Welcome to ONTRACK Rail Users' Association
“ONTRACK” Rail Users Association QuestionTime & AGM
PDF: QuestionTime AGM Flyer (as illustrated above)
THE “ONTRACK” Rail Users Association 2018 QUESTION TIME & AGM will take place 10.30-12 on Saturday 19th May at the Frinton Gospel Chapel OLD ROAD Frinton On Sea, VIPs present include the TDC CHAIRMAN Councillor Mark Platt, ABELLIO Greater Anglia Railways Senior Managers, and Councillors.
We hope there will be some more news about the timetable re-write consultation and progress on the new trains which replace every train currently running on the Greater Anglia Network. Plus there is the chance to ask about customer service issues with the ABELLIO guys and put your points to our some of our elected representatives.
People invited to ask the WHO, WHAT, HOW, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT WHICH type questions But politely remember these guys have given up their Saturday.
The challenge for all MPs, Local Authorities and all campaigners is to get improved infrastructure and extra capacity – and that means more tracks.
PDF: QuestionTime & AGM Agenda
“ONTRACK” Rail Users Association March/April 2018 Update
ONTRACK Memebership Renewal April 2018 Letter – PDF document – 309 kB
ONTRACK “Needs You” Poster with May AGM Detail [version 2] – PDF document – 373 kB
“ONTRACK” Rail Users Association January 2018 Update
OUR BRIEFING FOR MEMBERS – PDF document – 822 kb
ONTRACK “Needs You” Poster [version 1] – PDF document – 273 kB
ONTRACK “Needs You” Poster [version 2] – PDF document – 273 kB
“ONTRACK” Rail Users Association Summer 2017 Update
PDF document – approx 110kb
(This article is replicated in our blog post – “ONTRACK” RUA SUMMER 2017 UPDATE)
60153 Tornado – Walton-on-the-Naze 150 Celebrations – 12th August 2017
TENDRING HUNDRED RAILWAYS – THE FIRST 150 YEARS
PDF document – approx 765kb
A PRESENTATION BY “ONTRACK” RUA TO
KIRBY CROSS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 7th 2017
NEGLECTED UNLOVED STATIONS – RAILWAY BUILDINGS
150 YEARS OF HISTORY – 150 YEARS OF HERITAGE
PDF document of presentation – approx 1Mb
Introduction
ONTRACK Rail Users’ Association, together with its associated Alresford Rail User Group, is a non-political organisation that represents the interests of passengers using the lines between Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze – the “Sunshine Coast Line”.
To further these interests, ONTRACK meets regularly with:
- the local train operating company management
- Network Rail
- local authority public transport officials, and
- Passenger Focus
In addition, ONTRACK is a stakeholder in the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and a corporate member of Railfuture.
Enhancements ONTRACK is keen to see
ONTRACK is keen to see the following service enhancements:
- Sunday services between Walton-on-the-Naze and Colchester Town (with connections at Thorpe-le-Soken to/from Clacton-on-Sea)
- improved late evening services, particularly to/from Walton-on-the-Naze
- increased train service frequency, ideally half-hourly at all stations
- a general reduction in journey times
- re-instatement of regular fast direct train services to/from London through to both Walton and Clacton, and
- enhanced facilities on train and on station in respect of toilets, catering and disabled access
ONTRACK Activities
Our key activities are listed here. ONTRACK:
- is an active member of the Essex Rail Users’ Federation (ERUF)
- lobbies appropriate bodies for enhancements to rail and other forms of public transport
- promotes the use of rail services
Older News – ONTRACK RUA welcomes the appointment of Abellio
ONTRACK RUA welcomes the appointment of Abellio (a subsidiary of Dutch Railways) which was one of three strong contenders for the short term interim Greater Anglia Franchise; this franchise was previously operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) and stretches across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
However, the process for the new longer term Greater Anglia franchise had to be stopped until the whole rail franchise process had been rejigged to address the short comings raised by aborted West Coast Main Line Franchise exercise. The short term Greater Anglia Franchise therefore has had to be extended for a further interim period as a result. This had the unplanned consequence of delaying rolling stock upgrades, overhaul, refurbishment, and replacement.
To this end ONTRACK has been working with local County and District Councillors to ensure the Dept. for Transport new Bid Specification for the new long term franchise for which an Invitation to Tender will be issued early 2015 reflects the changes needed to improve local services. Part of this process has been the undertaking of a Rail Passenger Headcount Census at the various stations. The exercise carried out at Frinton at the end of November 2013 showed that actual usage greatly exceed the ORR “estimates” by circa 25%. Another headcount census has just been undertaken in June in respect of Thorpe le Soken Station one of the busiest interchange points in East Anglia (see ONTRACK report on this website).
The ANNUAL AGM in MAY 2014 was turned into a surgery/ debate with positive feedback from our MP and all who attended.
For more Ontrack news and local rail information, check out our interactive blog.