Initial thoughts having only had a very brief look.

It looks very much like a PR exercise produced by some wonk from the DfT, there is absolutely nothing new there that wasn't already available, I just feel sorry for the poor buggers who had to sit through the meaningless 'stakeholder' meetings. Vitually anyone on the forums here could have produced this document in a couple of weeks with internet access, and would have been happy to do so given the fee the author was probably given. Would have probably funded a 153 through Melksham for a year I bet.

The only thing that the document gets anywhere near to being positive is in the existing franchise agreements as vehicles for making improvements (Exec Summary Table 1 p13), but even here the DfT have centred on inter regional strategy, (although it does recognise Trowbridge car park gets full).

The DfT have also completely distanced themselves from funding additional stock outside this remit, and although the conclusions are that additional stock is needed it is stated that it is down to TOC's in conjunction with other stakeholders to make the necessary funding available (p96, get out clause on p104 para. 8.4)

Thanks Gordon, I hope the Queen says NO.

E-mail from Jacobs :

Dear Lee Fisher

Sorry for the late reply but after some research I can confirm we weren't involved in South West Regional Planning Assessment for the Railway multimodal studies. You will need to get hold of the DfT Rail planning team.

Thankyou very much....