Agenda item

A10 Foxton level Crossing bypass and travel hub

Decision:

 

The Executive Board AGREED unanimously to:

 

(1)  Note the assessment work and review of the options presented in this report and Appendix 1.

 

(2)  Approve the development of an ‘Outline business case’ for a preferred option in collaboration with Network Rail.

 

(3)  Explore the opportunity for Foxton Station to act as a Travel Hub with a Park and Ride facility for onward rail trips into Cambridge and Cambridge North stations and the proposed future Cambridge South station.

Minutes:

The GCP Interim Director of Transport presented a report which recommended that the “A10 Foxton level crossing bypass and travel hub” be approved for further development as part of the Future Investment Strategy.  The scheme had been included in the list of priority schemes for support agreed by the GCP in 2015 but with a zero budget, on the assumption that Network Rail would fund it (which they subsequently declined to do). Whilst the original scheme had only considered a level crossing bypass, the revised proposals would also consider a more extensive ‘travel hub’ with the provision of additional parking facilities to complement both the existing Park and Ride and Rural Travel Hub proposals.  The Interim Director of Transport reported that the number of passenger trains using the route was due to increase from four to six trains every hour, with at least two stops per hour at Foxton.  This would increase the closure time at the level crossing.  Discussions had taken place with Network Rail who did not regard the upgrade as a safety issue and had declined to fund the project.  Further discussions with regard to funding would accordingly be needed both with Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

 

During discussion, Executive Board members made comments as follows:-

 

·         Whilst this scheme may have appeared previously to have had a lower priority than some of the other schemes promoted by the GCP, this report made the case for progressing the scheme having regard to the growing volume of traffic on the A10 and the additional number of trains passing through Foxton.  However it was important that the scheme was closely integrated with the travel hub work and the Junction 11 improvements.  Additionally, there was a need for involvement by Network Rail in the scheme, including by way of financial contribution.

·         When the scheme had been reviewed in 2015 there had been an indication that Network Rail were possible funders. The level crossing was acknowledged to be a travel blockage, but there was a serious question as to whether the GCP should be the only body contributing to the funding of such a scheme. The Executive Board accepted that the scheme should go forward to the next stage of consideration, but commented that this should not infer that the GCP was making a firm commitment to the scheme at this stage.  Further discussions were needed with Network Rail with a view to supporting the scheme in the interests of safety.

·         Whilst supporting proceeding to outline business case stage in respect of the project, the need for Network Rail’s involvement and financial support for the project was again reiterated by the Executive Board.  Further discussions were needed between the GCP and Network Rail with regard to securing a financial contribution to the project before the Executive Board would be able to determine whether to commit formally to the scheme.

·         Safety was a major consideration in considering the scheme. In addition to risks associated with the level crossing, reference was made to discussions with the community and Parish Council relating to a safety issue concerning a small gate near to the level crossing which had given rise to incidents in the past.   The GCP’s new Director of Transport was asked by the Executive Board to raise this safety issue with Network Rail.  The Executive Board was also concerned by a safety issue relating to rights of way in the area of the level crossing.

·         It would be interesting to establish from Hertfordshire County Council the extent of development proposed for Royston as this would also impact on traffic volumes in the area and have implications for the number of parking places being proposed at the travel hub.

·         The Chairperson acknowledged that the situation had moved on since the Network Rail GRIP2 (Governance for Railway Investment Projects) assessment in 2013, most notably, the increased in traffic on the A10 and safety considerations associated with the level crossing.  What the GCP could add was the concept of modal shift by providing a rural travel hub and it was acknowledged that the Network Rail GRIP2 report proposal for 85 parking spaces was unrealistically low and that the extent of car parking provision required would need to be re-evaluated upwards based on GCP objectives. There would also be a need for consideration of cycle routes feeding into the travel hub.  The more holistic approach to the scheme now being proposed was welcomed by the Executive Board.

 

In moving the recommendations, a proposition was made and unanimously supported by the Executive Board to amend recommendation 2.1(b) by the addition of the words “in collaboration with Network Rail” at the end of the recommendation.

 

The Executive Board AGREED unanimously to:

 

(1)  Note the assessment work and review of the options presented in this report and Appendix 1.

 

(2)  Approve the development of an ‘Outline business case’ for a preferred option in collaboration with Network Rail.

 

(3)  Explore the opportunity for Foxton Station to act as a Travel Hub with a Park and Ride facility for onward rail trips into Cambridge and Cambridge North stations and the proposed future Cambridge South station.

Supporting documents: