Kent & Sussex Strategic Planning Newsletter - November 2023
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Strategic Planning Newsletter

Kent & Sussex

November 2023

Good afternoon,

Alongside our monthly stakeholder updates, we will now also be providing quarterly strategic updates to our stakeholders across the route. The Kent & Sussex Strategic Planning Team have been busy exploring the strategic priorities of our routes. To spread word of this work and shed light on what we do, we have revived our stakeholder newsletters to keep you in the loop.

This is the second instalment of our periodic strategic updates, which will provide a run down of the current projects that are ongoing within the team as well as current progress.

If you have any questions or would like to input to the studies, please feel free to contact us via SouthernRegionStakeholders@networkrail.co.uk, where we will be very happy to help.

Climate Change Study

1

We are undertaking a ‘Climate Change and Resilience’ study seeking to explore and understand the impacts of climatic change and the ability of the railway to be resilient to it.

The study has chosen the line from Folkestone to Dover, which runs between the cliff and the sea (pictured) and has suffered from a prolonged closure in the past due to storm damage, as a pilot case study.

This will act as a proof of concept precursor to the ‘Adaption Pathways’ that we are looking to develop as a company, as detailed in NR’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

More information on how the railway is adapting to climate change, details can be found in the 3rd Adaptation Report and for further information on the strategy for Kent & Sussex, please click here. Kent & Sussex Weather Climate Report

Kent to Gatwick Strategic Advice

2

We have concluded the work on a piece of strategic advice to investigate whether there could be a case to reinstate direct services from towns in Kent to Gatwick Airport. We expect to publish a short report in the coming weeks.

In summary, the economic case for extending existing GTR services that currently run from Tonbridge to Redhill to Gatwick is modest and would not require additional subsidy based on the 2019 timetable/operations.

However, there would be upfront costs, which would be a barrier to be overcome.

The next step will be for operators and the DfT to review the proposal once we have a clearer position of industry finances and passenger demand following the December 2023 timetable change.

North Downs Line Closure

3

We are progressing with a study looking at future options and opportunities for services and rolling stock on the North Downs line.

We are reviewing economic data, including analysis of mobile network usage to establish whether there is likely to be demand to an enhanced service pattern.

Aligning with work being undertaken by the operators and neighbouring colleagues in Wessex and Western Routes, we will assess how different service options could affect the business case for decarbonisation through alternative traction rolling stock or further electrification.

Our starting point is that services shouldn’t be constrained by technological choices, and from this basis we will assess the potential benefits and costs of options.

Freight

4

We are working on opportunities to facilitate freight growth in the region. ‘Target 26’ is the national aim to lengthen freight trains to an ideal target of 26 wagon operation with a single locomotive to allow up to 2,600 tonne trailing weight for construction flows. This is longer than the services that run currently, driving greater efficiency.

We have held an extensive stakeholder consultation with freight operators and users to establish opportunities and barriers to running longer and heavier construction flows across the Kent, Sussex and Wessex Routes. We held a sifting workshop with freight operators and Network Rail colleagues to understand where train lengthening could be prioritised and what interventions may be needed to meet our strategic objectives.

We have also completed and initial feasibility study of freight trains carrying larger containers on routes from the Channel Tunnel. This involved a desk-top review of all the structures on the route, for example bridges and platforms, to understand whether the bigger containers will fit or whether infrastructure works are required. We are working with colleagues on the business case, which is expected to be submitted to funders in 2024.

Station Capacity Business Cases

5

We have been reviewing options for improving capacity and the station environments at our next two priority stations, Brixton and Bromley South.

Initial stakeholder discussions have been held and feedback will be reviewed against the potential options. A business case for enhancements to each station will be put together that aims for meet functionality and affordability requirements.

We are also looking at options in South London to allow an improved train service during times of weekend engineering work on the route between Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays and whether there is a case for additional infrastructure.

Medway Valley

6

The Medway Valley line links Strood with Paddock Wood via Maidstone West. As well as local passenger services, there are peak links to St Pancras via HS1 and freight services.

We are finalising a focused piece of work to understand how rail can best serve the communities along the line and what the opportunities are for sustainable growth in the future. We plan to publish this in early 2024.

As always if you have any questions or require any assistance, please feel free to email the Southern Region Stakeholder Team at SouthernRegionStakeholders@networkrail.co.uk

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