OTHER NETWORK DEVELOPMENTS
Anglia have started
an £8 million refurbishment programme for all their InterCity
service carriages which involves replacing mechanical and electrical
equipment, fitting new interior furnishings and a new livery.
In the new Winter Timetable Anglia increased services on the Norwich-Ipswich-London
route by 35%, doubling weekday off- peak services. On the Felixstowe
line £250,000 has been invested in an extra unit to improve
reliability. The Anglia Business Club now has over 3,000 members.
Cardiff have set
up two dedicated bus links in the Rhymney Valley from Rhymney
Station to Tredegar and from Ystrad Mynach Station to Blackwood
Station. Through fares are available onto the Cardiff Railway
Company network. The company also introduced flat rate term student
season tickets based on zones ranging from short trips to a whole
network zone and giving travel for less than £1 a day at
any time of day.
Central Trains introduced
the retailing of bus products at stations in the West Midlands.
Through ticketing was introduced from stations outside the West
Midlands to cover all West Midlands buses.
Chiltern Railways
Easy Payment Plan allows passengers to buy season tickets and
spread the cost over 10 monthly direct debit payments. The company
has also pioneered a scheme which allows small shops, hotels and
post offices to retail a selection of rail tickets.
Great Western placed
a £36 million order with GEC Alsthom for eight new five-carriage
trains. These will be introduced into service in June 2001. A
new rail/bus link has been developed in Abingdon, Carterton, Grove
and Wantage. Special parking spaces have been provided at selected
stations for parents with young children. A helpline (0345 413775)
for disabled passengers was launched in October.
Island Line launched
an integrated rail/hovercraft ticket between the Isle of Wight
and Portsmouth in October.
Connex South Central
started to introduce modified rolling stock on the Coastway East
and Coastway West Lines. The three car shuttle units are standard
class throughout and feature a more open plan interior for security
purposes. The modifications also include improved facilities for
disabled customers including improved flooring, lighting, handrails
and a safety strap for securing wheelchairs.
Connex South Eastern
have distributed 1,000 copies of 'A Guide to Services' on audio
cassette to help visually impaired customers. In partnership with
Maidstone and District Bus Company, CSE have developed rail/bus
links by coordinating timetables and developing through fares
in the area.
Great North Eastern Railways
have completed the refurbishment of all the air conditioning units
on their Mark 4 coaches at a cost of £1.5 million. A programme
of installing self service ticket machines has started at key
GNER locations and a direct debit facility was introduced for
season ticket holders.
South West Trains'
'two for one' ticket promotion from 4 November to 14 December
1997, allowed Senior Railcard holders to take another person on
the same journey for free. A Christmas shopping 'family fare'
promotion enabled up to five people to travel for a total of £5
from Clandon, Horsley and Effingham Junction stations to Guildford.
The offer ran on Saturdays between 17 November 1997 and 3 January
1998. SWT have started a programme to install ticket barriers
at Kingston, Wimbledon and Clapham Junction in a measure to combat
fare evasion and improve passenger security. 30 SWT stations are
currently being repainted as part of a £500,000 project.
Thames Trains, in
their Winter 1997 Timetable, added three trains to morning services
between London, Reading and Newbury, and two extra trains in the
morning peak between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington.
Thameslink introduced
a new bus/rail link service in September between Dunstable and
Luton Station. Through tickets are available at most stations.
Thameslink in association with Connex South Central have developed
a bus/rail package enabling rail customers to purchase unlimited
bus travel for the day in the geographical area Steyning-Shoreham-Portslade-Hove-Brighton-Newhaven.
A new 'Season Freedom' ticket allows passengers unlimited travel
on the Thameslink network encouraging greater flexibility in journey
planning.
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