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Sleigh commuting costs this Christmas Friday, 27 November 2009 We aren't all blessed with a vehicle powered by magic and carried by reindeer through the skies, but there's still a way to better and cheaper travel this Christmas! Lincolnshire County Council has teamed up with the Lincoln Business Improvement Group to play Santa by offering a festive prize draw for all those who join their free travel-matching service. Lincshare is an online database for anyone who lives, works and travels in and around Katherine Eales, Senior Accessibility Project Officer at the county council, said: "As a driver, you can halve your petrol costs by car-sharing every day. You can help reduce traffic congestion and pollution, and free up your parking space. You will also be reducing the wear and tear on your car, and the mileage that can depreciate your car's value. "Sharing the driving can also help to relieve the stress of driving to work and can be an enjoyable social activity. "What's more, we've now added the chance to be matched with people who share your taxi, biking and walking journeys too!" Two Tastes of Lincolnshire hampers are up for grabs in two draws, one for county council staff signing up and another for other members of the public who motor on over to the website before 14 December. Register with www.lincshare.co.uk or the ...both sites also include a benefits calculator, so you can see the fuel and vehicle running costs you'll save, as well as the amount of CO2 you'll be cutting. EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS FARES TO RISE BY AVERAGE OF 1.8% FROM JAN 2010 Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Train fares set for lowest rise Monday, 16 November 2009 Train fares are to rise by the lowest rate since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s, the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) has said. It announced that fares will increase by an average of 1.1% in January. Regulated fares, which include season tickets, will fall by 0.4%. However unregulated fares, including cheap day returns, are expected to go up. Some rail unions have expressed fears that the price of some tickets may rise by as much as 10%. The average cost of a train journey is to rise from £5.05 to £5.11 from January. Regulated fares make up about 40% of all fares and will fall because they are capped at RPI inflation plus 1%, based on July's inflation rate of minus 1.4%. Atoc usually releases separate figures for the regulated and unregulated increases. However, with these latest figures it would not disclose what the average unregulated fare increase would be, opting instead to combine the two figures to make the 1.1% rise. Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Not only is January's average fare rise the lowest since privatisation, but it will come in well below the rate of inflation, meaning a real-terms cut in prices for many passengers." He said "record performance, better services and value-for-money fares" had led to "the highest number of passengers travelling by rail for 60 years". Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said that "after years of punishing, above-inflation fare rises, some passengers will see a little light in the new year". However, he warned that the average figure would "mask steep rises on individual routes" and "many unregulated fares will continue to soar above inflation". He urged the industry "to be clear about which fares are going up and to publish average increases for unregulated fares for each train operating company". Atoc also fears that some train operators may tinker with off-peak ticket restrictions, forcing passengers into buying more expensive tickets. Trains 'too costly' for rail firm Wednesday, 11 November 2009 Network Rail is transporting 200 staff by coach from Reading to Coventry for a conference because of the high cost of train tickets, it has emerged. The rail operator has opted to shun train travel for road transport as it is more than £24,000 cheaper. If open return tickets were bought for all the staff it could cost up to £27,000 - £135 each. But coach travel, at £12 a head, will cost just £2,400. The firm said it made no apologies for getting the "best value" for taxpayers. Network Rail said it looks at cheaper options for journeys as part of cost-cutting, as its workers do not get free travel or discounts. A spokesman added: "Whilst we have no role in setting train fares, we use rail for the overwhelming number of business journeys. "Occasionally, if there is a cheaper alternative, we will use that." NEW RAIL FRANCHISE FOR THE EAST COAST MAIN LINE Tuesday, 10 November 2009 As you may know, the Government last Thursday made an announcement in connection with the East Coast rail franchise – and I thought it would now be helpful to write to you with an update. On 1 July 2009, National Express Group PLC announced that discussions with the Department for Transport had not secured an improved outlook for the National Express East Coast rail franchise. As a result, the loss-making franchise would continue to be supported by National Express in line with its franchise support commitments until the committed funding was fully utilised. During the last five months, National Express has worked with the DfT and Directly Operated Railways (as the new operator) to ensure an orderly handover. The franchise has continued to operate on all its existing terms, with the contractual support of the National Express Group. In order to effect the handover from NXEC to DOR, the DfT issued a Termination notice last Wednesday evening, and as a result, the operation of the National Express East Coast franchise will transfer to Directly Operated Railways at 23.59 on 13th November 2009. The background In his statement to the House of Lords on I July, the Rt. Hon. Lord Andrew Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, announced the establishment of a publicly owned holding company called Directly Operated Railways Limited. The Transport Secretary also announced my appointment to lead this company. The Government has promised that the continuity of service to passengers will be seamlessly maintained – and that there is no reduction in service standards. To that end, early in the summer, I assembled a team of highly experienced rail managers and we have been working with National Express East Coast to effect a smooth transition of the franchise into temporary public ownership. The new franchise From the point of Transfer on 14 November, the operation of the East Coast franchise will pass to a company called East Coast Main Line Company Limited, which is wholly owned by Directly Operated Railways. The company will trade as East Coast. Directly Operated Railways will be charged with the stewardship of the East Coast Main Line Company’s rail operations – and for preparing the organisation for subsequent transfer to a new franchisee in the future. The franchise will be re-let following an open competition and this process is likely to take around two years. It is the Government’s intention that a new private operator will re-commence the provision of services in 2011. Our commitment to you I want to give you my personal assurance that we shall do everything possible to keep you well informed about what’s going on in the future – especially about our plans for the new franchise. In summary therefore, it remains my firm intention that East Coast Main Line customers experience the absolute minimum of impact related to these changes. Inevitably, by exception, the branding of the service will change, but importantly, things like ticketing, timetables and general service provision will remain unchanged. We look forward to working with you in the future and I shall write to you again with more information, shortly. Yours faithfully Elaine Holt Chief Executive Directly Operated Railways Ltd. Rail delays this Sunday Friday, 6 November 2009 Rail travellers using First Capital Connect services to Journeys on St Neots, Huntingdon & Peterborough routes may be delayed by up to 50 minutes.
East Coast rail change confirmed Thursday, 5 November 2009 The East Coast Main Line will be transferred to a government-controlled company at one minute before midnight on 13 November, it has been confirmed. National Express has given up the loss-making franchise for train services between London and Edinburgh. The new public company East Coast, set up by the Department for Transport, will be headed by transport expert Elaine Holt. Ms Holt has worked for the First Group and British Airways. Transport minister Lord Adonis said: "I can assure the travelling public that services will continue without disruption and all tickets will be honoured." Lord Adonis who issued a formal termination notice to the company on Wednesday night said the franchise would be transferred to a new operator, Directly Operated Railways, trading as East Coast. 'Orderly handover' Staff currently employed by National Express East Coast will transfer to the new operator, with services likely to remain in public hands until 2011. National Express was committed to pay £1.3bn under the original franchise, but passenger revenues were hit by the recession. Talks with the DfT about easing the terms of the deal foundered earlier this year. National Express also runs the East Anglian and c2c commuter franchises. These will not fall under public control despite initial threats to strip the company of its other rail deals under cross-default provisions. "During the last five months, the group has worked with the Department for Transport and the proposed operator Directly Operated Railways to ensure an orderly handover," the firm said. Ms Holt, as chief executive of Directly Operated Railways, will head a team of industry experts with expertise in engineering, administration and human resources. East Coast Main Line services pass through Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Berwickshire, East Lothian and Midlothian. Christmas Light Switch ON Wednesday, 4 November 2009 Friday 20th November welcomes Spalding's Christmas Light Switch on and festive entertainment. Activities take place in the Town Centre between 3pm & 7:30pm The programme of entertainment is: 3 - 7:30pm = Open air market, Children's rides = Market Place 4 - 6:30pm = Santa's Grotto (£3 per child ~ £5 two at once) = South Holland Centre 5 - 7:30pm = Youth choirs, Brass bands, Festive entertainment = Throughout Town 6:45pm = Santa + Free Press Flower Queen Arrival for 7pm East Coast hand-back day 'agreed' The East Coast Main Line is to be renationalised on 12 December, the RMT has claimed. The union said it had received a briefing on arrangements for a new publicly-owned company which is already trading as East Coast. National Express was told in the summer it would have to relinquish the route. Both the Department for Transport and National Express have said no date has been set, but agree new arrangements should be in place by January. The East Coast Main Line provides trains between London and Scotland. 'Discussions continue' A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "National Express Group has announced it will not provide the further financial support necessary to ensure the subsidiary, National Express East Coast, remains solvent when the current funding runs out. "It expects this to happen around the end of the year, although no date has been set. "This would be the point at which the government will assume control of the franchise." A National Express East Coast spokesperson said: "Discussions continue on the hand-back of the East Coast rail franchise. "We are working towards agreeing a formal hand-back date for the franchise, prior to year end." The RMT said it had learned that East Coast would start to run the route within a matter of weeks. "It is scheduled to take over the operation of the route from 12 December 2009," the union's general secretary Bob Crow said. "The RMT is demanding an absolute assurance that this will be a permanent move that recognises the chaotic failures of privatisation on this prestige route on the UK rail network. "It would be a total waste of taxpayers' money and staff time and energy to have a third gamble on privatisation in 18 months time." East Coast Main Line services pass through Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland.
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