Aberdeen City Briefing 13 th May 2016

Project Scope – Phase 1 Transport Scotland’s specification for delivery by Mar 2019: Half hourly service between Aberdeen and Inverurie Maintain existing freight access rights on the route Some additional services between Inverness & Elgin Create infrastructure capacity for new station at Dalcross.and Kintore (funded by others)

GI/SI works at Elgin, Forres and Dalcross – ongoing until Autumn 2016 Drainage investigation works between Inverurie and Aberdeen, involving CCTV scoping of the current systems – ongoing throughout Summer 2016 Boreholes and trial holes of bridges and other structures between Inverurie and Aberdeen – ongoing during Summer 2016 Advanced signaling work at Elgin station – to be completed in Summer 2016 Design work is ongoing - –West end designs to be finalised by Summer 2016 –East end designs to be finalised by Winter 2016 Current Activity…..

Promoted jointly by Aberdeenshire Council and NESTRANS Double platform design, unstaffed station similar to Dyce Not funded by the project A key piece of infrastructure to enable the full double tracking between Aberdeen and Inverurie Kintore Station…

To date: 56k leaflets distributed along the route + 22k noise notification letters to neighbours Community drop-ins Forres, Elgin, Dyce, Kintore & Inverurie All MP’s/MSP’s and elected members briefed along the route Meetings with Local Authority functions Community Councils and Community Groups briefed Consultation with disability groups in Moray and Aberdeenshire Next Steps: Further community events to be held as key project milestones approach Website and newsletter being developed with a Summer 2016 go live date Ongoing programme of noise notification to lineside neighbours (10 week blocks) Pilot programme on suicide awareness with Elgin Street Pastors and NHS Grampian Local community legacy projects: SFA and Scottish Youth Theatre. Community Engagement….

Customer Context –2.131m journeys pa (41k pw) –c2,300 ABD arrivals every day –30% in AM peak; 20% in PM –Daily arrivals: Dyce (950); Inverurie (600); Insch (150); Huntly (100); Elgin (200); Inverness (170) Queen Street Tunnel Closure Lessons –Consult early and widely and agree planning objectives –Alternate travel choices: bus? active travel? –Origin / Destination surveys –Blockade vs Weekends vs Early Close –Phased communications Considerations –Alignment with planned roadworks and events –Viability of alternate transport modes –Use of Dyce park and choose –Ticketing / SMART cards How do we build it…

72% of passengers arrive on foot 69% state bus as their preferred alternative mode 53% of passengers arrive on foot 42% arrive by car as either driver or passenger 52% state bus as their preferred alternative Example customer survey outputs…

Initial Draft Construction Plan (East End) –Aberdeen to Dyce: Sep 2017 to May 2018 (3 x 9 day blockade) –Dyce to Inverurie: May 2018 to Dec 2018 (2 x 9 day blockade) –Kintore to Insch: Feb 2019 to Mar 2019 (8 week blockade) –Last train is 21:56 ABD-INV (22:50 ABD-INR doesn’t run) Oct 2017–Dec 2018 Alternate to Aberdeen - Inverurie Blockades –Weekend closures; –Earlier last train (19:12 ABD-INR or 20:14 ABD-INV); Later first train Next Steps –Customer surveys planned for w/c 9th May –Website launch mid May –Consultation with LA’s; Chamber; Airport; Bus Operators; Community Councils Potential Construction works…

Works will be very disruptive to rail customers When complete we get a step change service improvement: –Improved reliability and clockface departures –Project specified to provide for a half hourly Aberdeen - Inverurie service. Draft timetable uses created capacity to provide 15/20 min peak service –Combines with new hourly Aberdeen – Montrose service (“Aberdeen Crossrail”) –New local services enable limited stop intercity service –Employment sustained and created We need your help: –To identify the ‘least worst’ construction strategy: timing, alternate transport etc –To help with communications and managing expectations –To continue existing partnership working to deliver Kintore for end 2018 –To support delivery of the alternate transport plan Summary….

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