgow, Lancaster, Preston and London. Improved journey times and frequencies will increase patronage of these services. Changes in service patterns are expected in 2008 as the second stage of the West Coast upgrade is introduced. The Trans Pennine Express franchise will see the introduction of a complete fleet of new trains and station developments, although this will only affect Carnforth in Lancashire. A review of rail services forms an important part of the Northern Trains franchise; this will look at all aspects of timetabling and rolling stock utilisation and is due to be completed in 2006.

A considerable part of the Lancashire rail network has been proposed for designation as Community Railways as set out in the DfT Rail Directorate's Community Rail Strategy. The strategy places emphasis on three key policy elements namely increasing usage, the encouragement of community involvement usually through the establishment of a Community Rail Partnership or Development Company and containing operating costs. For the Lancashire lines proposed for Community Rail designation, this means that a route may develop operating standards that are suitable for that particular line. The strategy provides local authorities with the opportunity to play a significant role in the future of these lines and in many cases Community Rail designation may only be conferred on lines which have active local authority support and/or a Community Rail partnership.

The development of passenger rail services in Lancashire will be pursued to;

• Contribute to modal shift to rail especially from private transport
• Contribute to the development of integrated public transport
• Improve safety
• Improve accessibility for essential services and contribute to social inclusion
• Contribute to sub regional regeneration initiatives, and
• Improve the quality of the local environment.

The following measures will be introduced to achieve this;

• Maintain and improve partnership working with DfT Rail Directorate, train operating companies, Network Rail, relevant local authorities and other rail industry organisations
• Develop Community Rail Partnerships through the implementation of the DfT Rail Directorate's Community Rail Development Strategy
• Improvements to Rail Infrastructure
• Provision of New Railway Stations
• Physical Improvements to Rail Stations
• Improvements to Station Security
• Facilities for Disabled Users
• Cycling Facilities at Railway Stations
• Interchange Facilities between Bus and Rail
• Development of Bus/Rail Interchanges
• Provision of Timetable and Real Time Information
• Service Integration, and
• Ticketing Integration.

Ticket data is analysed to provide information on annual passenger journeys;

• To five important stations, and
• Across 13 significant screen-lines.

This will be used to establish baselines and monitor the growth of rail passenger journeys.

Further detail on Lancashire's policies and proposals for rail can be found in the Rail Strategy which is published separately.

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