West Coast Railways begs rail minister for help
West Coast Railways has issued the following statement.
Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum have asked Rail Minister, Huw Merriman MP, to help the UK's largest main line heritage rail operator* West Coast Railways (WCR) secure permission to run its world-famous Jacobite steam train.
WCR has operated its much-loved heritage service for more than 30 years. For almost 20 of those years, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has granted it an exemption to operate with hinged-door carriages on the mainline. During this time, no serious injury has been attributable to the lack of central door locking (CDL).
To operate this year's programme, WCR applied to the ORR to renew its long-term exemption certificate and requested a temporary exemption to operate from March, while the ORR assessed its longer-term submission.
As the ORR has not yet granted a temporary exemption, WCR has had no option but to suspend The Jacobite services at the start of the season, significantly impacting the local economies of communities which WCR serves.
The eight MPs, who represent constituencies in which WCR operates or who have an interest in preserving the UK's heritage railways, have written a joint letter to the Rail Minister highlighting that:
the ORR's policies allow for exceptions to fitting CDL for heritage carriages.
the ORR should therefore consider WCR's application, designed to meet one of those exceptions, with an open mind.
in applying for a temporary exemption while their long-term application is being considered, WCR is asking no more than to be treated in the same way as its peers who are currently operating hinged-door rolling stock on the main line.
if the ORR is allowing other operators to use hinged-door carriages on the mainline, there can be no safety reason to justify the refusal of the temporary exemption for WCR.
The ORR's approach 'should not be clouded by the fact that WCR has not to date made an application to fit CDL.'
The letter asks the Minister to engage with the ORR, asserting: 'Regulators have enormous powers which, if exercised unreasonably, have the capacity to bring businesses they regulate to a quick end. It is for that reason they are politically accountable – it is a vital democratic safeguard.'
James Shuttleworth, Commercial Manager, WCR, said: "We are grateful to the MPs for voicing their concerns. The points in the letter concern the fairness of the regulator's approach to us, which has been wholly overlooked. Our priority is to get a temporary exemption in place as soon as possible to minimise potential disruption to our programme and our customers.
The Jacobite service is enjoyed by thousands of people from across the world every year. It brings a huge boost to the local economy in western Scotland, as well as to UK tourism overall.
"We remain committed to working with the ORR to find a long-term solution which safeguards the future of heritage services on the main line and again appeal to it to reconsider our request for a temporary exemption."
The MPs voices are joined by thousands of members of the public who have also signed a petition, started by a Mallaig business owner, to get the Jacobite back on track.
Dirt, Soot and Smoke: – A Chime Whistle Publishing book celebrating those that keep heritage movement alive: https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/dirt-soot-and-smoke