Subject:
Volk’s Railway Accessible Carriage
Date of meeting: 3rd November
2022
Report
of:
Executive Director Economy,
Environment and Culture
Contact
Officer Name: Toni
Manuel
Email: Toni.Manuel@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
For general release
1
Purpose of the report and
policy context
1.1
The Volk’s Railway is the oldest operating electric railway
in the world. The railway attracted around 75,000 visitors per year
(pre pandemic) and operates between April and September. Four
full-time staff are employed by the Council and during the summer
an additional seven and a half full time seasonal jobs are
created.
1.2
The TECC Committee agreed in
June 2021 to progress the project to provide an accessible rail
carriage for the Volk’s Electric Railway, including a costed
design and the identification of full funding for the project. The
Committee approved £100,000 and agreed to transfer another
£30,000, to total £130,000.
1.3
This report provides an update
regarding the external funding explored to fund the gap in the
costs of the project. It also considers alternative options to
building a replica carriage.
2
Recommendations
2.1
That Committee notes the cost
of a new all-weather carriage was £442,700 as of March
2022.
2.2
That Committee notes that there
is a funding gap of £312,700 and as external funding has not
been found, the carriage cannot be procured at this
time.
2.3
That Committee requests that
officers continue to monitor external sources of finance for a new
all-weather accessible carriage in the future.
2.4
That the Committee notes, that
should funds become available in the future, a new all-weather
carriage is the recommended option to further explore.
3
Context and background
information
3.1
At the meeting of the TECC Committee in June 2021 a notice of
motion was presented and the following agreed:
·
That the Committee agrees as a priority the progression of the
project to achieve an accessible carriage, including a costed
design and the identification of full funding for the project.
·
That the Committee agrees to £30,000 of the funding of
£40,000 previously identified for signage, a shelter and
siding is instead allocated to an accessible carriage.
3.2
The Volk’s Electric
Railway (VER) is a heritage railway visitor attraction, which
operates during the summer months to transport members of the
public along Madeira Drive. As the world’s oldest working
electric railway, built in 1883, it runs for a mile along the top
of the beach from the Aquarium Station near Brighton Palace Pier to
Black Rock.
3.3
The railway receives support from the enthusiasts of the
Volk’s Electric Railway Association (VERA), who regularly
assist with winter maintenance tasks under the supervision of
council staff, together with the operation of occasional evening
services over the summer period.
3.4
The railway has benefitted from
the improvements that the council undertook in recent years
primarily funded by a grant of £1.65m from the National
Lottery Heritage Fund. The ongoing high standards of maintenance by
the Council and VERA have facilitated the longevity of Volk’s
Electric Railway as a service, on both the infrastructure and train
carriages.
4
Analysis and consideration of
alternative options
4.1
The table below, details the
background and timeline to the proposal to build an accessible
carriage.
|
Timeframe
|
Activity
|
|
2015
|
VERA developed a detailed specification for a
fully accessible, weatherproof carriage for operation throughout
the year and in all-weathers. Funds were not available at this
time.
|
|
October 2020
|
VERA re-submitted the proposal to the TECC
Committee in the document: An Accessible Future for
Volk’s Electric Railway
|
|
June 2021
|
The TECC Committee agreed as a priority the
progression of the project to achieve a accessible carriage,
including a costed design and the identification of full funding
for the project.
|
|
June 2021
|
The committee allocated £100,000 plus
£30,000 previously identified for signage, a shelter and
sidings.
|
|
March 2022
|
A quotation was sought from a British
Narrow Gauge Railway Engineering
Company, who had previously been
involved in repairing and restoring the VER heritage
carriages. A detailed quotation
indicated the cost, based on a new all-weather carriage, as
£442,700.
|
Sourcing External Funding
4.2
Allocated council funding is
£130,000 and the cost of building a replica carriage was
£442,700 leaving a gap of £312,700 (as of March
2022.)
4.3
An initial funding application
was made to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who can provide
grants of over £1m. The application was not successful as the
project did not meet their core lending criteria.
4.4
Investigations into other
heritage railway charities indicated that although there are
charities which support heritage railway projects, most were small
with maximum annual budgets of circa £100,000. Most of these
organisations focus on upgrading or rebuilding heritage artifacts,
rather than building replicas.
4.5
Corporate or other grant bodies
tend to support smaller or medium sized local community or
charities projects.
4.6
Crowdfunding was
investigated but, as it is more suited to start-ups, small
businesses, and innovative ideas, it was not considered suitable
for this type of project. Crowdfunding requires time, resources and
high levels of marketing expertise and, if it fails to reach its
target, the monies received may have to be repaid to the
donors.
4.7
In conclusion, no external
funding resources were identified which could meet the funding gap
at this time.
Options
4.8
As potential sources of
external funding were not available at the level required (circa
£312,000), alternatives were sought and evaluated to see if
there were other options to provide an accessible carriage at a
lower cost : (See Appendix 1 for detailed Options and
Costs):
·
Option 1 – New All-weather Carriage
·
Option 2 - Rebuild the Southend Train
·
Option 3 – Delay/Monitor until external funds are
available
4.9
The original proposal from VERA
- Option 1 – New All-weather Carriage -
was to provide a replica carriage with disabled and wheelchair
access with classroom facilities and all-weather capability. This
is the recommended build option to explore further, should funds
become available in the future.
4.10
Upgrading the Southend Train -
Option 2 - Rebuild the Southend Train - has the
benefit of using a genuine heritage carriage. However, it is not
only different in design but also has different platform level. The
Southend Train was donated to the VER many years ago and was
briefly used in service, however, it is not part of the VER
original rolling stock. The cost to rebuild and adapt this carriage
will not be much different from Option 1. Additional ramps or other
means would be required to get both passengers and wheelchairs on
board. This option is not recommended, as it does not provide level
access from the existing railway platforms.
4.11
Option 3 - To delay/monitor
situation until external funds are available is recommended at this
time.
4.12
A review was undertaken to
consider the possibility of adapting a current VER carriage to be
wheelchair accessible. However, this is not a viable option
as changes to the heritage carriages are not permissible
under the Grade 2 listed status. Any adaptions will detract from
the railway’s charm and unique heritage character, which is
the major appeal for visitors. In addition, changes to the original
design, may invalidate the Certificate of Conformity and the Safety
Certification which would be difficult and expensive to
re-establish.
5
Community engagement and
consultation
5.1
The original proposal came from
Volk’s Electric Railway Association , who are a volunteer
group who support the railway with their time and expertise. VERA
has around 150 members and 20 of those members are active
volunteers.
6
Conclusion
6.1
In conclusion, no external
funding resources could be found that provide the level of funds
required for this project.
6.2
If external funding was found
in the future, Option 1 – New All-weather Carriage is
recommended.
7
Financial
implications
7.1
There are no direct financial
implications arising from the recommendations of this report as
there is insufficient funds to progress further. Further funding
will need to be identified before this project can go
ahead
Finance
officer consulted: John
Lack
Date consulted 21/10/22
Lawyer Consulted:
Alice Rowland Date: 14/10/22
9
Equalities
implications
9.1
The addition of an accessible rail car would greatly enhance the
inclusivity of the provision which is a challenge for a heritage
railway with the design of the existing carriages.
10.1
The sustainability implications
of a accessible carriage would be given due consideration in the
detailed design.
11
Other Implications
Public Health Implications:
12
Supporting
Documentation
12.1
Appendices
Appendix 1: Detailed Options and
Costs