Rail For Herefordshire

About Us   Minutes    Letters we have written    Dates for Meeting    Documents for Consultation    Links   News

Current Campaigns    How to Join      SUMMER DAY TRIPS     Contact Us    Cotswold Line Poster    Toddington Special Bus Link

The Local Development Framework:  This is the plan for the county 2011 to 2026.  Hereford has been selected as one of nine regional centres in the West Midlands for housing expansion.  The Government wants 18,000 new houses to be built in Herefordshire.  Herefordshire Council will not oppose this, it welcomes the developer levy each new house will bring and the extra money from Government it will be given.  The new houses could either bring better public transport or more roads.  If we are going to reduce carbon emissions and protect our countryside, the only responsible way to accommodate the new housing is to twin track the Hereford-Worcester line and re-open a railway line as a development link.  Our response to the LDF is here.  To learn more about twin tracking click here.

'Edgar Street Grid'  This is the name for the proposed re-development of the area of Hereford north of the ring road (which is on the line of the old city wall) surrounding the Cattle Market up to the football ground and east to the Station.  We oppose this development because it will cut the railway station off from the rest of the town.  To learn more click here.

Worcester to London Twin Tracking;  the Office of Rail Regulation on June 5th 2008 sanctioned the funding needed for the partial redoubling of the Cotswold Line.  It was the only optional scheme in Network Rail’s Business Plan that has had funding approved.  Good news for everyone as it will reduce delays through to Hereford.  Also on the Birmingham line, the track between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove is to be electrified, to allow for more trains.  This will also help the Hereford-Birmingham line.  The aim is to cope for more commuters now that thousands of new homes are planned in the area.  We now need to continue this through to Hereford (see below).

Who we are:

Rail for Herefordshire is an active rail pressure group.  It is expanding its influence with local and regional government and transport authorities.  However its voice will only be heard when it can claim to represent a large proportion of the county’s rail users. So please support us by joining the group.

How You Can Help

The group is consulted on by local and regional government on a range of planning and transport issues.  We are looking for people able and willing to help with this work and also to propose imaginative alternative solutions to the current road based planning policy.

We have received a grant to produce quarterly newsletters on Herefordshire’s rail.  Writers, designers and illustrators are therefore particularly welcome.  We also appreciate help with letter writing and other activities concerning rail issues

 Meetings for 2008:

Meetings are held the second Thursday in every month, 7.30 to 8.30 p.m. in All Saints Church, Broad Street, Hereford. Meetings for 2008 are: 

Jan 11

Feb 14, AGM   Notein All Saints Church

March 13

April 10  Steve Banaghan, Managing Director, London Midland

May 8: 

June 12:  Charles Pickles, Chief Engineer Edgar Street Grid, 'the New Transport Hub at Hereford Station', join  the discussion.

July 10: 

Aug:         No MEETING

Sept 11     Gary Draisey, Network Rail, Rail Re-openings in Wales

Oct 9:       Christian Wolmar; internationally renowned rail journalist and author.  "WERE THE RAILWAYS EVER PRIVATISED? The inside story of the scandal of rail privatisation". 

Nov 13: 

Dec 11

Current Campaigns:

· Twin-tracking the Hereford-Malvern line to improve reliability and increase train frequency, see letters, see poster
· Faster services to Birmingham and a late return train for people wanting to go out in the evening.
· A station at Pontrilas.
· Station improvements at Hereford, to include pedestrianisation, signing and planting schemes.
· Safeguarding disused lines from development.
· Funding for a feasibility study to look at opening new lines and stations.
· More space for bikes on trains;

Current Issues:

· Train turn-backs at Ledbury and Malvern by FGW;  Higher fares from Jan 08;

How To Join:

Send £8.00 for yearly membership to :

David Plowman,
P O Box 299,
Hereford
HR1 2YE. 

You will be sent minutes by email each month and newsletters twice a year  
Please come to our meetings.

 

Contact Us:

Rail for Herefordshire,
P O Box 299
Hereford
HR1 2YE
Email: RailfH@aol.com

Vice Chairs:  Gerald Dawe (01432 343262) and Janet Shott
Secretary: Becky Roseff
Treasurer: David Plowman
Committee Members: Gillian Bate, Michael Sullivan, Max Houghton, Alan Alderman

We are affiliated to:

· Rail Future
· The Friends of Leominster Railway Station
· The Golden Valley Pontrilas Station Group

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