Wednesday 30 December 2009

Stratford - Holiday Disruption

There are numerous reports of considerable disruption at Stratford this week as London bound trains terminate there during scheduled maintenance work at Liverpool Street. It is suggested that passengers avoid the peak period if at all possible.

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Merry Christmas!

The Essex Rail Users Federation would like to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Christmas Services

For details of NXEA services over the Christmas and New Year period click here

Saturday 19 December 2009

Christmas Eve Services

A reminder that Christmas Eve services begin to wind down from late afternoon and all are advised to check the timetable for last services.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

National Express Announces New Chief Exec

After a six month search following the departure of Richard Bowker, National Express have today announced Dean Finch as their new Chief Executive. Mr Finch was formerly head of the Tube Lines consortium that maintains half of London's Underground.

Monday 14 December 2009

Vandalism Causes Spares Worry

Following the 4th instance of criminal damager leading to severe delays in the past ten days there are now fears of a shortage of spares should this vandalism continue. Thieves are stealing the copper wire used in the signalling systems and Network Rail only keep so much in stock.

The nature of these thefts is suggesting a very organised approach as it is not simply a case of cutting a wire - to do so would probably lead to the electrocution of the perpetrator. Also, newer installations use aluminium instead of copper and these gangs seem to know here the copper is.

Monday 7 December 2009

NXEA Season Ticket Promotion

NXEA has launched a promotion to help annual season ticket holders renew their ticket early and avoid the January rush.

Passengers who renew their season ticket before December 31st will receive £20 back as well as obtaining their ticket at the new January prices. Annual season ticket prices are set to fall by 0.4% in the new year.

This offer is available to those renewing or buying for the first time, their tickets between 23rd and 31st December.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Beaulieu Park

Members of the ERUF committee yesterday met with representatives from Countryside Properties to get an overview of the planned station at Beaulieu Park just north of Chelmsford. Talk of a station in this area has existed for decades but at long last there seems to be progress.

Work on this particular plan has been going in since 2004 with the developers providing business and technical plans to the then SRA to prove that the station can be developed by a third party with 'nil cost to the railway'. Such a plan requires support and agreement from Chelmsford Borough Council, Essex County Council, Countryside Properties, Office of Rail Regulation, Department for Transport, Network Rail and the operator, currently NXEA.

It is estimated that the building process will take 4.5 years from planning approval which will hopefully be obtained in 2010/2011 with completion due in 2015. The length of the development is driven by the fact that building next to a live railway complicates the process considerably with developers requiring possession of the line to complete much of the work.

The building of Beaulieu Park will hopefully reduce traffic congestion in Chelmsford and also reduce the number of people using Chelmsford station which currently has the distinction of being the busiest commuter station in the country, outside London. No mean feat for such a small station.

Of benefit to all passengers north of Chelmsford is that fact that the station will have four platforms thereby providing a convenient passing loop enabling faster services to pass slower trains.