Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair to Welcome Members and the public to the meeting.

Lead: Chair

1.1             The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies were received from Cllr Gannon, Cllr Les, Cllr Duncan, Cllr Waltham, Cllr Hannigan and Mayor Houchen.

 

1.2          The Chair informed Members that he intended to take items 4 and 5 as one item as they cover similar issues.

 

Members are required to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they may have relating to items on the agenda and state the nature of such interest.

Lead: Chair

 

2.1             There were no declarations of interest.

 

To consider and note the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record and to consider any requests for updates on matters contained therein.

Lead: Chair

 

3.1             The minutes of the Consultation Call held on 31 May 2022 were considered for their accuracy.

 

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Consultation Call held on 31 May 2022 be noted.

 

Members to be provided with an overview of rail issues in the North and to consider recommendations for the improvement of services.

Lead: David Hoggarth

4.1             Members received the Future of Rail in the North report and the Rail North Partnership Operational report from the Strategic Rail Director who outlined the key points within each of the reports before Members were able to asks questions and make comments.

 

4.2             Mr. Steve Montgomery provided the Committee with an update on the current situation in relation to TransPennine Express (TPE) and Avanti.  He recognised the current issues and challenges being faced and apologised to customers and stakeholders for the current situation. Before providing a local update, he gave some context to the wider industry issues.

 

He stated that industry reform is at different stages and explained that positive levels of engagement are occurring with the Trade Unions looking at reform. He further explained that the unions are seeking a pay increase for their members and together with the Unions and Government they are looking to develop reform that will enable that increase. 

 

He then updated the Committee on the current situation with Avanti,explaining that from July staff willing to undertake additional overtime shifts significantly reduced.  He then addressed the issue of driver training but stressed that the issue is not driver numbers at either Avanti or TPE as numbers are higher now than pre pandemic but rather getting drivers productive and trained.  He added that work on the Avanti recovery plan continues.

 

Mr. Montgomery explained that final discussions are taking place on the drivers rosters for the December timetable change and was hopeful that the talks would be positive leading to a reintroduction of services from December particularly on Avanti. 

 

TPE are facing similar issues on driver productivity with a significant amount of training needed on diversionary routes.  He reassured Members that they are doing everything possible to restore the services in December that they promised.

 

4.3             Mr. Matthew Golton then provided additional detail on the current situation with TPE.  He also apologised for the impact that cancellations have had on customers and Stakeholders.  Hestated that at the start of the Autumn cancellation levels were at the lowest levels since May but as the Autumn progressed matters became more challenging including a doubling of non-TPE related instances.

 

An update was provided on progress following the last meeting; he explained that they have been working hard to deliver improvements including a temporary adjustment to services on the West Coast Mainline which provided greater stability and a positive impact on the number of cancellations. More crews are expected to become competent by 12 December and the daily number of services will be increased to 35 in December rising to 40 in May 2023.   As competency and depth is added services are anticipated to  improve week on week.

 

4.4             Mr. Nick Donovan provided the Committee with a progress update for Northern.  He explained that there is currently strong customer demand with the service being at about 90% of 2019 volume levels with leisure continuing to dominate, but this is being impacted by the industrial action and the service delivery challenges.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive an update on rail operational matters and updates from the operators and Network Rail.

Lead: Gary Bogan

This was covered in Item 4.

To consider the report of the Interim Heaad of Investment and Planning and to receive an update on readiness for the December 2022 timetable change and progress with infrastructure development.

Lead: Chris Mason

6.1             Members received the report from the Strategic Rail Director who highlighted the key points within the report.

 

6.2             Mr. Richard Harper the Chair of the Manchester Taskforce provided Members with an update.  He explained that the new timetable is designed to improve the situation in relation to delays in central Manchester through reducing the congestion which became apparent in 2018.  He added that if a comparison is made between the December 2019 timetable and  that which is about to be introduced there are fewer trains making complex routes across Manchester which means less delay will be spread across the region. They are also longer, but also fewer trains more evenly spaced, and whilst this will have an impact on some journeys there will be a big improvement for many.  He further explained that standardised service patterns will mean an even delivery of capacity for passengers and will allow for better interchange which will meanfewer trains with better spacing on the Castlefield Corridor.

 

With regards to infrastructure Mr. Harper highlighted that the industry, through the Task Force, has been closely monitoring readiness for the new timetable. Some infrastructure works have been completed, whilst others are close to completion and are being monitored closely.  Work has also been taking place to train drivers on new routes; none of the risks give specific cause for concern, and mitigations are in place.

 

The Committee was reassured that the Task Force will be closely monitoring the implementation of the timetable.

 

6.3             Mayor Burnham enquired as to “what success looks like” regarding implementation of the timetable and also requested greater clarity on the infrastructure timeline. 

 

Mr Harper explained that a comprehensive analysis of performance will take place pre- and post- timetable change which will look at all of the detailed root causes.The one measure which is particularly important for the timetable is the level of congestion delay and this will be looked at closely. He explained that the modelling which was undertaken showed that the new timetable should reduce that by 20% and that is the measure that will be monitored.

 

He then went on to highlight the opportunity for electrification schemes on the Northwest quadrant out of Manchester coming to fruition and the works in Salford and Manchester Victoria.

 

The Committee was  informed that Network Rail is producing  work which will be published in the spring which will provide a further update and hopefully remove the vagueness around infrastructure work beyond 2025.

 

6.4             Mayor Coppard raised the issue of there being no link in Sheffield to Manchester Airport and requested an update and requested the opportunity for South Yorkshire to be more involved in the Task Force.

 

Mr. Harper explained that the service to Manchester Airport is understood and is on the list of service business cases for future. Mr. Golton explained that this is something that TPE are working on.

 

Mayor Coppard asked Mr. Harper to write to him outlining the plan.

 

6.5             Cllr Hinchcliffe highlighted that there is no link  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider the report of the Partnership and Programme Manager. To provide an update on the revised East Coast Mainline timetable proposal, progress with development of infrastructure and to note the position on the Leeds Area Study.

Lead: Caroline Young

7.1             Members received the report from the Partnership and Programme Manager who highlighted the key issues in the report.

 

7.2          Cllr Hinchcliffe expressed  frustration with the length of time taken. She explained that the Programme Board is in place but more involvement is required from  DfT regarding the infrastructure and highlighted the lack of response to the IRP and the fact that there are still no Terms of Reference to the Leeds Study. She also enquired as to the current position of the Northern Acceleration Council.

  

7.3          The Chief Executive explained that during Grant Shapps’ tenure as Secretary of State the Department was anxious to release the Terms of Reference although cross governmental approval was needed.   Following the change in the Secretary of State he hoped that the Terms of Reference would be released soon.

 

7.4          Mayor Coppard supported Cllr Hinchcliffe’s comments and suggested that a letter be sent to Government with the support of TfN on this matter.

 

Resolved:

1)   That the Committee notes the update on industry work to introduce a revised timetable on the East Coast Main Line and further infrastructure enhancements;

2)   That Transport for the North writes to Department for Transport to seek inclusion of Transport for the North on the ECML Programme Board;

3)   That the Committee notes the update on the Leeds Area Study.

To consider the update of the Rail Strategy Manager on the work undertaken by Transport for the North to develop a Reliability & Resilience Delivery Plan, setting out short-term infrastructure enhancements to improve the resilience of the network.

Lead: David Worsley

8.1             Members received the report from David Worsley who highlighted the key points in the report.

Resolved:

1)   That the Committee notes the work that has been undertaken by Transport for the North on small-medium infrastructure schemes

2)   That the Committee endorses the approach to improving reliability set out in this report

3)   That the Committee endorses seeking devolved funding from Government, potentially through Network Rail, to address the resilience and reliability of the network

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Items X on the grounds that:

 

(1)It is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during such item(s), confidential information as defined in S100A(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed to them in breach of the obligation of confidence; and/or

(2)it / they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the Paragraphs [listed below] of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 10 and 11 on the grounds that:

(1) It is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during such item(s), confidential information as defined in S100A(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed to them in breach of the obligation of confidence; and/or

(2) it / they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the Paragraphs [where necessary listed below] of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider and note the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record and to consider any requests for updates on matters contained therein.

Lead: Chair

10.1          The private minutes of the Consultation Call held on 31 May 2022 were considered for their accuracy.

Resolved:

That the private minutes of the Consultation Call held on 9 March 2022 be noted.

To consider the report of the Rail North Partnership Director.

Lead: Gary Bogan

11.1       The report was received by Members who were then invited to ask questions and make comments.

Resolved:

That the report of the Rail North Partnership Director be noted.