Here is a link to a speech by Rt Hon. Douglas Alexander , Secretary of State for Transport to the Rail 100 Breakfast Club Annual Dinner on 30 November 2006.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_613748.hcspKey passage :
"As I have mentioned, Rod Eddington will publish his report examining the links between transport and growth. It is absolutely crucial that we make the right choices for the long term, to get the very best we can out of the network.
I don't pretend that the choices will be easy. We will not be able to buy everything we want and priorities will have to be made. But the key principle of our railway is to support and enable the economic growth of the country.
It is therefore not a question of whether the railway needs to grow - it clearly does. But it is a question of where, when and how and at what cost.
Before we decide on a solution we need to know the problem. For rail that means we need to know where the demand is. Where people will want to travel to and from. Not just in the short term but in the long term too.
Any solutions need to be looked at in the context of driving the continued economic growth. And all the options need to be considered in the national interest.
These are big questions. They need to be addressed, Rod Eddington's report tomorrow will not be the final word but it will be an important part of our considerations."
Here is a link to the Eddington Transport Study.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/eddington_transport_study/eddington_index.cfmHere are links to Times articles on this.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2481012,00.htmlhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2481880,00.html"For that reason ministers will consider the introduction of double-deck trains on busy routes, and the report proposes longer trains on commuter routes. Sir Rod will back the building of new rail freight links to major ports and better road access from the motorways to the ports. He will also propose cycling and walking schemes."
"Sir Rod’s conclusion is that Britain has broadly the right transport network, connecting the right places, but that key points are coming under intolerable pressure that must be eased. The investment should come in the places that are vital to economic success. The priority should be congested and growing cities, inter-urban corridors and international gateways such as ports and airports."
"The report by Sir Rod Eddington, the former British Airways chief executive, said that road-pricing schemes could cut congestion by half and produce economic benefits worth a total of £28 billion a year by 2025."
"Transport 2000 said that revenue from the increase in road-pricing suggested by Sir Rod should not be spent on building more roads but on improving public transport - especially the country's train network. "We will oppose funding going towards big new roads programmes," a spokesman said."
"The Conservatives said that the country needed a programme to ease pinch points as well as big projects to make a lasting difference. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said: “The Government has clearly failed to follow through on its stated aim of improving our transport system.”
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