I also met First TransPennine Express to get an update on their plans to extend their services to Edinburgh; calling at Morpeth; from December 2019. First thing was to ask whether the cancellation of Transpennine electrification had a negative impact on their plans. I was assured it made no difference; and trains will still arrive in Northumberland from December 2019. Second question was about Cramlington. We are lobbying hard for this new hourly service to call here; as well as Morpeth (which is already committed). TPE are still waiting for a response from the Scottish Government on Reston and East Linton; as stopping at these stations will reduce their capacity to do other things. They would not be drawn as to the cut-off point and insisted they had not yet considered the relative commercial cases and technical considerations for other potential calls; but admitted firm timetable proposals would need to be submitted to Network Rail by Autumn 2018. I find it somewhat surprising that the commercial case for other stations has not yet been examined; but acknowledge the technical issues (pathing) cannot be explored until they know what time their trains will be departing from Newcastle (if they are just in front of a Virgin train, calling at Cramlington becomes difficult, but if just behind then it will be simpler to find the path). So Cramlington has everything to play for – we need SENRUG; the town itself and the County Council to be speaking with a united voice; though it is a pity the plan to relocate the station so that it is next to Manor Walks is now off the table; as this would have significantly strengthened Cramlington’s case.
