Agenda item

2.0    Nick Hilton - Network Rail Project Manager have introduced the team.

2.1           Statistics show that over the next 25 years demand on journeys to London will rise by 40%, long distance journeys by 70% and regional/urban journeys by 100%.

2.2           Catalyst for enhancements.

1 billion of the 1.3 billion journeys made on the railways are people commuting or travelling on business for whom journey time and reliability are particular important.

Every day rail transports 100 million tonnes of goods.

Britain’s roads are full: with road congestion already costing the economy £7-8 billion every year as a result of time lost in delays.

The railway is nearly full, there is no space for more trains on the busiest parts of the network, and demand is still growing.

Investment in rail is not a luxury – it’s a necessity: roads cannot accommodate growth in travel – road congestion is already impacting on British business.

2.3           Outputs of the development.

Eliminate conflicting movements between the lines south of the station for passenger services that are operating to the North East and Scotland and all other passenger services.

Removes a major constraint on developing timetables on the ECML allowing an increase in Long Distance High Speed services as part of the programme of schemes identified.

Performance improvements and reduction in journey times due to less pathing time being required.

2.4           The project will involve:

·        An additional line and new junction from Holgate bridge into platform 11;

·        Modifications to signalling;

·        New overhead line electrification;

·        Civil engineering;

·        Electrical works.

2.5           The project key dates:

·        Project commenced on site - April 2011;

·        Railway engineering works April – November 2011;

·        Weekend works commence on 11^th June 2011;

·        Main engineering works 0 August Bank Holiday (Friday pm – Tuesday am) 2011;

·        Project commissioning  - November 2011;

·        New timetable in use – December 2011.

2.6           All works will be pre-notified to residents, Environmental Health Team and Ward Councillors.

2.7           Access point to the site via Leeman Road Underpass. Access via  Cinder Lane and Station car parks, National Railway Museum and York IECC. The road leads to a vehicle track access point onto Network Rail’s infrastructure, known as the ‘Engineer’s Triangle’.

2.8           Noise will be managed to minimise its impact on residents by:

·        No piling, all civils bases to be excavated;

·        Limited ballast trains required and loaded during the day;

·        Silenced plant to be deployed (generators etc);

·        Noise screens to be deployed in required;

·        Review of plant operations at night – reversing moves and klaxons;

·        Staff briefings over night time noise;

·        Back to back radios to limit shouting;

·        Day works from April to June for some track works;

·        Safety of Railway workers is paramount.

2.9           Lighting to be managed to minimise light pollution by:

·        Lights will not shine towards housing where practical;

·        Careful location of tower lighting positions;

·        Task lighting where possible;

·        Lighting screens where no other solution exist.

2.10     Works programme:

·        June – August – weekend night preparation works;

·        August 13^th – install new track and points;

·        August 20^th – erect new signals and Overhead line Equipment (OLE);

·        August 26^th – install new Junction and OLE;

·        September 24^th – OLE works for new Junction;

·        October 1^st – OLE works continued;

·        November 19^th – commissioning weekend.

2.11     Equipment to be used on site:

·        Engineering trains,

·        Tampers,

·        Rail cranes,

·        Road/rail excavators,

·        OLE equipment,

·        Hand tools.

2.12     Project will be carried out under the H&SAWA, CDM regulations and Network Rail Safety procedures.

On site Safety and Environment inspections and tours will be carried out during works.

Archaeological investigations were carried out as part of the design and York Archaeological Trust has confirmed no interest in the site.

 

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions. 

 

Q -    I live on Cambridge Street and have not received any notification of the planned works. Residents who live next to the site will suffer from noise, especially during the night.

A -     We came here today to explain the reasons behind the development and can assure you that reasonable steps will be taken to reduce the noise.  Due to the nature of the work there will be some disturbances, such as vibrations from tamper machine.

 

Q -    If these works will damage my property, will you pay compensation?

A -     According to law regulations you will have to present the valuation of the loss.

 

Q -    Will the works interrupt the railway service during the bank holiday weekend?

A -     The works will be carried out at night when the railway is not operating to avoid disruption. The service should be operating as normal.

 

Q -    Is it possible to ensure that engineering trains will be turning their engines off while they are not moving?

A -     We will try to enforce that with train drivers. You will also be able to call our national helpline and report incidents. Complaints will be logged and forwarded to site manager who will action. The number for the helpline was provided on the letter sent out to residents.

 

Q -    Will you notify residents prior to each works taking place? If yes, what will be the format of the notice and how long before the works it will be announced?

A -     First batch of letters was sent out to residents in April 2011. Those letters contained our helpline telephone number and e-mail address. In the event of changes to the works plan we will write to residents. We will be also notifying residents prior to key noisy weekends.

 

Q -    Will you install soundproof screens or extend the brick walls to minimise the noise and vibrations?

A -     There are two types of noise, high pitch and vibrations. The vibrations may affect residents who live further away from the works site. Installing higher soundproof screens will not minimise the vibrations.

 

Q -    Is there possibility for the tamping to be taking place during the day?

A -     We have to install new track and the idea of tamper is that it goes along the track and levels it. Without the tamper we would not get safe, balanced line. We will try to contain tamping during normal working hours.

 

Q -    Will the works affect trains operating during the week?

A -     The trains will be operating as normal during the week and there will be special timetable for the weekends.

 

Q -    How you can guarantee that you will notify residents on time in the future? Residents of flats on Cambridge Street have not received any notification of the works yet!

A -     We have delivered 600 letters in the area affected by the works. Perhaps there was a problem with the access to the flats. We will have to check why residents of flats on Cambridge Street have not received notification letters.

 

Q -    There is an issue with van drivers who are driving over grass verges on Barbara Grove.

A -     Please call our (Network Rail) helpline to report the accidents. We can address the issues with Network Rail van drivers only. Please make sure that you have registration number of the offender written down.

 

Q -    Could the presentation and the works updates be published on the website?

A -     The York project is relatively small comparing to other projects and it might be difficult to get the information on the website, but we will ask the question.

 

Q -    Which way will the constructional traffic be directed?

A -     It will be coming off Ring Road, along Blossom Street and past the station, Leeman Road and under the low bridge. There are not many materials to be delivered to the site and the deliveries will be scheduled at specific times.

 

Q -    Do you know if the notification letters were actually delivered and if yes how many residents have received them? Could you publish the schedule of work in Your Ward newsletter and on City of York Council website?

A -     We have delivered the notification letters to homes on both sides of the railway. It is too late to publish the schedule of works in Your Ward newsletter, as it was sent for printing already. We can produce posters to go on the Ward notice boards and explore the possibility of getting information onto the CYC website.

 

Q -    Would it be possible to install notice board outside the works with the schedule on it?

A -     The notice board could be vandalised, but we can forward the information with works schedule to City of York Council to be published on their website.

 

The following comments and queries were raised in the meantime.

 

·        Cllr Riches declared a personal non prejudicial interest in the Holgate Junction development as he works for East Coast  .

·        Concern regarding new cycling route was raised. Camlow RA carried out public consultation regarding that project. Camlow RA was unhappy with the initial cycle track project and negotiated it, so it would work for everybody.

·        Paul Hepworth has commented that the planned works will implement what was in the original British Rail plan for York. Paul declared that he is in favour of the project. 

·        Cllr Gunnell has said that the notification of future works should be displayed on Ward notice boards.

·        Cllr Gunnell has commented that it has to be acknowledged that some residents have not received the notification letter and asked for the letters to be reissued.