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Wednesday 7 Jan 2004

PERMISSION GRANTED - MANNINGTREE TEMPORARY CAR PARK AND COACH INTERCHANGE

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Tendring District Council’s Planning Committee has granted permission for Network Rail to install a small temporary car park and coach interchange at Manningtree station during the closure of Ipswich tunnel in Summer 2004.  Alternative travel arrangements will be available but the car park will accommodate any extra commuters who choose to drive to Manningtree station.  Mark Livock, Network Rail Project Director said: “We are delighted that the Planning Committee has given permission for the temporary car park and coach interchange.  It really is essential to this project and the smooth running of the daily services out of Manningtree.  We will make every effort to ensure that passengers’ journeys are disrupted as little as possible and these temporary arrangements will help to achieve this.” The coach interchange, capable of accommodating up to 15 coaches, will be constructed on the north side of the station.  It will have a one-way drop down and pick up point and pedestrian crossings with stairway access on to the Ipswich-bound platform. The car park will also be on the north side of the station and will have around 200 spaces. It will have an attendant every morning.  It is envisaged that there will be a daily charge, but the amount is yet to be decided. The land used for both the car park and coach interchange will be returned to its former state after the tunnel reopens.  - more - Accepted – 2 Passengers who have a season ticket for Manningtree car park will receive a special priority ticket from First Great Eastern for their dashboards securing them a space in the existing station car park. Mr Livock continued:  “Network Rail and its industry partners would like to assure passengers and members of the public who use the A137 that a lot of planning and consideration went into choosing Manningtree as the travel interchange while the tunnel is closed.  Although studies have shown that the A137 is capable of accommodating extra traffic we would strongly encourage passengers to use the replacement coach service.” Alternative travel arrangements 11 July – 5 September 2004: ·        There will be no mainline train services from Ipswich station.  The station, the ticket office and its retail units will remain open.  Station staff will be on hand with up to date travel information. ·        A direct coach service will run between Ipswich and Manningtree. ·        Direct coach services will run between Stowmarket, Felixstowe and Woodbridge to Manningtree at peak times. ·        Free parking will be available at Ipswich and Stowmarket. ·        Free parking for Anglia Railways’ Commuter Club members will be available at Portman Road, Ipswich. o       A direct coach service in the morning will run from Portman Road to Manningtree. ·        Temporary car park at Manningtree with limited spaces. ·        One direct train in morning peak from Norwich to London via Cambridge. ·        One direct train in evening peak from London to Norwich via Cambridge. ·        One direct train, off peak, in both directions to and from Norwich and London via Cambridge. ·        Extra carriages on Norwich to Cambridge and Ipswich to Cambridge/Peterborough services. ·        Off peak travellers to/from Norwich can use direct services from Norwich to Cambridge. - more - Accepted – 3 ·        Local train services to Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough will not be affected. ·        Specific timetable details will be published by Train Operating Companies in Spring 2004.