Kelly "Open-Minded" About Great Central Railway Reopening

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May 24, 2012, 10:52:51 AM

Recommended service - hourly, according to the GWRUS. Let's work towards that service and towards ensuring all services are used.

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Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly has said in Parliament that she is open-minded to the possibility of reopening the Great Central Main Line to provide a new inter-city link to Birmingham (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=4650

Reopening the line, which until the 1960s provided a route for trains from London Marylebone to Manchester, via Rugby in Warwickshire, is one option being examined following warnings that the West Coast Main Line could run out of capacity as soon as 2015, despite an £8.6bn upgrade scheduled for completion by the end of 2008 (Transport Briefing 15/06/07).

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday (8 January), Ruth Kelly said: "I retain an open mind whether or not we need, for example, to re-open a disused rail line between London and Birmingham, whether we should have a high speed rail link which links London to Birmingham, or even beyond to Manchester or so forth, or indeed whether other modes of transport should be encouraged such as roads." The former Grand Central Main Line is the only disused rail alignment that could be reopened as part of a new London-Birmingham rail link.

I also noted this bit:

Ruth Kelly replied: “We have said that there will be no line closures and that we will monitor the growth in passenger numbers over that period [2009-2014];

Should we take her word for it?

Quote from: Nick Field on January 17, 2008, 01:58:32 PM

I also noted this bit:

Ruth Kelly replied: “We have said that there will be no line closures and that we will monitor the growth in passenger numbers over that period [2009-2014];

Should we take her word for it?

Long answer :

Note the part highlighted in bold above.....

Also note that the new closure guidance will allow Network Rail, Train Operating Companies, or a rail funding authority (DfT, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, PTAs or the Mayor of London) to propose a closure. The decision to go ahead will be made by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The "power of veto" no longer rests with the Secretary Of State.

Further note that Network Rail have proposed the closure of Ardwick, Denton and Reddish South stations in recent times.

Finally note that the DfT have ruled out reopenings for the same period :

Quote from: Lee on December 18, 2007, 03:03:19 PM

Answers :

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport of which disused rail lines her Department authorised the sale in each of the last 10 years; and which disused rail lines her Department is considering re-opening.

Mr. Tom Harris: The disposal of non operational property owned by BRB (Residuary) Ltd. (BRBR) is governed by guidance issued to the company on 26 July 2007 which I outlined in my statement to Parliament on that date. A listing of all properties, including disused railway lines that are either held by BRBR or have been sold by the company is available on their website at:

http://www.brbr.gov.uk/property/property_listings

The disposal of railway property owned by Network Rail is undertaken in accordance with the conditions of their network license. Compliance with these conditions are monitored and enforced by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The Government priorities for rail as set out in the White Paper in July are improved reliability and safety and dealing with growth on the existing network. This does not envisage reopening lines in the period to March 2014. However, the Government would consider proposals for re-opening where these offer value for money and are fundable—it is for local promoters to make a case.

Short answer :

No.

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