Severn Tunnel Junction vs. Magor - Latest NR Route Plans

As you know we still wait for Mon C.C. to make a Cabinet decision regarding Severn Tunnel Junction vs. Magor, and in the absence of the backing by the County Council, First Great Western are not prepared to commit much further and we are reaching the limit of what they are prepared to do at this time - quote " until /when the station is developed as a Park and Ride".

However events continue to overtake the Council's decision making process. Following the DfT announcement that STJ is one of the stations to be evaluated / funded by the DfT for disabled access, I now enclose extracts from last March and the latest October Network Rail Rote Plan 13.
You will note that Magor now no longer appears in the text and Severn Tunnel Junction now appears with proposed passenger facilities and car parking.

Extract from March 2007 Network Rail Route Plan 13 - GW Main Line

SEWTA (the South East Wales Transport Alliance) is a consortium of ten unitary authorities, which works in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, Network Rail and transport operators towards the development of transportation strategies for the region. During 2005 a strategic review of SEWTA rail policy commenced in order to create a framework for future investment over the period 2009-2018. New stations at Magor with Undy, Llanwern, Coedkernew and St Mellons are proposed. A new station at Llanharan is under construction, and is due for completion in time for the start of the December 2007 timetable.

Extract from October 2007 Network Rail Route Plan 13 - GW Main Line

Facilitated by the Newport Area Signalling Renewal (NASR) we plan to upgrade Pilning goods loops to passenger status with increased linespeeds and greater operational flexibility for routes through the Severn Tunnel. Relief Line speed increases between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff will improve reliability by creating additional capacity for both freight and local passenger services, freeing up the main lines for higher speed services. This also facilitates the development of a new station on the relief lines between Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport, as proposed in the SEWTA rail strategy. We also propose to upgrade Severn Tunnel Junction station by re-instating of the fourth platform and improving passenger facilities and car parking.
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Also for information discussion continues with Andrew Griffiths regarding the additional trains, the 18:35 from Bath which is agreed from next May and the 08:30 from Cardiff that has been blocked by Network Rail.

Further information from Andrew indicates that the problem is actually at Salisbury where there would be a clash if the service ran a minute or two later.

Provisionally Alan and I are booked to meet FGW Head of Train Planning on 13th March. There is still hope as our research shows that the 09:30 has a two minute 'recovery' - actually designated as 'Extra time for Pathing Requirements' that does not appear for the existing 08:30 or for that matter the 10:30 and following services.

I would have expected this to appear for all the non stopping Portsmouth services as they are all timetabled to leave Cardiff five minutes after the up HST and also to leave Newport five minutes after the HST.

According to the latest Network Rail 'Rules of the Plan - 2009 Timetable' the headway between Newport and STJ is four minutes, and through the Severn Tunnel itself it is seven minutes. This means with the service timetabled to follow five minutes behind the London service it needs to loose two minutes before entering the tunnel (2 Minute Extra Time for Pathing Requirements). Based on examination of the 06:30 and 07:30 that both stop at the Junction, the stop adds a total of 2 1/2 minutes based on the Working Timetable times through Pilning.

Thirty seconds stands between us getting the services or not. Something I think is worth continuing to fight for.