Posted 15th February 2010 | 3 Comments
MPs warn that rail spending will be under pressure for at least the next ten years
Full electrification of the Midland Main Line is seen as a priority
THE HOUSE of Commons Transport Select Committee is warning that the amount of money available for rail investment will be restricted for at least the next decade. But the Committee says more electrification remains very important, with the Midland Main Line seen as a particular priority.
The warning about funding for rail comes in a new report, Priorities for Investment in the Railways. It says electrification of the Great Western Main Line and several routes in the north west will go ahead, but warns that Network Rail's ability to fund further projects in Control Period 5, which starts in 2014, could be limited.
The Committee praises the environmental performance of rail, and points out that certain pinch points, such as the proposed Manchester Hub, must be dealt with sooner rather than later. It does criticise the Government's stance on new or restored railways, saying: "We were not satisfied by the Minister’s response regarding the proposals to 'connect communities'. For relatively modest costs, these schemes to open new lines and stations, and re-open old lines, can be of great value to communities and passenger usage has often exceeded expectations. The Government should take a more positive and pro-active policy position."
It also supports the Government's recent u-turn in favour of High Speed rail, noting that the 2007 rail White Paper had tended to support the reservations about developing High Speed lines which had been voiced by the Eddington report. The Committee says the new policy in favour of a High Speed network is to be welcomed.
But it warns that the classic network cannot be set on one side while a High Speed network is developed: “It is essential that investment in a high speed rail network does not detract from necessary medium term investment on the classic network. Capacity constraints look set to worsen in the next decade and we must continue to invest to address these problems.”
On freight, the report warns of a lack of clarity about funding after 2014. It says: “The need to invest in rail freight is more clear and pressing than ever in the context of the UK’s climate change targets. We would expect the funding committed to the Strategic Freight Network to be, at the very least, maintained by the Government in the next control period.”
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
H Harvey, Birmingham
1 The government pays no heed to the Transport Select Committee
2. Judge by what share of limited funds the railways get compared to that industry of the 'infinite purse' road transport particularly Road Freight
3. Remember whist you see the investment in rail what you miss is the investment in rapid transit bus compared with new rail links Cambridge, Fareham, Dunstable and no doubt others. The Cambridge scheme is already way over budget and opening dates put back and yet not a rumble from the D(a)fT.
4. What if there is a change of Government Little David will want to use his sling to show he is serious.
5. Main parties have claimed that schools, NHS and Foreign Aid will be protected (why foreign aid). This means all other budgets are up for grabs.
6. The Big Black Bird and comrades keeps flapping his wings and will play into the claws of the vultures waing in the sky. TSSA ASLEF and RMT members should beware of anyone who gets to greedy. Remember Arthur and the NUM.
David S above should not push for a minimum of 4 carriages the answer from the D(a)fT hawks with their eyes open for crows will be to cut services to enable them to meet the set limit and 'hide' behind such a ill thought out rule.
Llion Wynne Jones, aberdare
It all seems to make sence, lets just hope it wont cause to much trouble for the railways, I supose that the good thing to come out of this is, that the goverment understand the importance of railfreight, there for they do want to invest in it, and another good thing is that the MML, GWML and the lines in the north west will still be electrified.
David Spencer, Bolton, Lancashire, UK
The comments above by the Select Committee are sound and sensible and probably reflect the opinions of most people in the UK. However I would firmly recommend that a time limit is allocated to the various comments from the Committee. The Government could shrug off the above if allowed to sail in the wind without a rudder. Typically rail passenger capacity has a safety aspect to lack of carriages and I do believe that a legal minimum of 4 carriages for every train should be introduced by December 2010.
Well done Select Committee and I am glad that you continue to perform a representative job.