Examination of Witnesses (Questions 14260
- 14279)
14260. To interpret part of that sentence as
meaning that only 125 stock should be used on the main line east
of Reading as applying to all services would appear to give rise
to anomalous results, would it not?
(Mr Lindon) It would indeed.
14261. Such that we would suggest, perhaps,
that that interpretation would be incorrect.
(Mr Lindon) This is what
we want the clarification on. This is a fairly recent document
and we are looking to make sure that the service to Twyford does
not suffer as a result of having the diesel services removed that
currently operate on the fast line, and possibly a degraded service
operating over the relief line as a result of Crossrail services.
14262. Let us turn to railway timetabling. You
are aware, I take it, that a Crossrail Timetable Working Group
was set up and issued a report dated 22 June 2006? You are aware
of the conclusions of that report?
(Mr Lindon) We received
it yesterday. I have not had time to digest it all.
14263. You are aware that a working timetable
has been drawn up?
(Mr Lindon) Yes.
14264. Which includes Crossrail services, as
I understand it, and the existing passenger services. You are
aware the conclusions of the Timetable Working Group were that
that timetable does not appear to have any material negative impact
on other passenger services.
(Mr Lindon) If that is the
case then we shall be very happy with that.
14265. Evidence was presented to the Committee
last week in relation to the Petition from the Royal Borough of
Windsor of Maidenhead regarding the utilisation of the Henley
branch, and you refer to concerns that the Henley branch, it is
your slide 7 could become unviable.[18]
On slide 9, your worst case, you put "Henley branch closed".[19]
Perhaps if we could bring up the Windsor and Maidenhead Petition
screen. It is 14604D, page 29, the Henley branch timetable summary.[20]
We can see here train services from Henley, on the current timetable.
There are two London services shown, and the Crossrail working
timetable, which is the one which is examined by the Timetable
Working Group, in table 2, retains a through London service which
enables you to get from Henley to Paddington in 45 minutes.
(Mr Lindon) Yes.
14266. That is a timetable that can be used
relating to the access options, and your suggestion that somehow
the Henley branch is going to be unviable and closed is not right,
because that is not the basis of the timetable that is being sought
in the access option from Network Rail.
(Mr Lindon) That is not wholly true. My point
was that the combination of the access option with a route utilisation
strategy which may actually involve the removal of local services
from the main line, albeit at certain times of the day, could
be contributory factors to the withdrawal of these services. If
what you are saying is that—and we are talking now some
considerable years in advance and some considerable number of
timetable changes in advance—by the time Crossrail comes
along we will have a service on the Henley branch to Twyford which
is not worsened by anything that Crossrail may do, or anything
the utilisation strategy may do, that is fine. It is these assurances
we need to be put in place. We are not very happy with the level
of degradation the service is suffering.
14267. Assuming that Crossrail is going to happen,
is there any guarantee that the current level of service to Twyford
and the Henley branch will continue into the future?
(Mr Lindon) Absolutely not.
That is a matter for the Department for Transport.
14268. It would not be right, would it, to ask
this Committee to guarantee a particular level of service on the
Henley branch from Twyford into the future in relation to the
Crossrail scheme?
(Mr Lindon) I am just looking
on the screen at the service, which actually talks about a level
of service from the Henley branch. So, presumably, this will operate
on the fast lines as well.
14269. What you are looking at on the screen
is the working timetable which is the basis of the access options
being sought by Network Rail.
(Mr Lindon) Yes.
14270. You have set out in your evidence a best
case for Twyford and a worst case for Twyford. Are those based
on any timetabling that you have undertaken?
(Mr Lindon) Absolutely not.
The best case is based on the known factor—what we have
been told by the Promoter that we are going to have this service
as the best case, which is one fast service, two limited stopping
services and two all-station services. I would add that this falls
some considerable way short of what is enjoyed at the moment.
14271. The last point I have got is from your
slide 10 of A162, where you set out your counter proposals.[21]
The first bullet point on that slide is that you want to retain
two/three trains running between Paddington and Henley in both
peak periods.
(Mr Lindon) Yes, ideally.
14272. As you have seen, the working timetable
retains one train. Are you asking the Committee to ensure that
in perpetuity two to three trains run between Paddington and Henley
whether there is Crossrail or not?
(Mr Lindon) I am asking
the Committee to provide a mechanism for consultation with the
council on this particular issue. I have already explained my
reasons behind Twyford and the Henley branch's very special case,
and I am concerned that the interests of this one station will
actually be overlooked because of its position and because of
the fact it falls between two stools in respect of train services.
14273. The level of service on the Henley branch
and to Twyford is currently regulated by the ORR and Network Rail.
Why is it that the existing regulatory regime is insufficient
to provide the consultation mechanism that you seek?
(Mr Lindon) Because we now have a parliamentary
Bill going through this Committee and access options which would
be reinforced by the passage of this parliamentary Bill. It is
our desire to ensure that our interests are safeguarded at this
juncture and through this Committee.
14274. Mr Taylor: Thank you.
14275. Chairman: Mr Reed?
14276. Mr Reed: I do not have anything,
thank you, sir.
The witness withdrew
14277. Chairman: Mr Taylor, would you
like to sum up?
14278. Mr Taylor: Thank you, sir. I am
going to reserve our position in relation to whether or not Mr
Browne actually represents the Council until we have seen the
particular form of wording of the resolution.
14279. Chairman: Perhaps I can just help
with that and say that until we receive knowledge of the resolution
being passed by the Council, we will take it that it is Mr Browne's
Petition.
18 Committee Ref: A162, Impact of Crossrail at Twyford,
Petitioner's Concerns (4) (LINEWD-29005-007). Back
19
Committee Ref: A162, Impact of Crossrail at Twyford, "Worst
Case" for Twyford (LINEWD-29005-009). Back
20
Crossrail Ref: P110, Henley Branch Timetable Summary (WINSRB-14604D-029). Back
21
Committee Ref: A162, Impact of Crossrail at Twyford, The Petitioner's
Counter-proposals (LINEWD-29005-010). Back
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