LICHFIELD RAIL PROMOTION GROUP
Minutes of Meeting Monday 7.30 pm Monday 12th October 26, Kings Head, Lichfield
ATTENDEES Richard Henshaw, Paddy Martin, David James, Peter King, Roger Hockney
Roger Hartley, Owen O’Neill, Matthew Bentley, John Woodcock
APOLOGIES RECEIVED
Jane Arnstein, John Adams, David Bathurst
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the meeting were approved. All matters arising covered below.
WEBSITE
Nothing to currently report.
SHENSTONE STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Work continues on the Community Garden outside station & Jane is hopeful project can be completed by Spring 27.
LICHFIELD CITY STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Nothing to currently report.
LICHFIELD TO BURTON
Richard & Roger Hockney had attended meeting at Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden (RBLRG) formerly known as National Memorial Arboretum, to discuss potential Lichfield to Burton reopening and station to serve RBLRG. The meeting was attended by Philippa Rawlinson (RBLRG Director), Toby Rackliff (Strategic Lead Rail Policy WMRE) Phil Bennion (Lib Dem Politician) & representatives from Network Rail and Railfuture West Midlands. WMRE and Network Rail cautioned that there could be no major investment in Lichfield to Burton during current control period (ends March 29) as all funds were being allocated to Midlands Rail Hub. However, they are currently exploring the concept of a low-cost shuttle service between Lichfield Trent Valley and Alrewas/ RBLRG.
The group agreed this could be a suitable interim solution pending a longer term full
Lichfield to Burton or Derby service, when funds were available.
LICHFIELD TO WALSALL
Nothing to currently report.
HS2
Viaducts over HS2 are now structurally complete. Work on Curzon Street Station continues to progress.
BATTERY ELECTRIC TRAINS
Trans Pennine Express has ordered 29 Battery Electric Trains, to be built at Alstom Derby, with delivery starting 2032 and full fleet in traffic by December 2034. By 2034, the Manchester to Leeds & York line will be fully electrified. These trains will be used to reach Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn (a few miles after Middlesborough), where the last leg of the journey is not electrified. The batteries will be recharged on the electrified sections and at charging points at Hull, Scarborough and Saltburn. The trains will be able to reliably run 50 miles on battery power and will be capable of reaching 100 mph on battery power and 110 mph on electrified sections. The trains will also have level boarding.
If Cross City Line services were extended to Burton or Derby in the future, Battery electric trains would be a potential solution.
Owen O’Neill mentioned that the recently published GBR Rolling Stock strategy states that Battery Electric trains are the preferred solution for DMU replacement, where full electrification is not affordable. The strategy also states that all future trains ordered must have level boarding.
CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING ENGINEERING WORK (WEST COAST MAIN LINE AND BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET)
No trains on West Coast Mainline between Stafford and Rugby previous weekend (10th & 11th October) and next weekend (17th & 18th October), due to engineering work. Rail replacement busses will operate, but passengers for London could probably get there quicker, by going via Birmingham New Street.
Birmingham New Street will be closed 24th to 28th December for engineering work. Main work will be replacing overhead catenary, some of which dates back to the 60’s. Rail replacement busses will be provided 24th, 27th, 28th December. David James & John Woodcock remembered that for one New Street closure over the Christmas period (about 15 to 20 years ago), Cross City North trains were diverted to Birmingham International, with a dedicated bus shuttle provided from Aston to New Street. This was a better arrangement, as the replacement bus from Lichfield City to Birmingham takes 1 hour 25 minutes.
Owen O’Neill informed us that New Street will also be closed over the Christmas period in 2027 & 2028 for further engineering work.
TREASURERS REPORT
Bank Balance is currently £1540.15.