Northern England has been losing out on transport investment--thinktank
A thinktank says its calculations show that the north of England received 140 billion pounds less for transport projects than London between 2009-10 and 2022-23, which would have been enough to build seven Elizabeth Lines. The calculations have been published today in the wake of last week’s Treasury announcement of 15.6 billion pounds for public transport projects in city regions outside London over the next five years.
FirstGroup has applied for an open access licence to run trains between London and Hereford. First already possesses open access licences for new services from London to Stirling and Carmarthen, but more recent applications lodged since last July’s election, including some from First, are still outstanding.
The chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that 15.6 billion is to be invested in public transport for urban areas outside London over the next five years. She has also indicated that more rail investment is set to be announced next week.
Plans to improve public transport in city regions outside London with a five-year budget of 15.6 billion pounds are expected to be announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves during a speech in Manchester today.
The Office of Rail and Road says improvements are needed to revenue protection, making it more consistent, fairer and effective. A detailed review commissioned by the government has revealed the flaws in the current system, which the ORR says is not working in the interests of passengers, operators or taxpayers.
Alstom has signed a contract worth 50 million with FirstGroup and Eversholt Rail to refurbish and maintain five 6-car Class 222 Meridian trains which will be used next year on FirstGroup’s new open access service between London Euston and Stirling.
An Oxfordshire MP is presenting a petition to Parliament today which opposes the closure of a level crossing in Bicester. At the moment the trains using the crossing are those between Oxford and London Marylebone, but the number of trains will increase significantly later this year when East West Rail trains from Oxford start running to Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central.