Following publication of the Feasibility Study, there are three phases to our future development
Phase 1
Immediate Future: Re-resourcing the project
Time Scale: 2011 to early 2012
Don Valley Railway as a project has existed for eight years. It has made progress but has not got to a point of delivery. What is now needed is a big push to re-launch the project on a larger scale so that it can actually start to deliver a business plan.
To achieve this we have developed the feasibility study, but the time taken has tested active participants endurance and resourcing the project to a point where it continues to grow is a problem.
The aim of this stage is to get to a point where we have enough active skilled people, to put us in a position where all essential aspects of the project move forward – previously some aspects of the project suffered to progress other parts.
We have increased the number of people actively involved in the project and would like to continue to do so. When we have this in place we will be in a position to deliver the Business Plan to introduce services on the line between Stocksbridge and Sheffield.
Phase 2
The Business Plan: Stocksbridge to Deepcar
Time Scale: 2012–2013 for the Study Stage, 2013–2016 for delivery of the introductory service
Building on the feasibility study and a fully resourced project team we shall work to deliver an introductory rail service
Some fundamental aspects of the business plan are determined by the Feasibility Study and previous work.
We have contact with key partners, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire PTE, Network Rail and TATA. We have contact with key developments along the line. We have the overwhelming support of the residents of the Upper Don Valley.
The Feasibility Study has set out the business model required. It is clear that the rail industry will not take forward our project based on their priorities and the business case set out alone without our encouragement and support.
It is clear that local authorities via SYPTE cannot extend the subsidy to cover the route – despite the fact that it may offer better value for money than some existing services. However it is clear that a possible viable service exists.
It would be difficult to offer a straightforward heritage rail option to meet the business case because:
- The standard 25 mph light rail order would not allow the speed of service required to offer a viable passenger service
- Existing freight movements need to be accommodated.
It is clear that what is required is a microfrachise type operation similar to that operated by Wensleydale Railway that has a 40mph linespeed and shares its route with occasional freight.
SYPTE have asked for a business model based on:
- Sourcing capital funds required for infrastructure costs;
- Sourcing required rolling stock;
- Detailing staffing arrangements for operation (including track and unit maintenance);
- Revenue generation strategy;
- Safety arrangements
Network Rail require a business model based on its GRIP Process (See FAQ’s)
The business plan needs to establish which styles of management are used to manage which aspects of the project
- Total ownership & operation
- Leasing and custodianship
- Facilitator role
In the short term at least, it is envisaged that for the large part that the latter of these options will be taken, working with various organizations with whom the project shares an interest, to meet the overall aims of DVR.
It is clear that a route management plan will be required. The route will change from freight only operation to include passenger services, and may include some more enthusiast based services also.
This needs to go through a process covering :
- Optioneering – choosing the right approach to delivery the project
- Resourcing – getting funding, skilled personnel and resources necessary to delivery in place and a modus operandi for delivery to work to
- Delivery – building the railway and making it happen
- Operation and enhancement – effeicient operation of the service and where possible further upgrade of the service.
Phase 3: Further future aspirations
Time Scale: Largely 2015 and beyond:
Future aspirations of the project include the following:
- constant improvement process to improve the Don Valley Railway
- extending the project west to Penistone and Manchester and east to link with the South Yorkshire transport network
This aspect of the project is clearly a part of the project that generally follows Phase 2, however, that is not to say that there are things that we could be doing now.
One thing we have done is to collaborate with the Re-Open the Woodhead Line Group so that Don Valley Railway and Woodhead aspirations can be aligned. It is also possible that Don Valley Railway could be combined with improvements to the South Yorkshire Rail network east of Sheffield Victoria. DVR could extend to link with Supertram at Nunnery or go even further.
In order to deliver Phase 2 we may need to collaborate with other organisations ( e.g. for funding purposes) and the initial delivered scheme could vary from the scheme put forward in the feasibility study.
Other proposals may come forward that affect our proposal.
After we have introduced the service between Sheffield and Stocksbridge, we could look at improving stations, opening new stations, improving the rolling stock, infrastructure work around stations.
Beyond that we could look to link to Penistone (an altogether bigger project) and Manchester (even bigger still).