Examination of Witnesses (Questions 14720
- 14739)
14720. Could we come to site three where the
position is both more complicated in some respects and, in others
simpler?[24]
There we can see the yard. What is that site used for?
(Mr Smith) It is used by Lafarge
Aggregates. It is a major point of construction and material distribution
for west London, an important site for us because Lafarge do not
use all of the site and there is potential for other rail freight
uses on this property.
14721. This matter is complicated by proposed
additional provision number three, is it not?
(Mr Smith) Yes.
14722. What is the position if the Committee
approves proposed additional provision number three?
(Mr Smith) Additional provision
number three sees the Crossrail depot that was planned for Romford
moved to Old Oak Common. The space at Old Oak Common will be sufficient
for stabling Crossrail's trains such that the current intention,
which is to stable Crossrail trains on this site at West Drayton,
will no longer be necessary.
14723. If additional provision three is approved,
the site should be able to come out of the Bill altogether. Is
that right?
(Mr Smith) We hope so, yes.
14724. We may have to come back on that matter
when we see additional provision three and whether it is accompanied
by removal of our site. Let us assume for the moment that additional
provision three is not approved. Is there any need for the taking
of all that land which is shown on the plan, on the overhead?
(Mr Smith) Our understanding
is that Crossrail require about 60% of the site. We believe this
would allow Lafarge Aggregates to continue their operation on
the site but would remove all the other land which otherwise we
could use as a rail freight facility.
14725. That 60% would be taken for stabling
in the original proposals?
(Mr Smith) That is correct.
14726. Your comment on that?
(Mr Smith) We do not take
kindly to having land on which we rely to develop our rail freight
business taken away from us. What we need is land that is therefore
instead suitable for handling rail freight. It is all very well
speaking of compensation and financial issues but in the end we
want to run trains. We want to grow rail freight. That is what
we do for a living. We need replacement land. That land has to
be suitable and adjacent to a railway line if we are to continue
in business.
14727. If the Bill is not amended you require
an alternative site; if the Bill is amended it should come out
of the Bill altogether?
(Mr Smith) That is correct.
14728. There is one other matter relating to
the Colnbrook branch line which relates to West Drayton?
(Mr Smith) Yes. The Colnbrook
branch line is the one that curls around the site and heads off
south. This site is important to provide access to that branch
line which serves rail freight facilities along it. If access
to that branch line is disrupted, again it undermines our ability
to move rail freight on the branch line. What we are seeking is
an undertaking, consistent with what the Promoter said in the
response document, that the Promoter will consult EWS on the programme
for track layout changes and, as far as reasonably practicable
and taking into account the interests of other users, attempt
to programme them in a way which minimises the impact on EWS's
traffic and access to the Colnbrook branch line.
14729. Is that something which Crossrail have
said they will do in their response to our petition but have not
committed to?
(Mr Smith) That is correct.
There are lots of general comments, conversations and notes but
they do not have a lot of value until there is a cast iron commitment
to conduct themselves in this way.
14730. We may seek to come back to the Committee
when additional provision three comes forward. Southall is plan
9/4.[25]
This is a very simple one, is it not?
(Mr Smith) This is Crossrail's
mystery site because they do not intend to use the site at all.
We thought, "What is that about?" It turns out that
this site is to be used as a sort of reserve site when Crossrail
is undertaking the works around Acton so that we can as far as
possible keep operating and minimise disruption to our services.
It would appear that Crossrail's method of allowing us to continue
to operate on the site is to compulsorily purchase it and instruct
us to keep using it. It seems simple but it seems a rather convoluted
way of giving us assurance and comfort to carry on doing what
we are doing already.
14731. It is your site and you intend to retain
reasonable siding capacity in any event at this site?
(Mr Smith) Of course we
do because it is fundamental to developing our business on the
Great Western Main Line, particularly the aggregates business
but not limited to that. Having these sites for stabling sites,
for marshalling, for running the engines from one end to the other
is absolutely critical.
14732. That land therefore should come out of
schedule six and should not be in schedule five either. Is that
right?
(Mr Smith) Absolutely.
14733. Could we turn to EWS 9/5 which is Hanwell
Bridge?[26]
I think this is again a rather simple one, is it not?
(Mr Smith) Yes. The site is used
to hold trains clear of the Great Western Main Line. It is described
as a safety valve that enables us to run the trains into customer
terminals when they want them, which is quite good if you are
working with customers.
14734. First of all, does the Promoter need
this land permanently?
(Mr Smith) We believe the
Promoter does not need this land permanently.
14735. What does the Promoter say it needs it
for?
(Mr Smith) Apparently they
want to use part of the site temporarily to alter the layout of
the Great Western Main Line in the vicinity of the site—not
that we are sure they need it but maybe that is for further discussion—so
it appears to be something to do with construction works and stabling
of freight trains, not quite precise. There is a certain lack
of clarity. The one certainty is that it is not required on a
permanent basis and therefore there is no reason for it to be
in schedule six for compulsory purchase. We ask that it is taken
out of schedule six to therefore bring as much of it as is required
within the Bill's power of temporary occupation in a way that
causes minimal interference to EWS's access to and use of the
site.
14736. It is like Slough and Langley. Move it
from schedule six to schedule five if they can justify it going
into schedule five at all?
(Mr Smith) Correct.
14737. Site six, Acton Yard: how important to
the rail freight industry is Acton Yard?[27]
(Mr Smith) In Great Western speak,
Acton is our Paddington. This is the primary centre of rail activity
for freight on the Great Western Main Line used for multiple purposes.
It is used as a terminal, for converting one 4,000 tonne train
to smaller trains, to then move off around London for onward distribution.
It is a site where we base a number of our operating managers.
It is a site used not only by EWS but also by other freight operators
to weight piles in the timetable and to change train crew. It
is a very important site.
14738. The Committee will hear a little more
about this site tomorrow. I think it is common ground, is it not,
that Crossrail do require permanently some part of the southern
part of this site?
(Mr Smith) They do. We heard
earlier on about the Acton dive under. We are pleased at the suggestion
that there is going to be an undertaking on that matter. We have
another issue we need to come back to as to whether freight trains
can use the dive under. The principle of the dive under which
would separate out passenger and freight trains crossing into
the yard is a sound one.
14739. We also know that they say they need
their compulsory purchase power to redistribute the interests
and uses on the land.
(Mr Smith) Yes. The land
that will be taken for the dive under will intrude on certain
of our tenants. We have tenants on our site that provide a rental
income stream as well as customers who do likewise. There are
going to have to be some rearrangements. Our understanding is
that compulsory purchase of a very small part of the site is needed
to facilitate those rearrangements.
24 Committee Ref: A168, EWS Site 3-West Drayton Yard
(LINEWD-19605-018). Back
25
Committee Ref: A168, EWS Site 4-Southall (LINEWD-19605-019). Back
26
Committee Ref: A168, EWS Site 5-Hanwell Bridge (LINEWD-19605-020). Back
27
Committee Ref: A168, EWS Site 6-Acton Yard (LINEWD-19605-021). Back
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