LICHFIELD RAIL PROMOTION GROUP
Minutes of Meeting Monday 7.30 pm Monday 13h July 26, Kings Head, Lichfield
ATTENDEES Richard Henshaw, Jane Arnstein, Paddy Martin, David Bathurst, John Woodcock, David James, Peter King, Roger Hockney
APOLOGIES RECEIVED
John Adams, Geoff Lusher, Matthew Bentley, Roger Hartley, David Dundas
MINUTES OF JUNE MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
John Woodcock stated he was still updating the “About” page of the website and had not yet sent it to Steve Smith. Apart from this, the minutes of the meeting were approved. All matters arising covered below.
WEBSITE
Nothing to currently report.
SHENSTONE STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
A flyer has been produced to advertise “The Sidings” (the planned Edible Community Garden by the station), with a QR code for a link for donating. LRPG is acknowledged as a sponsor, following the £200 contribution. West Midlands Trains has supplied planters.
LICHFIELD CITY STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
No update yet from Geoff Grant on when he will be attending Lichfield City. (Geoff Grant subsequently contacted Richard and a meeting at the station was held on 11th August with Richard, David James and Kathy Maskell from Station Adoption Group).
There is now a pictorial Spaghetti Line map in the waiting room. Station Adoption Group are also planning a Community Art wall in the waiting room.
Station Adoption Group are planning to have local choirs singing on the station in the run up to Christmas. The group feel it could not additionally take over responsibility for Trent Valley Station but would be willing to provide support and encouragement if a Trent Valley Adoption Group was set up.
LICHFIELD TO BURTON
The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) has been part of the Royal British Legion family but Roger Hockney reported that from September Royal British Legion will be taking over
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direct control and management of NMA. The NMA will be renamed Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens. Royal British Legion are planning more investment in the site and it was felt they could be more interested in opening a station to serve NMA and Alrewas. It was agreed Richard would contact Royal British Legion. ( Richard and Roger Hockney subsequently held a meeting with NMA Management on 7th August).
LICHFIELD TO WALSALL
No resurfacing and steps to allow easier access from by- pass have not been erected.
HS2
Richard Henshaw and David Bathurst had visited Curzon Street station site with Campaign for Rail. Some 2000 piles have now been sunk, some to a depth of 28 metres. About 1000 people currently working on site and approaches. Health and Safety taken very seriously. The team is focused on delivering the station and unable to answer questions on when the station will open and the Curzon Street to Old Oak Common service will start.
NEW WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS (WMT) MD
Ian Mc Connell has moved from WMT MD to Rolling Stock Director at DFT Operator Limited, which owns the passenger rail operators returned to public ownership.
He is replaced by Denise Walton, who has worked with Network Rail for 20 years. (As part of the transition to Great British Railways, it was subsequently confirmed that Denise Walton will also have responsibility for track and infrastructure for most of West Midland Rails Network, including Chiltern Line all the way to London Marylebone. However, excludes responsibility for track and infrastructure for West Coast Main Line and route from Rugby to Stafford via Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton).
GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS REBRANDING
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy has stated trains will normally only be rebranded in full Great British Railways livery when they are due for repainting. He also said that some names such as South Western and Great Western will be retainedand shown on the side of trains.
SOHO DEPOT
Richard had recently visited Soho depot. There has been recent investment and expansion of depot to handle the Class 730/0 units. (The plan to open a depot at Bescot has now been abandoned due to cost and objections from people living close to proposed site). The Depot undertakes light maintenance (including pantograph replacement), visual checks and cleaning. Units are sent to Bletchley Depot for heavy maintenance.