[cleanairuk_news] Advice wanted: air pollution from railway sidings in Oxford

[Network for Clean Air]

The email was sent to me by Michael Hamblett from Oxford about pollution
from idling trains in sidings at Oxford. He'd contacted the MPs for
Oxford: Andrew Smith, MP; and Nicola Blackwood, MP. If you start at the
end of the email below and page-up then you can follow the description of
the problem.

If you have any suggestions about what Mike could do about it then could
you post ideas to the discussion list? (You can subscribe here:
http://www.cleanairuk.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion_cleanairuk.org)

Please note that emails like this - asking for assistance and advice - are
always welcome on the Clean Air news list. I suggest answering on the
discussion list but let's see how things work out; it might be easier not
to have two lists - the news list, and the discussion list!

Thanks,

Andrew Wood, Co-ordinator Network for Clean Air / Clean Air UK.

-------------------------------------

> *Subject:* Re: Train pollution in sidings
>
> To: Mr Andrew Smith MP
>
> _Re; pollution at Jericho_
>
> Thank-you for replying.
>
> I recorded a log of every train that was idling in the sidings. I
> allowed sensible start up/shut down times, but have ot included
> Sundays.  Using - no of engines, consumption of each x no of days, gives
> the figure of 400,000 litrs.  I have tried to be quite precise in this.
> I believe that First Great Western management have no interest in the
> situation (it is a drop in the ocean of their overall turnover)  and it
> is galling that they've tried to silence me on this issue.
>
> And unfortunately it appears that the city council are colluding with
> FGW to maintain the status quo.
>
> The pollution is ahealth hazard  and as I wrote, it is a kick in the
> teeth to all the good individuals in Oxford who are setting up the low
> carbon groups.  I personally feel like a mug for keeping the light and
> power bills low when this gross wastage is happening.
>
> Thanks for your interest.
>
> Mike Hamblett
>

--------------------------

> On Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 7:18 PM, SMITH, Andrew (MP)
> <andrew.smith.mp at parliament.uk <mailto:andrew.smith.mp at parliament.uk>>
> wrote:
>
> Dear Michael
>
> Thanks for this.  I agree it is a serious and worrying problem.
>
> I would be very happy to take it up with our Shadow Secretary of State
> for Transport, Maria Eagle, who has been very active and effective on
> rail issues.
>
> Before I do so, please could you let me know the basis for the 400,000
> litres figure?
>
> Best wishes
>
> Andrew
>
> Andrew Smith MP
>

--------------------------------------

> *From:*Michael Hamblett
> *Sent:* 19 November 2012 09:34
> *To:* SMITH, Andrew (MP)
> *Subject:* Train pollution in sidings
>

> Andrew Smith MP
>
> Parliament
>
> Re; Fuel wastage
>
> The following was sent to Nicola Blackwood. I have an idea how busy she
> is and it is taking some time for action.  I wondered if this is an
> issue you may have an interest in or it may be passed on to a shadow
> transport person?
>
> I think it is an insult to all in Oxford, especially when the city
> sometimes fails its air quality standards.
>
> Thank-you
>
> Mike Hamblett

------------------------

>
> *_Re: train engine pollution_*
>
> *Dear Ms Blackwood*,
>
> For four years I've been trying to get First Great Western to reduce the
> wastage of fuel and resultant pollution at the Jericho sidings. A
> comprehensive log of all engine activity shows a probable wastage of
> around 400,000litres of fuel a year. This un-necessary extra pollution
> is harming the health of Oxford residents.
>
> FGW have been unco-operative and I am being spun out of the debate.
> Oxford City Council seem unwilling to do much to help.
>
> I have devoted so much time on behalf of Oxford residents and feel
> horified at the lack of reponsibility by this company. ( I have been
> made aware that management don't feel like addressing driver bad habits;
> nor organisation of the procedures in sidings.)
>
> If this happens in all sidings then it is a scandal of huge implication
> for all efforts to improve air quality in our cities. (Oxford often
> fails the current standards.)
>
> Apart from writing to 'Private Eye' I am not sure of what to do. I do
> know that there are cheap and easy ways to make improvements and that it
> is criminal that bad practice persists in Jericho and probably other
> yards in Britain.
>
> I would also point out that the amount of _excess_ Co2, Nox,
> particulates, etc, make a mockery of the good local people in low-carbon
> groups' hard won efforts to improve our environment.
>
> Can you help? Please.
>
> Sincerely
>
> Michael Hamblett