The North East Area meeting was held on 28 January 2010 at Northern Rail Area Office, Aintree House York Place, Leeds at which ten members were in attendance. A Joint Presentation was made by Mark Beck (Northern Timetable Planning Manager) and Stephen Newman (Network Rail Timing Specialist) entitled ‘Planning the Timetable – Making it Happen’. The topic was extremely well covered in detail, and described the lifecycle of the development of a timetable and the essential stages necessary to ensure a robust plan that delivers a train service that satisfied customer expectations.
The high degree of customer and supplier considerations on the part of both parties was very well explained, especially the diligent application of Rules of the Plan and Rules of the Route, although this, as explained, had to be tempered with a controlled flexibility to resolve potential timing conflicts, and to ensure that the requirements of all the operators, of which in the area under discussion there are many, are satisfied. They also described how the needs of the Infrastructure Manager to inspect, maintain and renew the assets were incorporated into the plan.
It was clear from the presentation that Mark and Stephen cooperated very closely and with their counterparts in other passenger and freight operators to achieve the timetable.
The next North East Area event is planned to be on the 9th March, in York, when the topic for a presentation will be ‘Revenue Protection’.