Notes from Railfuture conference, 3.11.2007, Ely

SELRAP - Campainging for a re-instatement of the Colne to Skipton line to give a long distance transpennine link.  Good talk - good project / out of my own area so I can't give full sensible review.   But some interesting facts highlighted.

Each of us pays/looses 330 pounds per annum because of road delays - everything from our own time to higher prices because delivery lorries can't visit as many places and buses can't make as many runs per day. Also 150 pounds per annum to the National Heath service so that they can treat road accident casualties.

Train journeys per annum. 800 million in 1970, 735 million in 1994, estimated 1100 million in 2007, which is a higher figure than any year since 1959. And that's done on a network that's only got half the number of route miles of the 1959 network, with certain lines that were double in those days now being single. Car ownership rose from 10 million in 1970 to 30 million this year.

Both Colne and Skipton are already on the railway system - it's just that it's a very long journey indeed by rail to cover the 11 miles between them. We heard of a special train being chartered, and doing a through trip between them - "first time in nearly 40 years".  The lecturer told us they could have filled a 6 car train, but were only allowed 4 because of platform length restritions.  [[I consider ruefully FGW's refusal to even consider an extension of the 09:00 Westbury to Weymouth back to start its day from Melksham at 08:45 once this summer - "no staff, no trains, NO SPECIALS AT ALL"]]


http://www.selrap.org.uk/