1. Great Western Railway GWR’s Rail Vision and Community Rail
September 2016
Dan Okey

2. Summary The Vision for rail From vision to reality Community Rail

3. Our vision is for a renaissance in rail
Our purpose is to revalue rail in the hearts and minds of the travelling public

4. The GWR rebrand
The GWR brand connects with our desire to return to a more evocative and enjoyable rail experience, where high standards and a re-focus on passengers creates more enjoyable rail journeys once more. Three simple letters symbolise and crystallise our unprecedented journey back to great…

5. From vision to reality…
The DfT announced in July that they had decided to proceed with new High Speed trains for the West of England. In our franchise submission we had given the DfT two options; either that we would continue to operated upgraded HSTs or that we could order new trains. We had run a procurement process and selected the Hitachi AT 300s and had secured private finance for the deal which was dependent on the DfT’s commitment that the trains would be operated on the route beyond the life of our franchise. The AT 300 are similar to the AT800/801s but with bigger fuel tanks and larger engines and are bi-mode diesel electric trains. So the AT300s will arrive in 2018.
AT300s will provide greater on-board capacity, faster journey times and a future proof capability that supports further benefits to be captured if electrification is extended to the South West.
New Intercity Super Express Trains, A £350m investment

6. Better connectivity between London and the South West
A new timetable from 2018
Consistently fast services to the West
2 trains an hour on the mainline through Cornwall
Journey time study looking at how to build on the investment

7. Improving local services
Refurbished, longer local trains with WiFi
Persons of Restricted Mobility improvements
More trains to support key local aspirations
New timetable from 2018

8. More capacity for local lines
Example: Barnstaple to Exeter – August 2016 capacity and demand
2,100 seats / day currently Vs 3,468 in 2018 (+65%)
Peak hour capacity from Barnstaple to Exeter will be doubled in 2018

10. Investing in supporting infrastructure
Expanded depot at Exeter St Davids for West fleet
Existing site
Proposed expansion
Plans are progressing for the new depot at Exeter, which will support the enhanced local train fleet and secure jobs

11. Investment in stations
£50million investment in franchise period including investment from local authorities
Improved access to stations, better interchange and facilities for customers will be key outcomes
Projects include: St Erth Interchange, Penzance and Truro sleeper lounges, wifi at every station in Cornwall, Exmouth Station building, Tiverton Parkway car park, Newton Abbot gateline, Marsh Barton, Edginswell, Plymouth Station Masterplan, Exeter St Davids Masterplan

12. Investing in our people
Staff training and development
New uniforms
More Customer Ambassadors

13. New ways to buy and promote tickets
Upgrading websites and journey planner
Torbay Council investment in mobile ticketing Exmouth – Paignton (Autumn)
New gatelines to include barcode readers
Lots of Community Rail activity in this area!

14. Investment in Community Rail
In this franchise we will invest £791,000 in Community Rail
£2.2million Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) to deliver projects that will benefit communities in areas of need

15. Challenges for Community Rail
Understanding the market, reasons for growth, future potential
Identifying train service needs and gaps
Identifying facilities needed at stations
Integrating stations into the community – linking up places
Identifying funding and bringing opportunities forward
Contributing to the long term strategy

16. Project example 1
Avocet Line Behaviour Change Study

17. Project example 1 Avocet Line Behaviour Change Study
Avocet Line RUG promoting 7 day railway
Extra Sunday services funded by Devon County Council over successive years
Aim: year round self supporting service
Behavioural analysis funded by DCRDF and GWR
User and non user analysis
Results informed the marketing approach
Making it fun, easy and popular!

18. Strategy Working Group (NR & GWR)
Project example 2
North Devon Line Promotion Group
Strategy Working Group (NR & GWR)
Devon County Council
Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
Tarka Rail Association
North Devon District Council
Heart of the South West LEP
Universities and Colleges
Developers
Local businesses
Understanding the market for the line and its role in the context of the long term economic and planning prospects for the area

19. Project example 2 Aims of work: Market study Economic potential
North Devon
92,000 population
40,000 jobs
£2.8bn GVA
£36k GVA per job
17k new homes
+ 30% pop.
Aims of work:
Market study
Economic potential
Define train service requirement
Optimise 2018 investment
Long term plan
Exeter Growth Hub
118,000 population
85,000 jobs
£6.5bn GVA
£31k GVA per job
20k new homes
+ 30% pop.
12/11/2018

20. Conclusion We are part of a renaissance in rail
GWRs vision is to revalue rail in the hearts and minds of the travelling public
There is a lot of investment and opportunity
Community Rail is fundamental to achieving lasting change
The challenges for Community Rail are:
Understanding the market
Identifying needs and working with communities
Creating opportunities for investment

21. Thank you