The Go-op Co-operative's Annual report (in preparation for their
AGM▸ ) is online at
http://www.go-op.coop/workspace/uploads/files/go-op_2015_annual_report.pdf .
The board report - I'll quote it completely rather than picking out any key paragraphs:
As we began 2015, our task seemed clear: Network Rail were able and willing to put their support behind our proposals, as long as we could demonstrate that the capacity existed on the network. With that support, we could at least prove our standing in one crucial respect.
As our members know, the process did not meet our expectations. A combination of industrial action, policy changes and personnel changes imposed delays and compromised the quality of the feedback we received. Frustratingly, these very delays meant that new timetables were coming through which we had to adapt our thinking to.
Finally, in September, we concluded that we had no realistic way of securing Network Rail support within a reasonable timeframe. While we have continued to consult with them, and take account of their view of capacity, we decided to proceed with an application to the ORR» directly based on the evidence we have that our timetable does not cause disruption to any other scheduled services and adds value to the rail network.
In support of that, we launched a competition for a fresh exercise in demand forecasting, and we were most impressed with the submission from the Railway Consultancy. By the end of the year, they had begun work on a complete update of our revenue projections using the most recent ticket sales data and meeting the standards set by the ORR. This has now begun to deliver some very interesting results, and has prompted a radical reworking of the intended route: instead of Westbury – Birmingham Moor Street, we have now changed origin and terminus stations so that it runs Taunton – Nuneaton. This longer route requires four rather than three diagrams, and so rolling stock – already an issue that had seemed irresolvable throughout the early part of the year – now becomes critical.
Fortunately, in December a highly significant announcement was made regarding the Northern franchise. Its award would lead to a major investment in new diesel rolling stock – the first such order for many years. These units would, moreover, be identical in specification to our requirements: 100mph capable, and in 2 or 3 car formations. We could now ride on the coattails of this order, our modest requirements made much more cost effective by the huge scale of the Northern franchise.
This still left an outstanding problem. Delivery of these new units would not take place until 2019. How could we begin a new operation before then? We have developed a plan for a transitional service, operating between Taunton and Swindon only, using the 'D-train' being manufactured (or remanufactured, as they are based on old London Underground trains) by Vivarail. While these are relatively slow vehicles, this section of the route is suitable for their use and they will enable us to build up traffic on the western section (where the need for service enhancement is most pressing) prior to the introduction of a full service from 2019.
As we approached the end of the year, it became clear that these opportunities would come to nothing if we did not put our finances on to a stronger footing. We consulted with our members: should we acknowledge that the project had run its course, and write off the investment we had made? Or should we make every effort to take our proposal to the ORR and at least give it the chance of success? We were humbled by the solidarity and determination displayed by our members, and we gratefully accepted the further investment that would enable us to turn these developments into a comprehensive business case. We will overcome the systemic inertia and the practical challenges to make a serious and detailed case for a major enhancement to the rail network that is financed, owned and controlled by the people who use it.
AGM is:
Room 4Q07
(Room 07, Q Block, 4th Floor)
Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England Coldharbour Lane, BRISTOL BS16 1QY
2pm Thursday 23rd June 2016
Agenda at :
http://www.go-op.coop/workspace/uploads/files/go-op_agm_2016_agenda.pdfIn my
CRP▸ role these days, I must admit that I've become far more concerned with getting extra passengers onto the (now) existing trains and their incremental improvement - little changes, big difference stuff ... so I had rather lapsed in looking out for the cooperative's activities.
Undoubtedly, there is still passenger growth opportunity on the Swindon to Westbury section of their route, and the Oxford to Swindon run is another hole. Frome could really do with a rather better service from Westbury, and the service linking it to its county town of Taunton must be one of the worst train services from any town of 20,000 plus to its county town in the
UK▸ - so there's another gap. All along, the organisation has done a fine job in identifying gaps where services are sadly lacking, but have a good case. Headed north to Nuneaton, I'm limited in how I can comment as I don't know their route nor the area. Melksham to Motherwell with a change at Nuneaton would be attractive personally rather than other change options.
