Minutes 22 June 05

SCOTTISH RAIL STRATEGY STEERING GROUP

WAVERLEY STATION

22nd June 2005 10:00 – 12:00

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