Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has recently announced that the government will back plans for high-speed rail links across the UK. The Government has stated that given financial constraints, plans for a new high-speed rail link would have to be completed in phases. Mr Hammond said plans would "transform the economy".
Mr Hammond added that the consultation would begin in the New Year on the preferred route of the London to Birmingham leg of the rail network, stating that the scheme - estimated to cost £33bn - would "make rail the mode of choice for most inter-city journeys within the UK" and would change "the economic and social geography of Britain, connecting our great population centres and our international gateways together". The aim of this investment is to:
• Rebalance economies that the government believed had become too dependent on the public sector
• Encourage business investment in regions which have been considered too far away from London
• Change the geography and the way people think about opportunities that are available to them
Potential safety threats to thousands of miles of railway from extreme storms, floods and heatwaves as the impact of climate change worsens are being investigated by railway engineers and meteorologists.
A study by Network Rail will look at exposed coastal tracks, embankments and thousands of bridges to see whether they can withstand the increase in extreme weather events that climatologists have predicted over coming decades.
The UK-wide investigation will cost £750,000 but railway executives believe that implementing its expected recommendations could save the industry £1bn over the next 30 years by improving safety and preventing emergencies
The number of commuters using trains is set to more than double in the next 25 years, a report has said. Such figures make investment in the UK’s rail network and rolling stock even more essential than ever.
'Planning Ahead', a rail industry planning document prepared by Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies and the Rail Freight Operators' Association, forecasts twice as many people commuting into stations throughout the UK. With our roads getting more congested and the need to move to a 'carbon-friendly' economy, the demand for rail - for moving people and goods - will continue to grow.
Over the next 25 years the London commuter market, already very well served by rail, is likely to see growth of up to 35%. In contrast, regional urban commuting, to cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds Glasgow, is expected to see growth of over 100%, with growth on some route predicted to be in excess of 115%. In addition, rail freight is similarly predicted to double demand to 45 billion tonnes kilometres of goods moved by 2030.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced last week, that the Government have begun the sale of the rights to operate Britain’s first high speed railway, 'High Speed 1' (HS1). The sale will help raise funds for the public purse as well as creating better opportunities for new rail services to new destinations to run on the line.
"High Speed 1 is a national success story and a world class railway operating to international standards. The money generated by this sale will make an early significant contribution to the crucial task of reducing the public sector debt.” Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary
The successful bidder for the 110-km High Speed 1 line, which links central London to the Channel Tunnel, will become the owner of 'HS1 Ltd'. The sale could fetch around £1.5bn, giving the bidder a 30 year concession to run the line and stations.
"This is part of the Government’s approach to making our national assets - and every taxpayer pound - work harder. The Government does not have to run everything directly - we need to take prompt action where private enterprise can provide both a better deal and a superior service to the public." Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary
Following the sale, the performance of HS1 will be independently policed by the Office of Rail Regulation to ensure that rail passengers' interests are effectively safeguarded.
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