Present
Janet Egdell- SE
Gerard O’Hanlon - First Scotrail
Anne Dougan - SE
Ron McAulay - NR
Paul Teasdale - SE
Tom Bridges - ARUP
Stefan Sanders - ARUP
Julie Mills - SRA
Andrew Burgess - ORR
Peter Fuller - SRA
Richard Eccles - NR
Nigel Wunsch - NR
Geoff Cook - NR
Denise Manzor - SE
Agenda Items Action
1. Minutes of last meeting
Minutes of 13 May meeting were approved without amendment
2. Rail Strategy Stakeholders Forum
Janet
Egdell gave feedback from the first meeting of the Rail Strategy
Stakeholders Forum which was held on 21st June. It was generally
agreed the Forum had been well received though care would be needed in
managing the consultations to avoid “consultation overload”.
The
numbers of attendees at stakeholder meetings was discussed. Some of
the current RTP’s had sent a representative from each council and it
was agreed that to keep the size of the forum manageable, it would be
preferable to limit the numbers to one representative from each RTP.
For their Part 1 stakeholder fact-finding and information gathering,
ARUP were however content to meet with more than one representative
from each body.
Joint consultation meetings for RUS and SPA were
discussed. ARUP and NR will each prepare a paper on their approach to
consultation to allow this proposal to be assessed
It was also
agreed that Steering Group meetings would be held prior to Stakeholder
meetings to keep SG members informed and ensure consistency of
approach.
3. SPA Update
Progress update was given on the
SPA. Papers on Demand Forecasting, Committed Schemes and Freight
issues still needed to be finalised with input from SE and SRA.
Stakeholder liaison meetings were continuing although setting up
one-to-one meetings with the RTP’s are proving problematic to arrange.
In discussion, it was recognised that the SPA baseline was being
addressed from a strategic perspective while the RUS baseline was more
detailed to enable ORR to assess funding requirements. There was also
discussion on options for defining the Core and Progressive Scenario.
ARUP
NR
4. RUS Update
Nigel
Wunsch gave a progress update on the RUS, including the proposed
approach to prioritisation within the study. Gerard O’Hanlon offered
First ScotRail information on passenger volumes by line and route to
assist. The scope of the RUS was in the process of being finalised and
would be completed by 26th July, the date of the first RUS Stakeholder
Forum.
5. ECML Strategy/RUS Update
Richard Eccles told the
meeting that the Rail Industry Planning Group had recently agreed to
have Network Rail lead an industry RUS for the ECML. The SRA had just
published an ECML Review which brought together work already undertaken
by the SRA. The first stakeholder meeting of the ECML RUS is intended
for late July/early August where the scope would be agreed. In timing
terms, the ECML RUS would run in parallel with the Scottish RUS.
6. Key Assumptions
Stefan
Sanders outlined the key assumptions on baseline data being used in
Part 1 of the SPA. There was discussion on using RPI+1 for fares,
concluding with agreement to maintain it as the status quo. The
assessment of the effect of major committed schemes was still to be
finalised with further input needed from Scottish Executive. As this
was also of interest to Network Rail for the RUS, it was agreed that SE
would arrange a joint meeting with the Major Projects Team to firm up
the data so that these assumptions could be finalised
SE
7. Freight Utilisation Strategy
Background
work is ongoing and the scope is being revised in discussion with
ORR. The Rail Industry Planning Group will sign off the scope of the
strategy.
8. Rail Route Investment Projects
These are being
set up to promote a more inclusive approach to the planning of renewals
and enhancements across the network, and give TOCs and FOCs an early
opportunity to input views and ideas. Management of the groups will
fall to Network Rail and one will be established covering Scotland. It
is envisaged meetings will be held quarterly and will provide a working
level dialogue on investment plans. The first meetings are being
arranged.
NR
9. Dates and locations of future meetings
Next meeting is 26th July pm at Buchanan House, Glasgow. SE will circulate dates of future meetings.
SE
10. AOB
None
Scottish Executive June 2005
