Here is a link to a recent speech by Derek Twigg , the Transport Minister. The issues raised cover many important areas but , in my view , sections 49 - 55 are particulary relevant.
http://www.aslef.org.uk/C2B/PressOffice/display.asp?ID=420&Type=2"In addition, we need to assess the role of passengers and how their interests will develop – and we need to balance their interests with those of freight."
Those are his own words.
North East & Eastern Regional Planning Assessments (links below)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_611452.pdfhttp://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/downloadable/dft_railways_611208.pdfPages 6 & 7 of both documents.
"As announced in the 2004 Rail White Paper, the Government has now taken on
responsibility for setting the national strategy for the railways. Under the new arrangements,
the Government will set the level of public expenditure to be dedicated to railways and take
the strategic decisions on what this should buy. The Government will set out what it wishes
to buy from Network Rail in the period 2009-2014 in the High Level Output Specification
(HLOS). This is expected to be published in 2007, and will be accompanied by a statement
of the Government’s longer-term strategy."
"Regional Planning Assessments (RPAs) are designed to inform the development of the
government’s strategy for the railway. The objective of RPAs is to develop an understanding
of the challenges and options for development of the railway in each region over the next
twenty years, in the wider context of forecast change in population, the economy and travel
behaviour and associated regional spatial planning policy and strategy. The output sets out
the government’s current thinking on how the railway might best be developed to allow wider
objectives to be met, and identifies the priorities for further development work. Identified
priorities for further examination provide a focus for work going forward but do not constitute
a commitment to implementation; each proposal will need to be worked up more fully,
including demonstrating its affordability and value for money for the taxpayer, before
government support for implementation is considered."
"The RPA programme was established by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and responsibility
for it has now passed to the Department for Transport (DfT). RPAs also provide a background
for future Network Rail Route Utilisation Strategies."
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news.aspx?id=2639Quotes from the link above :
“As the population grows, and we become more wealthy, our demand for travel is increasing. Many parts of our road and rail network are already under severe pressure especially at peak times. While we have set out clear plans for future investment, constraints on public expenditure mean we cannot simply build our way out of these problems."
"The Prime Minister also warns there will be less cash available: “Your future plans will of course need to be set against the background of lower growth in funding than in recent years. This means the Zero Based and Efficiency Reviews currently underway, combined with Departmental Capability Reviews, will be a critical input and I would like you to give these your personal attention to ensure that the Department's spending is effective and fit for purpose as we move forward.”
http://www.cilt-international.com/news-display.asp?ID=430&t=arc&m=10&y=2005Quote from the link above :
"According to The Times, the director of rail projects at the DfT, Graham Dalton, told a recent conference of rail engineers that the Treasury wants to reduce the rail subsidy by between £1 billion and £1.5 billion. He said that the DfT was working on a statement about the size of the railway that would send a clear message that “there’s a budget set for rail and we’ve all got to work within it”.
Under the Treasury’s plan the subsidy would fall by a further £1.5 billion from 2009, leaving the rail industry with £3 billion ($5.5bn) a year from the taxpayer. "
A cut of £1 billion would be a cut of around 20% in the rail subsidy.
"Derek Twigg, the Transport Minister, said he had ordered the closure of Etruria because only 22 passengers a day had used the station.
The Times pointed out that there are 300 stations across the network with fewer than 22 passengers a day and 150 with fewer than 7."
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=264.msg698#msg698Quote from the above link :
"The implication, were this a level playing field, is that the DfT would be looking to slash back services to around 500 stations - around 20% - around the country."
Page 41 of the North East Regional Planning Assessment.
"It is a feature of the North East that a significant number of people will drive some
distance to join an express service on the East Coast Main Line, even where they
have a local station in their own area, this practice is called ‘rail heading’. Railheading
refers to driving further than necessary to reach a rail station in order to reach a more
convenient service."
Have another look at the map of the wider North Warwickshire and East Birmingham area.
http://www.northwarksconservatives.co.uk/page.php?pid=7http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=190297&NewsAreaID=2
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