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Conferences Europe, Africa, Asia & Middle East Topic #154
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George Matthews

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 "Rail network threatened"
29-Jan-06, 11:38 AM (MST)
LAST EDITED ON 29-Jan-06 AT 11:59 AM (MST) by Dorr (admin)
 
The British government is plotting to close large parts of the rail network says the Independent.

Ministers are preparing ways of closing or "mothballing" large sections of the railway network, according to an official document which was slipped out without publicity last week...

The rail system is heading for a financial crisis in the next few years, as the Treasury has demanded that current record levels of subsidy be slashed. Passengers have been forced to pay big fare increases this year as ministers hike up the premiums train companies pay to run the service. The debt of Network Rail, the not-for-profit company that runs the track, will soar to £20bn by 2008. It will need £1bn a year just to service this debt.


http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article341731.ece

George Matthews


 

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  Subject     Author     Message Date     ID  
  RE: Rail network threatened caronprom 31-Jan-06 1
     RE: Rail network threatened George Matthews 31-Jan-06 2
         RE: Rail network threatened caronprom 04-Feb-06 3
             RE: Rail network threatened George Matthews 06-Feb-06 4
                 RE: Rail network threatened caronprom 08-Feb-06 5
                     RE: Rail network threatened George Matthews 08-Feb-06 6

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caronprom

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 1. "RE: Rail network threatened"
31-Jan-06, 08:41 AM (MST)
In response to message #0
 
... but I really can't see this happening. Forget all the lines in Wales and Scotland (and the Welsh Assembly has just received an enthusiastic report about expanding rail service) and I just don't see where the lines to be closed in England could possibly be.

The Settle & Carlisle? Not likely, with all the freight traffic it now carries, quite apart from the rumpus it would cause. Cumbrian Coast? Also too much freight. A few minor lines (Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town?) would be possible, but how much would THAT save?

John


 

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George Matthews

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 2. "RE: Rail network threatened"
31-Jan-06, 05:28 PM (MST)
In response to message #1
 
LAST EDITED ON 31-Jan-06 AT 05:32 PM (MST)
 
I wait for more coverage in Rail magazine.

Some of it is intended to be bustitution of some rural routes.

I agree that Scotland is probably insulated, and there are several new openings going ahead there, including the Waverly route (part) and a line to Glasgow Airport (a Bill now going through parliament http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4665022.stm). A line to Edinburgh airport is also being considered. A third Edinburgh to Glasgow line will result from extending the Bathgate line, and electrifying it.

What Wolmar is probably writing about is the way the direction of the rail industry (in Engand) has been taken into the Ministry, which seems to have no long term comprehensive plan.

George Matthews


 

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caronprom

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 3. "RE: Rail network threatened"
04-Feb-06, 01:02 AM (MST)
In response to message #2
 
I don't see a bit of bustitution (and where? - and at what political cost?) saving the sort of money that the Treasury would like to save.

I looked at Rail yesterday and saw nothing in it - perhaps I missed it.

John


 

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George Matthews

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 4. "RE: Rail network threatened"
06-Feb-06, 11:37 AM (MST)
In response to message #3
 
Quote
I don't see a bit of bustitution (and where? - and at what political cost?) saving the sort of money that the Treasury would like to save.

I looked at Rail yesterday and saw nothing in it - perhaps I missed it.

John


I expect there will be something in the next issue. There was also an article in the Observer on Sunday, ostensibly about Amtrak, which suggested cuts are being proposed. The Ministry of Transport has been pro-road and anti-rail for decades. It has not changed since it took control from the SRA.

George Matthews


 

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caronprom

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 5. "RE: Rail network threatened"
08-Feb-06, 02:28 AM (MST)
In response to message #4
 
I certainly agree about the 'Department for Roads' - but what would really cut the costs would be to abandon the ridiculous privatisation structure; the way that the costs of everything have escalated since the mid-1990s is simply unsustainable on any level.

John


 

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George Matthews

 
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Member since 29-Oct-01		 6. "RE: Rail network threatened"
08-Feb-06, 10:51 AM (MST)
In response to message #5
 
Quote
I certainly agree about the 'Department for Roads' - but what would really cut the costs would be to abandon the ridiculous privatisation structure; the way that the costs of everything have escalated since the mid-1990s is simply unsustainable on any level.

John


Certainly. But one problem is that there is no central planning organisation. For example the current Rail magazine has several pages on the need for a new High Speed Line to the North. One part of the government claims to want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; another is p;panning more airports. No-one is saying a high speed rail network would eliminate many internal flights, and some to the near continent (Eurostar has 73% of the London-Paris market).

Small electrification projects have been abandoned because of the complexity of arranging it. I was told by a former British Rail man, now working for Wessex trans, that BR would have electrified the SW line to Exeter. That will never happen now. Ashford to Hastings needs electrification. Will that ever happen? It is claimed to be too expensive.

George Matthews


 

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