PRESS RELEASE

Berwick Train Services Campaign Success- Moore

Michael Moore MP

14-Jun-2010

Local MP Michael Moore and Sir Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed, have won major concessions from East Coast and secured better services for Berwick rail users.

Following lengthy and detailed negotiations, East Coast have told the MPs that when the new timetable is introduced in 2011, there will be a service leaving Berwick for London at 0559 and arriving into Kings Cross at 0959, with an earlier arrival possible by changing trains at Newcastle.

Michael Moore and Sir Alan Beith have been working on this issue since the Eureka! timetable consultation began, with Michael securing a meeting with the Minister for Transport in the run up to the General Election.

The original proposals would have seen a withdrawal of the 0545 service from Berwick to London, with the first train of the day leaving much later. A further success comes with the news that there will be a 1900 train from London to Berwick every weekday. At present the last train from London to Berwick is at 1800 on Monday to Thursday and 1900 on Fridays.

Commenting on the situation, Mr Moore said

This is a major campaign success and excellent news for all those who rely on rail services from Berwick station.

Not only have we maintained an early service to London which is crucial to many local people’s working life, but we have secured a quicker journey and earlier arrival time than we have at present.

Sir Alan and I are very pleased with the way that East Coast has listened to the local concerns we put to them, and the fact they have responded so constructively to local needs.

ENDS

Notes To Editors:

1. East Coast have provided the following briefing:
   
   East Coast have now asked Network Rail, which is developing the Eureka! timetable, to make the following changes as a result of helpful feedback. The timetable remains in development but is planned to be introduced on 22 May 2011.
   
   The changes to the latest version of the timetable include:-
   
   1. Arrivals into London before 1000 – FIXED.
   
   • The proposed introduction of a service from Berwick departing at 0559, Alnmouth at 0620, Morpeth at 0636, Newcastle at 0652, arriving into London at 0959
   
   This would be the first time ever that it could be possible to arrive in London before 1000 from Alnmouth and Morpeth without the use of an overnight sleeper.
   
   • The 0559 also connects with the four hour Flying Scotsman at Newcastle, departing 0704, arriving even earlier at 0940 (you can therefore get to London 19 minutes earlier by changing at Newcastle with a very good connection time).
   
   The previous timetable had an earliest service arriving at 1040 – so the two options to get to London before 1000 are a major improvement.
   
   2. The latest train from King’s Cross to Alnmouth and Berwick was at 1800 in the last timetable draft – FIXED (later)
   
   It’s now proposed to depart King’s Cross at 1930 for Alnmouth, arriving 2312; and 1900 to arrive in Berwick at 2235.
   
   3. Assurances that the number of services is going to stay the same (or improve) – FIXED, yes with a train per hour as outlined by the Minister in the House earlier this year: Alnmouth will gain from more long distance trains, not less, and with a better frequency.
   
   4. Ensuring school children can get home from Newcastle – FIXED,
   
   We understand there will be a service departing Newcastle at 1639.

---