Network Rail
Freedom of Information
The Quadrant
Elder Gate
Milton Keynes
MK9 1EN
T 01908 782405
E xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
Mr Gareth Wright
By email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
4th January 2018
Dear Mr Wright
Information request
Reference number: FOI2017/01441
Thank you for your email of 6th December 2017, you requested the following
information:
“Please could you provide me with any information regarding the proposed relocation
of the station at Waterbeach.
In particular can you confirm or deny claims made by developer, RLW, that a
relocated station would;
1. Allow for the use of 12 carriage trains at this station.
2. That the station would be manned.
3. That a park & ride scheme would be in operation.”
As confirmed in my acknowledgement to you of 7th December 2017, I have
understood your reference to ‘any information’ to be directly in reference to knowing
whether the use of 12 carriage trains at Waterbeach Station will be allowed, that the
station will be manned, and that a park and ride scheme will be operating.
I have processed your request under the Environmental Information Regulations
2004 (EIR) as the information requested is environmental according to the definition
in regulation 2 of the EIR (section 39 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
exempts environmental information from the FOIA, but requires us to consider it
under the EIR).
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Registered Office: Network Rail, 2nd Floor, One Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN Registered in England and Wales No. 2904587 www.networkrail.co.uk
In response to the first part of your request,
“1. Allow for the use of 12 carriage trains
at this station”, the proposed relocated Waterbeach station is planned to provide
platforms suitable for 8-car trains when it first opens. However, the station would be
designed with ‘passive provision’ for 12-car length platforms, meaning they could be
extended in the future if this was needed. In addition, running 12-car trains on this
route may require additional infrastructure upgrades along the line and would also
need sufficient rolling stock to be available.
In response to part two of your request,
“2. That the station would be manned”, the
proposed new station is currently expected to be delivered in stages, with additional
facilities being added over time as the development takes shape. It is expected that
in time the station would be staffed, though this would be the responsibility of the
Train Operating Company (TOC) at the station. As an organisation responsible for
looking after the infrastructure on our rail network, we welcome improved passenger
facilities at stations on the network, but it is not within our responsibilities to decide
whether this station is staffed or not.
To address the third part of your request,
“3. That a park & ride scheme would be in
operation”, I can confirm that, as with your previous question, our role is to look after
the rail infrastructure and therefore we have no influence in deciding whether a park
and ride scheme will operate at the proposed relocated Waterbeach Station.
However, we are aware that a park and ride scheme for the proposed relocated
station is an intention of the developer and South Cambridgeshire District Council
assuming the development proceeds. Network Rail would welcome the increased
connectivity that a park and ride scheme could bring, as we are aware of the
constraints of the local and regional road network. Please also note that station
parking and associated charges (including pricing of parking and train tickets that
could be used to encourage usage of the station for park and ride) are not set by
Network Rail.
For further information as to the engineering feasibility of relocating Waterbeach
Station, you may find the following link of interest:
https://www.scambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sc6-a-
18277_rlw_appendices_5_to_11.pdf. If you have any enquiries about this response, please contact me in the first instance
a
t xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx or on 01908 782405. Details of your appeal rights are
below.
Please remember to quote the reference number at the top of this letter in all future
communications.
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Registered Office: Network Rail, 2nd Floor, One Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN Registered in England and Wales No. 2904587 www.networkrail.co.uk
Yours sincerely
Emma Wolstenholme
Information Officer
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright. You are free
to use it for your own purposes, including for private study and non-commercial
research, and for any other purpose authorised by an exception in current copyright
law. Documents (except photographs) can also be used in the UK without requiring
permission for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example
commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Please
contact me if you wish to re-use the information and need to seek the permission of
the copyright holder.
Appeal Rights
If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled and wish to make a
complaint or request a review of our decision, please write to the FOI Compliance
and Appeals Manager at Network Rail, Freedom of Information, The Quadrant, Elder
Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1EN, or by email a
t xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx. Your request
must be submitted within 40 working days of receipt of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Registered Office: Network Rail, 2nd Floor, One Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN Registered in England and Wales No. 2904587 www.networkrail.co.uk
